Comprehension Open-Ended
Key Concepts
Comprehension Open-Ended tests how well you understand a passage and how clearly you can answer questions using evidence from the text. You must know what the question is asking and choose the correct answering method.
1. Know the three main question types
A. Literal questions
These questions ask for information that is directly stated in the passage.
Common question words:
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- Which
- List
- Give two reasons stated in the passage
How to answer:
- Find the exact line in the passage.
- Locate the exact words or phrase that answers the question.
- Lift only the relevant words.
- Do not add, remove or change words if the question requires a direct answer from the passage.
Rule:
- If the answer is clearly stated, do not infer.
- If the question can be answered by lifting, lift accurately and briefly.
Example:
Question: Why did Amir stop running?
Passage: Amir stopped running because his shoelace had come undone.
Answer: his shoelace had come undone
Do not write:
- ✗ He stopped because he was tired.
This is not stated in the text.
B. Inferential questions
These questions ask you to work out what the passage suggests, not just what it says directly.
Common question words:
- Why do you think
- What does this show about
- How did she probably feel
- What can you tell about
- What is implied by
How to answer:
- Find the clue in the passage.
- Think about what the clue suggests.
- Write the implied meaning.
- Support your answer with words or details from the text.
Rule:
- Do not copy the clue and stop there.
- You must explain the meaning behind the clue.
Example:
Passage: Joel kept glancing at the clock and tapping his foot.
Question: What does this show about Joel?
Answer: Joel was anxious or impatient, as he kept glancing at the clock and tapping his foot.
The answer scores because it:
- gives the inference: anxious or impatient
- supports it with text evidence: kept glancing at the clock and tapping his foot
C. Vocabulary in context questions
These questions ask what a word or phrase means in the passage.
Common question forms:
- What does the word “___” mean in line __?
- Which word tells you that…
- Explain the meaning of “___” as used in the passage.
How to answer:
- Read the sentence before and after the word.
- Use the situation in the passage to work out the meaning.
- Explain the meaning in context.
- Do not give a random dictionary synonym that does not fit the passage.
Rule:
- Meaning must match the passage.
- A correct meaning in the wrong context does not score.
Example:
Passage: The old wooden bridge creaked under the weight of the villagers crossing it.
Question: What does creaked mean in this sentence?
Answer: It made a long, harsh sound as the bridge was stepped on.
This is better than:
- ✗ noisy
This is too vague.
2. Literal questions: locate, lift, and stay accurate
For literal questions, the most important skill is accurate lifting.
How to locate the answer
- Read the question carefully.
- Look for key words from the question in the passage.
- Scan nearby lines for the exact answer.
- Check that the words you lifted answer the question fully.
How to lift correctly
- Copy only the words needed.
- Keep the wording exactly the same as the passage.
- Do not change tenses, pronouns or vocabulary unless the question requires a complete sentence.
Example:
Passage: The boys hid behind the shed until the rain stopped.
Question: Where did the boys hide?
Answer: behind the shed
Incorrect:
- ✗ They hid behind the shed until the rain stopped.
This contains extra unnecessary information. - ✗ at the shed
This changes the meaning.
3. Inferential questions: answer what is implied
Inferential questions test your ability to read between the lines.
What “implied” means
An idea is implied when the writer does not say it directly, but gives clues that lead you to it.
Example:
Passage: Mina clutched the results slip with trembling hands.
The passage does not say Mina was nervous, but the clue suggests it.
Correct inference:
- Mina was nervous.
How to build a strong inferential answer
Use this structure:
- Inference
- Evidence from the text
Example:
Question: How was Mina feeling?
Answer: Mina was nervous, as she clutched the results slip with trembling hands.
This is better than:
- ✗ She clutched the results slip with trembling hands.
This only lifts evidence. - ✗ She felt bad.
This is too vague.
Use precise feeling words
Instead of vague words like sad, happy or bad, use exact words when the text supports them:
- anxious
- relieved
- frustrated
- embarrassed
- determined
- disappointed
- suspicious
- grateful
- startled
4. “In your own words” answers
When the question says “in your own words”, you must paraphrase. You must not lift directly from the passage.
Rule:
- Never copy the exact phrase from the passage when the question requires your own words.
How to paraphrase
- Understand the meaning of the original words.
- Replace important words with words of similar meaning.
- Keep the original meaning accurate.
- Do not change the meaning.
Lifting vs paraphrasing
Example 1
Passage: The crowd dispersed quickly when the storm began.
Question: In your own words, what happened to the crowd?
Lifted answer:
- ✗ The crowd dispersed quickly.
Paraphrased answer:
- ✓ The people moved away fast.
Example 2
Passage: The teacher was displeased with the class’s careless behaviour.
Question: In your own words, why was the teacher upset?
Lifted answer:
- ✗ The class’s careless behaviour
Paraphrased answer:
- ✓ The pupils were acting in a careless way.
Example 3
Passage: He gave a reluctant nod.
Question: In your own words, what did he do?
Lifted answer:
- ✗ gave a reluctant nod
Paraphrased answer:
- ✓ He nodded unwillingly.
What to avoid in paraphrasing
- Do not swap only one word and leave the rest unchanged.
- Do not use words that are too general.
- Do not distort the meaning.
Bad paraphrase:
- ✗ The crowd did something quickly.
Too vague.
5. Vocabulary questions: explain meaning through context
For vocabulary questions, the surrounding situation helps you find the correct meaning.
Example:
Passage: Nina whispered so softly that I had to lean closer to hear her.
Question: What does softly mean in this sentence?
Answer: in a quiet way that was difficult to hear
This answer works because it explains the meaning using the context clue: I had to lean closer to hear her.
Steps for vocabulary in context
- Read the whole sentence.
- Read the sentence before and after it.
- Ask: What is happening here?
- Replace the word with a meaning that fits the situation.
- Write the explanation clearly.
Do not just give a synonym
Question: What does furious mean in the passage?
Weak answer:
- ✗ angry
Better answer:
- ✓ extremely angry
Best if context requires it:
- ✓ so angry that he could not control his temper
6. Mark allocation signals exactly how much to write
Marks tell you how many points to include.
1 mark = 1 point
Give one clear answer only.
Example:
Question: Why did Sarah smile? (1 mark)
Answer: She had won the race.
2 marks = 2 separate points or 1 developed point
You must give enough detail for both marks.
Example:
Question: Give two reasons why the villagers feared the river. (2 marks)
Answer:
- It often overflowed after heavy rain.
- It had a strong current that could sweep people away.
If the question asks for an explanation, one developed point may score both marks:
- He was relieved because the missing child had finally been found safely.
Rule:
- Always match your answer length to the marks.
- A 2-mark question answered with one short point usually loses marks.
7. Answer format matters
Write in complete sentences where required
If the question is framed as a full sentence answer, respond in a full sentence.
Question: Why did Farid refuse to speak?
Answer: Farid refused to speak because he was ashamed of what he had done.
Begin the answer in line with the question
This helps make your answer clear and grammatical.
Question: How did the boy feel after hearing the news?
Answer: The boy felt relieved after hearing the news.
Not:
- ✗ Relieved because of the news.
Short phrase or full sentence?
- If the question asks for a phrase, a short lifted answer may be enough.
- If the question asks why, how, or asks you to explain, write a full sentence.
8. Avoid going beyond the text
Your answer must come from the passage.
Rule:
- Do not invent details.
- Do not use outside knowledge.
- Do not guess wildly.
Passage: The girl stared at the dark clouds and hurried home.
Question: Why did she hurry home?
Safe answer:
- She probably thought it was going to rain.
Unsafe answer:
- ✗ She hurried home because her mother had told her not to stay out after six o’clock.
This is not in the text.
9. Passage types
Comprehension passages come in two main types. Knowing the type helps you know what to look for.
Narrative passages
Tell a story and are character-focused.
- Look for: emotions, motivations, plot events.
- Questions often ask about character feelings and inference.
Expository (informational) passages
Explain facts or ideas.
- Look for: cause-effect relationships, compare-contrast, definitions.
- Questions often ask for facts and explanations in your own words.
10. Time management for comprehension
Paper 2 runs for 1 hour 50 minutes total. Comprehension is in Booklet B and is worth 20 marks. A suggested guideline is to spend about 35–40 minutes on the comprehension passages, but adjust based on how the rest of the paper is going.
Rule:
- Do not spend more than 3–4 minutes per question.
Suggested approach:
- Read the passage carefully.
- Read all the questions.
- Answer easier literal questions first.
- Return to harder inferential or vocabulary questions.
- Leave time to check your answers.
If a question is taking too long:
- underline the clues
- write your best answer
- move on
Important Definitions
- Comprehension Open-Ended: a section where you read a passage and answer questions using information and clues from the text.
- Literal question: a question whose answer is directly stated in the passage.
- Inferential question: a question that requires you to work out what is suggested or implied by the passage.
- Vocabulary in context: understanding the meaning of a word or phrase based on how it is used in the passage.
- Lift: to copy the exact words from the passage.
- Find and copy: to locate the exact answer in the text and write it exactly as it appears.
- Relevant phrase: the shortest exact group of words from the passage that fully answers the question.
- Paraphrase: to express the same meaning using different words.
- In your own words: an instruction telling you to paraphrase instead of lifting from the text.
- Text evidence: words, phrases or details from the passage that support your answer.
- Implied meaning: meaning that is suggested by clues in the text, not directly stated.
- Context clue: a word, phrase or sentence near an unfamiliar word that helps you work out its meaning.
- Complete sentence: a full sentence with a clear subject and verb that answers the question properly.
- Vague answer: an answer that is too general to show precise understanding.
- Developed point: one point that includes enough explanation or detail to earn more than one mark.
- Mark allocation: the number of marks given for a question, which shows how many points or how much detail is needed.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Literal question — find and copy
Passage extract:
When the final bell rang, the pupils rushed out of the classroom and gathered under the covered walkway to wait for their parents.
Question:
Where did the pupils wait for their parents? (1 mark)
Step-by-step thinking
- This is a literal question because it asks for a place directly stated in the passage.
- Look for the key words wait for their parents.
- The answer is found in the phrase under the covered walkway.
- Lift exactly that phrase.
- Do not add extra words.
Answer:
under the covered walkway
Why this scores
- It is the exact phrase from the passage.
- It answers the question directly.
- It does not include unnecessary information.
Example 2: Inferential question — read between the lines
Passage extract:
Hui Min stood outside the principal’s office, twisting the hem of her uniform and staring at the floor.
Question:
How was Hui Min probably feeling? Explain your answer. (2 marks)
Step-by-step thinking
- This is an inferential question because the passage does not directly state her feelings.
- Look at the clues:
- twisting the hem of her uniform
- staring at the floor
- These actions suggest nervousness or worry.
- Write the feeling clearly.
- Support it with evidence from the text.
Answer:
Hui Min was probably nervous or worried, as she kept twisting the hem of her uniform and staring at the floor.
Why this scores
- Point 1: correct inference — nervous or worried
- Point 2: supporting evidence — twisting the hem of her uniform and staring at the floor
Example 3: “In your own words” question — paraphrase, do not lift
Passage extract:
The old man spoke in a faint voice that could barely be heard.
Question:
In your own words, describe how the old man spoke. (1 mark)
Step-by-step thinking
- The words in your own words mean you must not lift directly.
- The key phrase is in a faint voice that could barely be heard.
- Think about the meaning:
- faint voice = very weak or soft voice
- could barely be heard = difficult to hear
- Paraphrase accurately.
Wrong lifted answer:
✗ in a faint voice that could barely be heard
Correct answer:
He spoke very softly and was difficult to hear.
Why this scores
- It keeps the original meaning.
- It does not copy the exact wording.
- It answers in a clear sentence.
Example 4: Vocabulary in context
Passage extract:
The puppy was drenched after running through the puddles in the rain.
Question:
What does the word drenched mean in the passage? (1 mark)
Step-by-step thinking
- This is a vocabulary in context question.
- Look at the clues:
- running through the puddles
- in the rain
- So drenched means very wet, not just slightly wet.
- Give a meaning that fits the situation.
Answer:
completely wet
Why this scores
- It matches the context exactly.
- It is precise enough.
- It is better than a vague answer like wet.
Example 5: 2-mark question — give two points
Passage extract:
The campsite was unsafe because the ground was slippery and the river nearby was rising quickly after the storm.
Question:
Why was the campsite unsafe? (2 marks)
Step-by-step thinking
- This is a literal question because the reasons are directly stated.
- It is worth 2 marks, so give 2 points.
- Find both reasons in the passage:
- the ground was slippery
- the river nearby was rising quickly after the storm
- Write both clearly.
Answer:
The campsite was unsafe because the ground was slippery and the river nearby was rising quickly after the storm.
Why this scores
- It contains two separate reasons.
- It answers fully for 2 marks.
- It uses the exact ideas from the passage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
11. Giving a vague answer
Question: How did Ben feel when he saw his broken bicycle?
Weak answer:
✗ He felt sad.
Better answer:
✓ He felt disappointed, as he had saved for months to buy the bicycle.
Why the weak answer is wrong:
- Sad is too general.
- It does not show precise understanding.
- It gives no support from the text.
12. Lifting words but not answering the actual question
Passage extract:
Mrs Tan pressed her lips together and folded her arms across her chest.
Question:
What does this show about Mrs Tan?
Wrong answer:
✗ pressed her lips together and folded her arms across her chest
Correct answer:
✓ It shows that Mrs Tan was annoyed or displeased.
Why the wrong answer is wrong:
- It only copies the clue.
- It does not explain the meaning of the clue.
- The question asks for an inference, not the action.
13. Ignoring “in your own words”
Passage extract:
The road was deserted.
Question:
In your own words, describe the road.
Wrong answer:
✗ deserted
Correct answer:
✓ The road was empty, with no people around.
Why the wrong answer is wrong:
- It lifts directly from the passage.
- The question clearly requires paraphrasing.
14. Giving only one point for a 2-mark question
Passage extract:
Ali was late because he had missed the bus and his alarm clock had not rung.
Question:
Why was Ali late? (2 marks)
Wrong answer:
✗ He missed the bus.
Correct answer:
✓ Ali was late because he had missed the bus and his alarm clock had not rung.
Why the wrong answer is wrong:
- The question is worth 2 marks.
- Two reasons are given in the passage.
- One point alone is incomplete.
15. Going beyond the text
Passage extract:
Lina hesitated before opening the envelope.
Question:
Why did Lina hesitate?
Wrong answer:
✗ She hesitated because she knew she had failed her examination.
Correct answer:
✓ She was probably worried about what was inside the envelope.
Why the wrong answer is wrong:
- The passage does not say she failed anything.
- The answer adds information not found in the text.
16. Giving a dictionary synonym that does not fit the passage
Passage extract:
The cat darted across the road when it heard the horn.
Question:
What does darted mean in the passage?
Weak answer:
✗ moved
Correct answer:
✓ moved quickly and suddenly
Why the weak answer is wrong:
- Moved is too broad.
- It misses the idea of speed and suddenness.
17. Changing lifted words in a literal answer
Passage extract:
The bag was hidden beneath the wooden bench.
Question:
Where was the bag hidden?
Wrong answer:
✗ under the bench
Correct answer:
✓ beneath the wooden bench
Why the wrong answer is wrong:
- For a literal lift question, you must keep the wording exact.
- Changing words can lose accuracy.
Exam Tips
18. Use marks to guide your answer length
- 1 mark = 1 point
- 2 marks = 2 separate points or 1 developed point
Always check the mark value before writing your answer.
19. Spot the question type quickly
Look for these signals:
- Who / What / When / Where → usually literal
- Why do you think / What does this show / How did he probably feel → usually inferential
- What does the word mean / In your own words → vocabulary or paraphrasing
20. Underline key words in the question
Underline:
- the person or event
- the part you must explain
- any instruction such as in your own words
This stops you from answering the wrong thing.
21. For literal questions, copy only what is needed
Do not copy whole sentences unless the whole sentence is necessary.
- Short, exact, relevant lifting scores best.
22. For inferential questions, use this answer pattern
- Point: give the inference
- Proof: support with text evidence
Example:
- She was embarrassed, as she avoided eye contact and her face turned red.
23. For vocabulary questions, explain the meaning in the sentence
Do not write a loose synonym. Write what the word means there and then in the passage.
24. For “in your own words”, check for copied phrases
After writing your answer:
- Compare it with the passage.
- Remove any obvious copied words.
- Replace them with your own phrasing.
25. Write complete sentences where needed
Questions asking why, how, or asking for an explanation should be answered in full sentences.
26. Be precise with feeling words
Good words that often score:
- anxious
- relieved
- irritated
- embarrassed
- grateful
- determined
- disappointed
- frightened
Avoid weak words such as:
- bad
- nice
- okay
- sad
unless the text clearly supports them and no better word fits.
27. Know your passage types
PSLE comprehension passages come in two main types — approach each differently:
Narrative passages (stories, personal recounts):
- Tell a story with characters, events, and emotions
- Questions often ask about character feelings, motivations, and inferences
- Look for language that reveals how a character feels even if not stated directly
- Key inference technique: “The text says ___, which shows that the character feels ___ because ___”
Expository/Informational passages (articles, reports, explanations):
- Explain facts, processes, or ideas without a story plot
- Questions often ask for definitions, cause-effect relationships, or factual details
- Answers are usually more direct — find the relevant paragraph and lift/paraphrase precisely
- Watch for compare-contrast and problem-solution structures
28. Manage time carefully
Paper 2 runs for 1 hour 50 minutes total. Comprehension is in Booklet B and is worth 20 marks. Aim to spend about 35–40 minutes on the comprehension section, but adjust based on how the rest of your paper is going.
- Do not spend more than 3–4 minutes per question.
- If you are stuck, make your best attempt and move on.
- Return later if time remains.
29. Answer multi-part questions completely
Some comprehension questions ask for both a quote from the passage and your own words explanation in one answer. Structure these in two clear parts:
Example question: “Quote a phrase from the passage that shows John was nervous. Then, explain in your own words what this phrase suggests about his feelings.”
Correct answer structure:
- Part 1 (quote): “His hands shook as he reached for the door handle”
- Part 2 (own words): This shows that John was very anxious and frightened because he could not control his body’s reaction.
Do not merge both parts into one sentence — examiners mark each part separately. If a question says “using evidence from the passage” AND “in your own words,” you must do both to get full marks.
30. Check whether the answer actually answers the question
Before moving on, ask:
- Did I answer the exact question?
- Did I give enough points for the marks?
- Did I lift or paraphrase correctly?
Quick Summary
- Identify whether the question is literal, inferential, or vocabulary in context.
- For literal questions, find the exact line and lift only the relevant phrase.
- Do not add, remove or change words in a direct lift answer.
- For inferential questions, write what is implied, not just what is stated.
- Support inferential answers with text evidence.
- When the question says in your own words, never lift directly.
- Paraphrase accurately without changing the meaning.
- For vocabulary questions, explain the word using the surrounding context.
- Do not give a vague synonym; give the meaning that fits the passage.
- 1 mark = 1 point.
- 2 marks = 2 separate points or 1 developed point.
- Write complete sentences where required and start your answer in line with the question.
- Avoid vague answers such as He felt sad when a more exact word is needed.
- Do not copy evidence without explaining it if the question asks for an inference.
- Do not go beyond the text or invent details.
- You have 35 minutes for comprehension.
- Spend no more than 3–4 minutes per question.
- Always check: Have I answered the actual question?
The Miniature Garden workshop teaches participants to _______________.
In the section 'How to make a Seed Ball', which of the following statements is true?
Mile wants to take the guided tour around the farm. She _______________.
According to the excerpt from Nature Magazine, what is one concern that Singaporeans have when it comes to urban farming?
According to the excerpt, City Farm builds 'edible gardens'. What does the term 'edible gardens' refer to?
What does City Farm look for in a student ambassador?
Pick out a three-word phrase in paragraph one which suggest that Phil had something to do?
Why did Phil need to meet his younger brother before school began?
Explain clearly why Phil had grabbed Daniel?
State whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
Look at the table below. What do the word(s) in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [3m]
Look at the table below. Based on lines 20 to 30, what was the action and the meaning behind the action for each of the characters. Write your answers in the blanks. [2m]
Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [1m]
Which two of the following words correctly describe how Daniel felt in lines 39-46? Put a ✓ in the box beside each of your answers. [2m] DO NOT TICK MORE THAN TWO BOXES.
Explain clearly why Phil was embarrassed in line 41. [2m]
Which of the following statements about the festival is true?
Mrs Ramu wants to attend the festival with her 12-year-old daughter without getting tickets beforehand. Which activity can they do together?
What is the similarity between the Art Maze and the Giant Sandpit?
What is the main purpose of the monthly light displays in the Visual Arts Museum?
Raj wants to be part of the Visual Arts Museum's guided tour during the festival. He must do all the following except __________
Nadia is a strong advocate of mental health. Which monthly light display would she have been interested in?
What is the main purpose of the article? It is to __________.
Based on lines 6-11, give two reasons why Bethany was hesitant to knock on Grandma's door.
Pick out two phrases from lines 12-20 which show the change in Grandma's personality after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Each phrase is found in a separate sentence.
Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right.
Based on lines 21-35, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
"I was prepared for battle." (line 25)
Have you ever wondered where your vegetables come from?
Singapore imports most of our produce from all over the world. This is because Singapore does not have enough land for farming. To ensure Singapore is able to produce its own food, the Government is encouraging urban farming. In fact, in recent years, urban farming has become increasingly popular as people are more curious about the source of their vegetables and fruits. Singaporeans are worried about the amount of pesticide used. More people are growing edible plants in urban spaces, such as balconies and HDB corridors, without the use of pesticides.
Located at Kranji, City Farm is one of the more established urban farms in Singapore. On weekends, they offer farm tours and workshops for parents and children to get in touch with nature and learn about the importance of growing their own vegetables. They also help design and build edible gardens for residential use so that more Singaporeans can enjoy their own fresh produce. In addition, they conduct school visits to educate students on how to start urban farming.
Student ambassadors needed!
Do you have a passion for gardening? Volunteer with us and help promote urban farming to your schoolmates! City Farm visits schools to give educational talks, teach students how to grow vegetables and build gardens together with them. We will train student ambassadors to guide other students on the correct techniques for growing their own vegetables. Interested students are to drop us an email at jofinus@cityfarm.sg
What is the main purpose of the event?
The Miniature Garden workshop teaches participants to _______________.
In the section 'How to make a Seed Ball', which of the following statements is true?
Mile wants to take the guided tour around the farm. She _______________.
According to the excerpt from Nature Magazine, what is one concern that Singaporeans have when it comes to urban farming?
According to the excerpt, City Farm builds 'edible gardens'. What does the term 'edible gardens' refer to?
City Farm contributes to local farming efforts by _____________.
What does City Farm look for in a student ambassador?
Phil was about to pop into his brother's classroom when he thought he saw the back of his brother's jacket (further ahead. It had to be Jimmy. No one else in the school had a jacket like that one.
'Hey Jimmy!' he called out but his brother did not stop. Phil rushed forward and grabbed hold of the boy. But it wasn't Jimmy. It was someone Phil had never seen before and he was wearing Jimmy's jacket. As the boy struggled to break free, Mrs Atkins came striding towards them. Immediately, sensing the teacher's presence, Phil released his grip. Calmly at both boys, Mrs Atkins ordered them to follow her. Once they were at the school office, Mrs Atkins asked the younger of the two to explain.
"I was walking along the corridor when this boy grabbed me. I didn't do anything!" explained Daniel.
"He stole my brother's jacket," explained Phil.
"Wait!" Daniel immediately jumped to his feet and faced Phil, his fists clenched. "I have never stolen anything! This jacket is from my grandmother, a birthday present. Stop saying that!"
"Boys! I am sure this is a simple misunderstanding. Isn't possible that this is just an identical jacket, Phil?" Mrs Atkins reasoned.
Phil shook his head forcefully. "My mother got that jacket for me when she was overseas some years ago. Go on, look at the label inside the collar. It will say 'Di Roma'. That's because she got it in Rome. That is my jacket which I've outgrown so Jimmy, my younger brother, has been using it."
When Mrs Atkins asked Daniel for permission to look at the label, Daniel turned his back to her, indicating consent. The teacher gently pulled the collar of the jacket back. As she did, her eyebrows shot up. She stated that the jacket indeed had that specific label. Even as Phil started to accuse Daniel yet again of stealing, she told the boys to remain quietly seated while she made a quick telephone call.
Returning shortly after, Mrs Atkins explained that she had called Daniel's mother. It turned out that both boys were right. Somebody had given the jacket to Daniel's grandmother and she had given it to Daniel!
Phil was about to make a scathing remark when something registered in his mind. It was only then that he remembered seeing his mother packing some clothes to give away. Turning to Daniel, he asked tentatively, "Who is your grandmother? What's her name?"
Daniel curled his lip. "None of your business. But her name is Lucy Taylor."
Immediately, Phil's face reddened. "Hey, I am sorry I grabbed you! You are right. It's your jacket."
"What?" Daniel looked straight at Phil. "You accuse me of stealing and now you tell me that the jacket is mine. Why?"
Phil looked at the floor, embarrassed. "It's just that, I know your grandmother. You see, she's... she helps my mom to clean the house. I guess my mom must have given her the jacket."
The words seemed to echo off the walls.
Daniel looked like he had been punched in the stomach. He backed towards the office door, anger written all over his face. Yanking off the jacket, he threw it at Phil's feet. "There's your jacket, Rich Kid! I don't need your charity!"
As Phil bent down to grab the jacket, he was full of remorse. Although all he had done was to tell the truth, he knew he was in the wrong. Standing up, jacket in hand, Phil resolved to be gracious and avoid making assumptions.
The aardvark gets its name from a South African word meaning 'earth pig'. ___________ the aardvark looks like a pig, especially with its body and snout, aardvarks actually share common ancestors ___________ elephants and golden moles.
Aardvarks are found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. ___________ [blank in passage]
Aardvarks use ___________ large front claws to dig holes at a rate of 0.5 metres in 15 seconds.
This enables them to get to their favourite meat ___________ termites and ants.
Aardvarks have long, sticky tongues with ___________ they slurp up and swallow tens of thousands of insects from termite mounds and ants nests.
Aardvarks are most active ___________ night and tend to live alone.
During the day, they sleep curled up ___________ their burrows.
As night falls, aardvarks will emerge cautiously from their dens, ___________ the lookout for predators.
They are able to see at night, ___________ otherwise have poor vision and are colour-blind.
The use of pesticides to grow crops on land inhabited by aardvarks ___________ also reduced the number of insects available for aardvarks to eat.
His name is Flanagan and he is my four-legged friend. From a mere eight kilogrammes, his
lineage hails from the Spaniel family. He has flop ears, a tail that never stops wagging, and a brown coat.
Some time ago, I enlist Flanagan in a programme to assist children which have difficulty
reading aloud. Most of the children in the programme pesleve reading as something to be dreaded,
but reading to a dog that is not fargemantal changes everything for them.
During our library time, I unroll Flanagan's paw-print rug in the children's reading corner.
Flanagan sits ajascent to a bright yellow bookcase neatly stacked on all types of inviting books for
a child to read and explore. Furchcd on top of the bookcase is an adorable plush puppy with a
striking rezembulance to Flanagan.
When the first child arrives, Flanagan wags his tail to welcome her, and the reading session
begins. Flanagan listens conshiensiously as the child reads, sometimes placing a paw on the child's
knee. His attentiveness as each child reads aloud is amaze to observe. Flanagan has heard all sorts of stories. Each week, Flanagan makes a difference, changing a child's life story, one word at a time.
Fill in the blank: A team of scientists have unearthed what is believed to be the largest spider fossil ever found, _________________ near the Daohugou village in Northeastern China, the perfectly preserved specimen is a close relative of the modern-day spider known as the Golden Silk Orb-Weaver.
Fill in the blank: It is a type of spider known for the impressive _________________ it weaves.
Fill in the blank: Experts _________________ that the fossil is about 165 million years old.
Fill in the blank: What surprises them is its rather large size, which _________________ about five centimetres when stretched from end to _________________.
Fill in the blank: That is because this specimen of spider _________________ during a period when oxygen levels were much higher, causing _________________.
Fill in the blank: _________________ similar insects to _________________ to almost monstrous sizes.
Fill in the blank: For example, back _________________ dragonflies spotted a wingspan of up to a metre, while millipedes _________________.
Fill in the blank: _________________ measured over two metres.
Fill in the blank: Similar _________________ today's Golden Silk Orb-Weaver, this spider also had silk spinning organs on its leg, suggesting that it too was capable of spinning large webs, to _________________ its prey.
Fill in the blank: Scientists believe that the ancient spider has been around for over 350 million years _________________ the Earth was one big supercontinent known as Pangaea.
Fill in the blank: However, the species was well spread out by the time Pangaea _________________ up into seven continents and can therefore be found in many _________________ of the world today.
Fill in the blank: Since its close relative thrives in tropical climate, scientists speculate that the Daohugou region used to be warmer and more humid _________________ it is today.
Fill in the blank: Generally, _________________ are not well-represented in the fossil records as their soft external skeletons do not preserve well.
Lucy tried very hard. She could not master the skill of skipping. However ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________.
John was relieved when he received the news that he had passed with flying colours. ________________________________________________________________________________ with great ________________________________________________________________________________.
"I will meet you after school today," Mrs Lim said to her son. Mrs Lim told her son that ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________.
The children were curious. They opened the brightly-coloured box. Out of ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________.
The principal invited the musician to speak to the students. The musician's song won an award. ________________________________________________________________________________ whose ________________________________________________________________________________.
The walls of the Visual Arts Museum were beautifully illuminated most nights from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. over the past year. The light-ups started on 1 August 2021 in celebration of our nation's birthday, and flashing stars and crescents could be seen the entire month. Since then, interesting light displays – with colours and designs that convey different meanings – have been used to commemorate local festivals and significant events.
During the Nights Out Festival 2022, the museum will mount a stunning light display that promises to mesmerise its spectators. Opening hours are also extended daily to 11:30 p.m. for those who wish to enjoy exploring the museum after dark. Visitors must form a group of 4 and sign up for the guided tours in advance. For more information and to register (before 1 November), visit the museum's website at www.vam.sg.
Which of the following statements about the festival is true?
Mrs Ramu wants to attend the festival with her 12-year-old daughter without getting tickets beforehand. Which activity can they do together?
What is the similarity between the Art Maze and the Giant Sandpit?
What is the main purpose of the monthly light displays in the Visual Arts Museum?
Raj wants to be part of the Visual Arts Museum's guided tour during the festival. He must do all the following except __________
The use of dashes in "Since then, interesting light displays – with colours and designs that convey different meanings – have been used to commemorate local festivals and significant events", serve to __________.
Nadia is a strong advocate of mental health. Which monthly light display would she have been interested in?
What is the main purpose of the article? It is to __________.
Suddenly, a familiar pair of shoes came into view. I looked up and found Grandma looking down at me. She seemed to have forgotten why she was at the park until she saw my face. "Let's start anew," she said, still holding onto the photograph. "It's a pleasure to meet you. And you are?"
I knew she would forget even this in a matter of time, for the illness would continue to chip away at what, she would still be my beloved grandma, and I could claim her memories. But no matter what, she would still be my beloved grandma, and I could tell that she wanted to persevere and so would I.
"Bethany, your granddaughter," I responded, accepting her outstretched hand with a smile. Even if Grandma could not remember the good times we shared, I could. Those memories were mine to keep. Perhaps, the battle was not completely lost.
Pandas are adored (29) __________ the world and considered a national treasure in China.
They survive almost entirely (30) __________ bamboo.
They eat around 10 (31) __________ 40 kilogrammes of bamboo every day by using their enlarged wrist bones that function as opposable thumbs.
Pandas are often seen eating in a relaxed sitting posture, (32) __________ opposable thumbs.
Pandas may appear sedentary, (33) __________ their hind legs stretched out before them.
Pandas may appear sedentary, (34) __________ they are actually skilled tree-climbers and efficient swimmers.
A newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter. Females can grow up to about 90 kilogrammes, while males (35) __________ much bigger and can grow up to 135 kilogrammes as adults.
These bears are extremely agile (36) __________ their bulky appearance.
Improved conservation efforts (37) __________ resulted in an increase in the wild panda population.
However, viewing chances depend on the comfort levels (38) __________ both mother and cub.
How are you? How's the weather like in Japan? You would be thrilled by where I am going to share with you.
I am going to represent my school at the National Debate Challenge! When Mrs Ong asked if anyone would like to volunteer, I avoided eye contact at her because I did not
want to be choose.
However, everyone in class chanted my name in gunisen and Mrs Ong
also agreed that I would be the best candidate for the challenge. Reluctant, I agreed.
Mrs Ong shared that this is a rare oppertuneity and she hopes that I will rise to the okaytion.
The competition will take place in a month's time. Not wanting to disapoint Mrs Ong and my classmates, I have been burning the midnight oil, practice day and night
in prepare for the competition.
Mrs Ong said that I could bring two guests along on the day of the competition. I heard that there would be a skrumxious dinner provided after the competition for all guests!
I have confirmed Dad's uhtendence. Will you be back in time for my competition? I hope to hear from you soon! Meanwhile, do take care.
Fill in the blank: One of the __________ in which we can slow down the damage and save this beautiful planet is by living sustainably.
Fill in the blank: Contrary to popular __________, going green does not equate to spending more.
Fill in the blank: In fact, you might be __________ more money in the long run.
Fill in the blank: All you have to do is conserve many of our scarce natural __________.
Fill in the blank: All you have to do is __________ your waste into two categories — recyclable and non-recyclable.
Fill in the blank: However, it is important to ensure the items you would like to recycle __________ not contaminated with food or liquids.
Fill in the blank: For example, you need to ensure that items such as shampoo bottles and canned drinks are washed __________ they are recycled.
Fill in the blank: Also, thanks __________ the ease and instantaneity of communication today, it is no longer a necessity for documents to be in the form of (59) __________.
Fill in the blank: It is no longer a necessity for documents to be in the form of __________.
Fill in the blank: Using less paper means we cut down __________ trees, which results in using less chemicals and water that papermaking demands.
Fill in the blank: Did you also know that not all bulbs are created equal? The most environmentally __________ option is the light-emitting diodes (LED) bulb which uses the least (62) __________ of energy.
Fill in the blank: The most environmentally friendly option is the light-emitting diodes (LED) bulb which uses the least __________ of energy.
Fill in the blank: __________ to a study done in 2018, people in Singapore used about 1.76 billion plastic items each year and most are plastic bags from supermarkets.
Fill in the blank: Single use plastic bags take a __________ on our planet.
Fill in the blank: While your personal efforts to go green may seem inconsequential, the combined efforts of the world can make a big __________ in combating environmental issues.
You cannot accuse Gordon of cheating. You need to have evidence.
Leela stared at the mess her dog had made. She could not believe it
The author has autographed the award-winning book.
'How many laps did Dave swam? Rishi asked Sarah.
My brothers were excited to see the rainbow stretched across the sky.
Anthony said, "It was magical when I witnessed an irreplaceable soft toy of mine that was ripping apart being transformed into the one from my childhood memory. I would like to provide the same experience for others."
Betty added, "My daughter has a stuffed friend that she drags along with her everywhere she goes. I would like to set up medical facilities that can help others to maintain the condition of their beloved soft toys."
The duo then launched Soft Toy Hospital by creating a Facebook page and putting up an advertisement to attract customers. Shortly after, the guardian of their first patient contacted them for treatment. It was a shark that needed more padding.
How to get your soft toys treated by our professional doctors?
First, get an "Online Consultation"
• WhatsApp (65) 9000 5555
• Send pictures and indicate the size of the stuffed patient
• Indicate the services required
We will recommend either Hospitalisation or House Call services after the initial assessment.
Hospitalisation
Address: 30 Orchid Road, Singapore 930123
Opening hours:
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Monday - Saturday)
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Sunday)
House Call
Book an appointment via WhatsApp (65) 9000 5555
Simple surgical procedures can be performed by our professional doctors in the comfort of your home from 1 pm to 6 pm daily.
Anthony and Betty Tan got the inspiration to set up Soft Toy Hospital from
In the second paragraph of "About Us", the "experience" refers to
Why are arrows (→) used in the section "How to get your soft toys treated by our professional doctors?"
Mr Lee requires a few buttons to be stitched back onto his soft toy by a professional doctor. According to the flyer, he should
Which departments will help to maintain the hygiene of a soft toy and prevent it from having bad bugs?
The hospital does not have a standard price list for the following possible reasons except ________.
Sally was a first-time customer who liked and shared Soft Toy Hospital's Facebook page and left a review on 8 August 2022. What will she receive?
What is the main purpose of this flyer?
That was when I saw a giant, wild tomcat streaking towards the chicks. It had seen me and held still but Fluff knew he was there. She attacked him, pecking and beating with her wings but he was huge. Each swipe of his claws sent feathers flying. I was furious. I grabbed a nearby shovel and raced towards the cat. He saw me and ran for the door and into the nearby field. Fluff lay there bleeding, not moving.
As I went closer, she tried to move to her babies, but her leg was broken. Afraid the cat would return, I got a box and put her in it. I found her babies in the nest where she had tried to conceal them. I moved them all to the stallion's barn and put them in one end of his pen. The only way in was through the door to his pen and he hated cats. I knew they would be safe there. I got her a little pan of water and some grain. She clucked to me, as if asking me to take care of her babies.
"We'll get you better, Fluff, and you can take care of yourself," I said but the next morning, I was digging her grave by the barn she had defended as home. I realised I was crying over a chicken because of the way she had trusted me and given her life for her children. I became a mother hen to her little brood which would often follow me around. I found them a home with a chicken farmer except for one. I saved the feistiest mottled little red hen and made a permanent home for her in the stallion's pen. I named her Fluffy.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to C) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. The passage is about the Eiffel Tower with blanks at positions (29) through (35) to be filled from the given word list.
The Eiffel Tower was originally painted dark red. _____________ It was re-painted yellow. Today, it is painted bronze and it gets a new coat of paint every few years.
Every evening, 20,000 light bulbs light up the Eiffel Tower _____________ the night sky. It is a mesmerising and an attractive sight.
_____________ it looks beautiful in the day as well. Visiting the Eiffel Tower in the day is a completely different experience as compared to visiting it at night.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
[Blank box for answer - appears to be a fill-in-the-blank question from the surrounding context about Mr Miura's challenges]
[Blank box for answer - appears to be a fill-in-the-blank question related to Mr Miura departing for Mount Everest]
[Blank box for answer - appears to be a fill-in-the-blank question about the consequence of Mr Miura's illness]
[Blank box for answer - appears to be a fill-in-the-blank question about Mr Miura's decision regarding Mount Everest]
Giving Family Festival booths are a must-visit!
Families and friends can enjoy fun games, live workshops and volunteer opportunities either before or after the run! Sign up as a volunteer or donate generously.
Click on the hyperlinks to find out more about each beneficiary.
Be A Befriender
Do you enjoy making new friends?
Twilight Dream Eldercare Centre needs volunteers for their "Senior Befriender" programme. Sign up at the booth and make a difference to someone's day!
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet will be distributed to those who sign up. You can read up if you have queries about the role, the organisation, the programme and the needs of the elderly.
Suitable for: 14 years old and above
WANTED!
Do you like to create videos? Use your talent to help the needy.
The Uplift Society is looking for volunteers to create videos to raise awareness about their organisation on their social media platforms. Join them at the Uplift Society Booth! You can also sign up for a complimentary 1-hour workshop on video editing skills. First-come, first-served basis.
Suitable for: Primary and Secondary students
Minimum age: 12 years old
DONATE TO CHARITY
BY PARTICIPATING IN THESE WORKSHOPS WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Register on site!
Cookie Decoration Workshop
Fee: $10 for a family
Learn how to create your own fancy cookies. Hurry! Limited spaces available.
Basic Brush Painting Workshop
Fee: $20 for a pair
(excludes material fee)
Learn basic brush strokes from a team of disabled artists.
Sign Language Workshop
Fee: $10 per person
Learn sign language from a team of hearing-impaired volunteers.
Mode of Transaction: Use only festival coupons to pay.
Purchase festival coupons at www.thegivingfamily.sg
All proceeds from the workshops will be donated to the Association of the Physically Disabled.
This event is sponsored by SG Enable
Which of the following organisations is organising Run & Raise 2022?
Why is "Run and Raise" an appropriate name for the event?
Why is the colon (:) used in the section "How to sign up"?
Mr Lim is passionate about supporting the elderly. What activities can he sign up for at the Giving Family Festival?
Mindy is 13 years old and wants to participate in activities that are free of charge. Which of the activities will be suitable for her?
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheet regarding the "Seniors Befriender" programme will be able to achieve all of the following except _______________.
Which of the following is true of the Giving Family Festival?
What is the main purpose of this article?
This made Wang waste no time in meeting all the plantation workers that evening to inform them of the danger and offer a $200 reward to anyone who could kill the tiger. Peng Hoe, a plantation worker, asked with fear in his eyes, "Sir, can you supply us with guns? We definitely want to catch it as our lives are at stake. However, which chance do we have against the tiger with our small knives?"
The only gun belonged to Wang and he was too afraid to shoot the tiger himself so he decided to deny it. "There is no gun here," he said dismissively. "Anyway, you men have your knives and there are so many of you against that lone tiger." He then added awkwardly, "The reward will now be $400 for the man who gets rid of this tiger!" With that, he left the meeting.
Rami, a young plantation worker whose eyes had narrowed when Wang denied having a gun, told the men, "We must kill that tiger before it gets any more of us. I heard from someone that Master Wang owns a gun. All, another plantation worker, who was listening intently, spoke up, "Really? If that is true, Wang can lead us to kill the tiger. Let me ask him!" Peng Hoe and the rest of the men cheered him on as he ran after Wang.
When asked, an indignant Wang replied, "Yes, I own a gun but why should I lead the men to kill it?"
All was surprised at the answer but persisted, "But Sir, you are the only one who knows how to use the gun."
"How about this? I'll lend you the gun. You just need to aim it at the tiger and squeeze the trigger," Wang offered. "And you can still have the $400 reward." With that, he left and returned with a large rifle which he placed in Ali's reluctant hands.
All trudged back to the waiting workers. Though he had no experience with guns, he decided that he would make the best of the situation. He started hatching a plan to give them the best chance of killing the tiger. He told the workers about Wang's refusal to help, which drew loud complaints about Wang's cowardice. However, when he told them of his plan, it was met with approving nods.
That night, dressed in dark clothing, twenty men who had volunteered to help, arrived at the agreed venue for the tiger hunt, each carrying an empty tin can and a stick. They followed Ali's earlier plan and spread out, making a long line through the plantation. Then, they started shouting and banging the tin cans with their sticks as loudly as they could to lure the tiger out of its hiding place.
Under the cover of the trees, the nervous men moved cautiously. It was hard to see in the dim light and the shadows played tricks on them many times. Suddenly, after a few seconds of loud rustling in the trees came a terrific roar as a huge tiger leaped out right in front of them. Confused and angered by the noise, and faced with so many humans, it paced left and right, down the line of men, unsure about which one to pounce on.
All's plan was working! Although terrified, the men carried on banging their tin cans as they closed ranks around the beast. Although it was snarling and bashing its teeth, Ali calmly stepped forward, aimed his rifle carefully and... Bang! Bang! Bang! He shot the tiger stone dead. Romi triumphantly, the men raced into the air and carried him all the way back to Wang's house. An astonished Wang, roused from his slumbers, opened the door. He had not expected such teamwork from them. Wordlessly, he handed over the reward, which Ali generously shared with the twenty men, praising them for their bravery and teamwork. To everyone watching, it was clear that while Ali was not the headman, he was certainly the better leader.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. The Jacob Baltas Children's Garden is one of the many gardens within the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is the first garden in Asia dedicated __________ children. Its theme (29) __________ 'Life on Earth Depends on Plants' aims to educate and instil a love for nature in (30) children. The Garden is a learning environment rooted in nature, __________ children can (31) delve deeper __________ the ecology of plants and our environment __________ discovery (32) (33) and experiential learning. The Garden offers children a space __________ exploring and having adventures, with (34) a farm, an orchard, and a forest with __________ own stream and ponds. Young adventure (35) seekers can explore the suspension bridge and nature play areas; budding naturalists can walk __________ the stream and climb into the tree-houses; and our urban gardeners can observe (36) how plants grow and pick up some gardening tips. Be __________ exploring the outdoor space, (37) tending to the plants or indulging in the tree-houses, there is something for __________ child. (38) It is no wonder that the Jacob Baltas Garden is one of the most popular gardens in Singapore.
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'pisang goreng'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word in the sentence: 'While we in Singapore'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word in the sentence: 'is'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'nutreseous'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word in the sentence about bananas being available all year long
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'lifeleevhuds'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word in the sentence about cultures depending on the banana
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'meent'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'For' at the beginning of the sentence about bananas being an important food source
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'be' in the sentence: 'bananas be also key to the economic'
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word in the sentence about the survival of many nations
Write the correct word in the box for the underlined word 'indushtree'
Fill in the blank: Humans have a long relationship with horses. Some believe that horses were domesticated as _____________ back as 4000 BC in Mesopotamia and China.
Fill in the blank: Others say it was in Kazakhstan or Southern Russia. _____________ the case may be, human societies have long appreciated the value and usefulness of this graceful, majestic _____________.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word about the value of horses.
Fill in the blank: The desert tribes of the Arabian Peninsula have lived with their horses for thousands of years. They were valuable to the Bedouin people for providing transportation on long treks and quick raids _____________ other tribes.
Fill in the blank: The Arabian horse was prized for its speed and stamina. Able to _____________ harsh desert conditions, the Arabian horse was a treasured part of the tribe and _____________.
Fill in the blank: They were lovingly reared and even slept within the family tents for _____________.
Fill in the blank: In France, they would pull carts of fish from the sea to the city as _____________ as possible to keep the fish fresh.
Fill in the blank: Horses are still _____________ by the police worldwide for crowd _____________.
Fill in the blank: during unrest or riots, as well as search and _____________ operations.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: In the _____________ of sports, horse races show _____________ the impressive speed of thoroughbred horses.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word.
Fill in the blank: As a family pet on a farm, horses are a _____________ of fun and relaxation for many.
Fill in the blank: Humans realised that once they learned to ride a horse, they were able to see _____________, work harder, move faster and cover far greater _____________.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word to complete the sentence about distances.
When the driver saw the child dash across the road, he jammed on the brakes. On seeing the ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________.
Sam completed the challenging obstacle course because he persisted. As a result, ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________.
The girls stopped swimming when the heavy rain started. _____________________________________________________________ until _____________________________________________________________________.
Ariel asked me if I would like to watch a movie with her the next day. "_________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________" Ariel asked.
The students are packing goodie bags for the children at the kindergarten. The goodie bags _______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________.
Picking up a new language may sound intimidating without the right environment and techniques.
Speaking two or more language has quite a wide scale of benefits, namely,
• enhances the ability to focus on information needed to complete a task.
• allows flexibility and sensitivity in your thinking.
• provides access, connection and exposure to various cultures all over the world.
• gives you more choices of jobs in various fields.
With the world getting more globalised, it does not make sense to stay monolingual. Arm yourself with the tool for the 21st century – another language!
Who are we?
Set up in 2002, LANGgo is a Singapore-based language school that helps you quickly learn a new language -- be it in listening, reading, speaking or writing. We focused on helping individuals to develop language proficiency skills in another language.
What do we offer?
We teach a wide variety of languages with a focus on conversational skills. The languages taught include English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Japanese, Korean, German, Thai, Spanish and French.
We also offer language preparation programmes for the following examinations: IELTS (English), DELE (Spanish), DELF (French), CELI (Italian), TESTDAF (German), JLPT (Japanese), TOPIK (Korean) SKMW (Malay) and TPI (Thai).
Our examination preparation programme will be according to your skill level and goals. You can choose between private classes, semi-private classes, group classes or virtual online lessons to learn your new language. Each class will only have 1 to 10 students so every student will get the individual attention he or she needs.
What about our Teachers?
❖ Highly qualified and experienced native speakers with at least five years' experience in teaching their respective languages.
❖ Armed with skills to teach others to be proficient users of the language
Rest assured you will learn the most accurate form of language.
What does the phrase 'arm yourself with the tool' on Page 5 mean?
According to the flyer, which one of the following is not a benefit of speaking more than one language?
Which one of the following language preparation programmes does not have a focus on conversational skills?
Which of the following statements about LANGcia School is true?
What is the similarity between the Conversational Korean and the Elementary Mandarin classes?
Why did LANGgo School publish the testimonials of the students?
To register for the classes, interested parties can _________.
What is the main aim of the flyer?
Jake peered over the edge of the hole. It spread from one side of the cave to the other. The hole seemed like a dark, bottomless pit. Vines crept down the sides of the rocky and into the hole, slithering over and between each other like black snakes. Staring into the hole, Jake stood precariously near the edge while Billy refrained from getting too close to it. To the latter, it looked too dangerous. The (gleaming), intensifying vines looked slippery. One misstep on one of the vines or losing his footing would mean tumbling into this deep black abyss. Staring back towards the entrance of the cave, Billy had his heart in his mouth when he realised that the ray of light at the entrance of the cave appeared too far away. He gulped. His heart was pounding hard against his chest.
"I think I can see something down there," whispered Jake, flashing Billy a wide grin. Lying face down on the ground, Jake's head was over the edge of the hole. Billy felt strange. His body seemed to be pulled towards the hole, which was as if it was going to swallow him whole.
"I dare you to come closer to the hole to take a look," Jake shrieked in excitement. Billy wanted to yell out a loud "no!" but no voice came out of his throat. Chickening out then would mean the word 'coward' would be all over school very soon. His classmates would seize this opportunity to mock him. Reluctantly, he crouched down as if fours and spread his feet back behind him, making sure not to get too close over the edge of the dark space in front of him. At that moment, he spotted something. It was a flicker which seemed like a tiny fragment of light reflecting off something.
"See it?" gasped Jake as he nudged Billy with his elbow, which made Billy jump.
"No! I didn't see anything," Billy answered hesitantly. Obviously, Billy was lying. Stealing a glance at Jake, Billy saw a smile of mesmerised glee on his face. Billy edged slightly away from Jake. A smell rose from the hole. A musty, earthy smell. A smell that Billy did not want lingering in his face for too long. Their initial plan had been simple. All they were supposed to do was to sneak into the cave and take a look at the big hole. Yet, Jake wanted much more than that. With his eyes fixated on the dark mass below them, Jake's jaws parted slightly and his breath was shallow.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go into the hole and explore it together now!" Jake roared impatiently with menacing eyes, like something had a grip on him. Billy shook his head, swallowed away the dryness in his throat and shuffled further away from Jake. In disgust, Jake curled his top lip. Turning away, Jake pushed himself into an upright position and switched his legs around. Upon doing that, both his feet hung over the dark hole. He then eased himself closer to the edge of the hole and leaned over. He cleared his throat and spat down into the darkness.
"Jake, let's get out of here. We can come back another time with a rope or a ladder," pleaded Billy, who would rather be ridiculed in school on Monday.
"Yeah, why not Lilly? We'll bring your dad's ladder and get your mum to pack us some sandwiches. Ugh. We can have a picnic at the bottom of the hole," Jake blurted in sarcasm and harrumphed, before moving himself closer to the edge of the hole.
Billy stood up and reached out his hand, "Jake, I'm serious. I don't want you to do this."
"What you want and what I want are two different things."
Without another sound, Jake leapt into the blackness. Billy jerked his hand back and stood frozen-like status for a few seconds as he watched Jake's body disappearing from view into the darkness.
"Jake!" Billy's loud clarion voice echoed in the cave. "Are you all right?" No response. Still and silent. Dead silence. Inclining forward, Billy stared down into the hole. Not a single sound came up from the abyss. Not one fragment of light. Not a soul in sight. It was like Jake had never existed at all.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The two letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed one imported case of monkeypox infection in Singapore. The patient is a 42-year-old British national _____________ works as a flight attendant. MOH said that the man was in Singapore between 15 June 2022 _____________ 17 June 2022. He flew in and out of Singapore and was tested positive _____________ monkeypox on 20 June. His is currently warded in the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and his condition is stable. Initially, the man _____________ headache and fever. These symptoms were subsequently resolved but soon _____________, he developed skin rashes. "Contact tracing is ongoing for the affected flights and for the duration of his stay in Singapore. _____________ this period, he had largely remained in his hotel room, except to visit a massage establishment and eat at three food establishments. "In general, at _____________ locations, the risk of transmission to visitors _____________ low. Data has shown that monkeypox transmits through either close physical _____________ prolonged contact. All four locations visited by the case are undergoing cleaning and disinfection. Thirteen close contacts have been identified. They will be placed on quarantine for twenty-one days _____________ their last contact with the case. If suspected of being infected, they will be conveyed to the NCID immediately for further evaluation and isolation to prevent further transmission," added the Ministry.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Correct the underlined word: 'Whatever I reminisce my primary school life,'
Correct the underlined word: 'excitement overwhelmed me.'
Correct the underlined word: 'while my mother packed my snack box filled with nutritious food.'
Correct the underlined word: 'Entering into the school premises,'
Correct the underlined word: 'Many boys and girls were seeing playing merrily at the school compound. How could they be so happy without their mothers?'
Correct the underlined word: 'the mood was intensive.'
Correct the underlined word: 'I finally understood the importance of having a disiplined life and its benefits.'
Correct the underlined word: 'If any of us misbehavfed or did not pay attention in class,'
Correct the underlined word: 'our teachers could reprimand us and inform our parents.'
Correct the underlined word: 'My form teachers then went through our school rules before getting us to introduce myself to our classmates.'
Correct the underlined word: 'I started to enjoy the conducive envirment of my class.'
Fill in the blank: Jackie Chan was a Hong Kong-born Chinese stuntman, actor and director. His dangerous acrobatic stunts and engaging physical humour made him an action-film star in Asia and helped to bring kung fu movies __________ the mainstream of American cinema.
Fill in the blank: Chan and his family __________ to Australia when he was six.
Fill in the blank: The following year, his parents sent him back to Hong Kong to __________ a strict boarding school.
Fill in the blank: He studied acrobatics, singing and martial arts. These __________ __________ landed him roles as a child actor and later, as a stuntman.
Fill in the blank: Chan often travelled back and __________ to visit his parents and work in Australia.
Fill in the blank: However, he finally made a decision to __________ to Hong Kong, a place he called his permanent home.
Fill in the blank: Chan commenced his movie career by appearing in __________ __________ roles in two films which starred Bruce Lee, the rising martial arts superstar back then.
Fill in the blank: Not long after Lee's untimely death, Chan got his big break and started receiving offers to take on major roles in films. __________ __________, he started writing, directing and starring in his own movies.
Fill in the blank: His own stunts were often extraordinarily dangerous and he nearly died from a fall that fractured his skull and __________ his hearing.
Fill in the blank: Chan sustained many injuries as a __________ of doing his own stunt work.
Fill in the blank: In 2016, Chan became the first Chinese actor to receive an honorary Academy Award __________ recognised his 'distinctive international career'.
Fill in the blank: Chan had done it the hard way to __________ his dreams and goals to be an international cinematic star.
Fill in the blank: He also founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Organisation in 1998 and is directly involved in providing financial __________ to schools and universities around the world.
Fill in the blank: He is a UNICEF GoodWill Ambassador who has campaigned against __________ animal abuse and pollution.
Fill in the blank: He has also assisted with disaster relief __________ to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami victims.
The twins loved to watch movies. The twins loved to read books. Not only ________ but ________
My classmates were sweeping the floor when I entered the classroom. The floor ________
"How did you get Ben to come here yesterday?" Sally asked Jane. Sally asked Jane ________
She encouraged me constantly. I overcame all odds. With ________
Malaysia and Singapore are separated by the Straits of Johor. Separating Malaysia ________
Aunty Marie, 78
Resident of Twilight Dreams Senior Home
Many abandoned or stray animals are brought to our shelter every day. Some of them need therapy to get well. The staff at the shelter are trained to conduct therapy. We appreciate volunteers who help us clean and maintain the rooms and animal cages so that we can focus on conducting therapy sessions.
Cecil Lee, 33
Founder of Precious Paws Animal Shelter
My parents could not afford treatment for me. Thanks to the [Fight Cancer Fund] set up by the Sunshine Children's Hospital in 2019, I was able to receive the medical help I needed to fight this terrible disease. I owe my life to the generosity of many donors in Singapore. Please continue to donate generously to hospitals. You are helping to save lives.
Dawn Chua, 15
Cancer patient at the Sunshine
In what way is Twilight Dreams Senior Home similar to Hercules Physiotherapy Centre?
Eleven-year-old Mindy wants to volunteer on a Saturday for two hours with her mother. They can volunteer at ________________.
Fourteen-year-old James can volunteer up to three hours on a single Sunday on his own. He can ________________.
The three testimonials provided by Aunty Marie, Cecil Lee and Dawn Chua tell us ________________.
Which of the following is what Aunty Marie likes most when young volunteers visit her?
According to Cecil Lee, some of the animals that are brought to the animal shelter ________________.
According to the flyer, which of the following is true of Dawn Chua?
What is the main purpose of the flyer?
The bird flapped around and let out another cry. She hated being inside that box. But Tim had to put her in to get her there. The wind blew harder, raw cold in their faces.
"That's a strong wind," said Harry. "Are you sure that pigeon can fly in this?"
"Blanche isn't a pigeon," Tim retorted. "I told you before. Blanche is a German word meaning 'white' which described her snow-white feathers perfectly."
"Oh yeah, that's right. A seagull. One of those little things that hop by the sea," Harry said.
Tim was about to snap back at Harry when he made eye contact with old Uncle Frank who was approaching. He gave the boys a friendly nod, then glanced at the box curiously. That prompted Harry to make small talk with the kindly neighbour, telling him about going to the top of the hill at the end of Station Road. "Got to do it this bird out," he said. "It's been with us since he found it on the shore, dying. I'm surprised it lasted this long to be honest."
As if reacting to the memory of her precarious early life, Blanche started flapping around in the box, screeching. She moved about so much that the box nearly fell out of Tim's hands. Spontaneously, old Uncle Frank's hands swung up to help secure it. "The enclosure is stifling it. You'd better run," he warned the boys.
All the way to Station, Harry made one comment after another. Always the same things. Tim's silly bird couldn't fly. That silly bird was lucky to be alive. On the contrary, Tim felt that there was no reason for her not to survive. He fed her. He made sure she ate every day. She was just a little blob when he found her. She had hardly any feathers and her eyes were clenched completely shut. But he touched her and she moved a little. That was when he decided to take her home.
Mother said Tim couldn't keep her in the house. "It's dirty," she said. "It might have fleas."
"She's a she, Mom," Tim said. "And she doesn't have fleas. I've washed her."
Tim didn't know what food to give her initially. When consulted, the pet shop man said dismissively that she would die in two days.
Tim went to the library instead and found a book on birds. There was a picture of a man feeding a baby bird some milk. He didn't know birds could drink milk, but he decided to give it a try. He would die. He didn't want the pet shop man to be right.
"So what are you planning on doing?" asked Harry. "Throwing it off the cliff here?"
"I'll help her," Tim said. "I've been helping her for the last two weeks."
Harry chuckled again. The same chuckle whenever he thought he was right. A smug chuckle, Tim reckoned. It irked him no end.
"Come on then," said Harry. "Get on with it. It's freezing up here."
Tim put the box on the grass and knelt down to open the lid. As he fumbled with the cardboard flaps, Blanche flapped around inside. "Come on, girl!" Tim said in what he hoped was a soothing voice. "Out you go."
"Saying your last goodbyes?" teased Harry. "So sad." However, he couldn't say anymore as he went into one of his coughing fits. Despite Harry's noisy hacking and hawing, Tim was secretly thankful for the momentary peace.
Tim kept the box open and Blanche let her wings spill outside into the cold air.
"Come on, girl! Go get your freedom!" Tim coaxed. The seagull only stretched out her head at awkward angles. Tim lifted the box higher to give her a full view of what was in front of them. She let out a cry yet dared not venture out. "You can do it!" he whispered. Alas, the boy fell the same. Tim sighed. Then he heard it—strong flapping of wings. When he felt the box, loft and lighten, his spirits soared.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38. In the passage below, from the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. (10 marks) EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Many working parents spend very little time with their children due to work commitment. According to recent studies, _____(29)_____ have begun to realise the importance of shared family time at the dinner table. _____(30)_____ is the only time when every member of the family _____(31)_____ together at one place. The purpose of a family dinner may differ from family _____(32)_____ family. In one family, good table manners might be _____(33)_____ most important thing parents want to teach their children. In another family, it might be communication or learning _____(34)_____ to listen and respect one another. Some parents might also want to divide the tasks of preparing dinner _____(35)_____ the children. This is done so that the responsibilities of preparing food, serving and washing dishes do not fall _____(36)_____ the parents only. Having dinner together as a family can be looked upon as an opportunity _____(37)_____ a chore. If it is viewed as an opportunity _____(38)_____ bonding, it can enhance family relationships. If it is viewed as a chore, there is a possibility that the family relationships will not be as strong.
I was day-dreaming in my room instead of preparing for my examination.
Feeling frustrated, I decided to look for my father to sought advice.
In the living room, I saw my father engrossed in his reading. I contemplated if I should disturb him. After a brief hesitate, I asked, "Dad, I have not been able to concentrate on my studies."
I should disturb him. After a brief hesitate, I asked, "Dad, I have not been able to concentrate on my studies."
concentrate on my studies."
Father looked up and then signal for me to go to the kitchen with him. He said, "Let's do an experiment! You will be able to look at things from a different perspective after that."
perspective after that."
Father boiled some water in a pot. He then placed on egg, two tea leaves and a potato into the water and told me to keep an eye on it. After ten minutes, he instructed me to peel the egg and potato and strain the leaves. That left me in utter bewilderment, not knowing what his intention was.
bewilderment, not knowing what his intention was.
"Look at how the items have responded different? The egg was soft, but it is now hard. The potato was hard, but it is now soft. And the tea leaves; they have
changed the colour of the water.' My father then asked, 'When adveracity calls, are you an egg, a potato or tea leaves?'
Heard his words made me realise that there are different responses that one could choose in difficult situations. I went back to my room - all ready to put in my best effort in my studies.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Singapore is bracing itself for a major dengue outbreak. The numbers could rise __________ higher than the current 19,386 cases as the nation has entered its peak dengue season from June to October.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ to the warmer weather, the mosquitoes breed quickly, and the virus multiplies.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ to the Ministry of Health, dengue is spread
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ the bite of a female Aedes mosquito. A mosquito
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ infected with dengue after taking blood from a dengue-infected person.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. It can then infect other people after eight to twelve days and __________ on the disease for the rest of its two-week lifespan.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ there are four different types of dengue virus, individuals can be infected with dengue up to four times.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Repeat infections increase the risks of dengue and, in turn, fatality. There have been four deaths, __________ dengue and,
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ far in 2022.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has carried out around 389,000 inspections in the first half of this year, __________ 10,800 mosquito breeding habitats.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Homeowners are advised to use glide __________ mosquito traps or larvicide, to
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. __________ mosquito larvae before they reach the pupa stage.
A Harmony of Nature and the Arts at Green Park
By Jason Yeo and Timothy Tan
18 August 2022
After months of designing, planning and working with various partners, Green Park was finally opened to the public on 1 August 2022. Located in the south-western part of Singapore, Green Park comprises over 20 hectares of land, offering facilities and activities for both the young and old.
For the month of August, Green Park has collaborated with local artists and arts groups to offer a fun-filled month-long event that allows visitors to discover how nature blends with the arts. Visitors will be treated to an open-air concert, poetry appreciation and a photography exhibition and contest.
There is also an Edible Plants Garden for those with green fingers to dabble in. Trained guides will conduct hourly walks within the nature reserve, highlighting plants and small animals often hidden in plain sight. Visitors can look forward to the sights and sounds of the serene park.
How to get there:
By bus:
• 51, 100, 196 (alight at Hyber Road)
• 9, 28, 47 (alight at Compass Road)
A gentle reminder:
Leave nothing but footprints.
Take nothing but photographs.
Dos and Don'ts:
• Be a responsible pet owner. Keep your pets leashed.
• Use of drones is allowed except in "No Fly" zones.
• Keep noise level low.
• Stay on designated trails.
Which of the following is true of 'Green Park Grand Opening' event?
Jenny plans to visit the park. If she takes Bus 28, which is the most direct route to Green Park?
What is allowed throughout Green Park?
Which of the following can be said about the activity, 'Ramblings of Nature'?
Mr Tan is at Green Horizon Nature Reserve and facing the lake. Which of the following is true?
Based on the newsletter article, avid photographers can expect ________.
A gentle reminder was included in the article. The writers added that to remind visitors ________.
What is the main purpose of the flyer?
And yet here he was, in a line with other windsurfers, all of them bobbing nervously on the waves behind an imaginary starting line. They were all fighting for the best position to start and tense as a result. It seemed so silly to Hwa, given the whole expanse of the sea. Hwa moved away. How Li-An had talked him into doing this, he did not know. As usual, she had managed to get her way by coaxing, scolding, mocking, daring him. Just as she had always done since they were little. Hwa had never been excited by races. He had not even bothered to wear the digital watch that everyone else seemed to be wearing to time the very second they start. Yet, Hwa's reaction was so natural and quick that at the very moment the starter's horn sounded, he was off. Hwa pulled hard at his sail to race just ahead of the group. As he picked up speed, gliding over the waves, he began to feel the familiar joy and freedom that windsurfing always gave him, despite his early trouble. What he loved was simply being out at sea. He could barely stop himself from yelling out in exhilaration.
"Go Hwa!" The wind carried over a familiar voice. He looked around and spotted Li-An upwind of him -- in a stationary speedboat -- with someone at the helm. She waved at Hwa and he nodded his head in acknowledgement, even though he knew she was too far away to see him. Just as he turned away, however, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a twirl of smoke behind the speedboat, on the shore. Knowing that the smoke could tell him the direction the wind was blowing, he decided to study it for a moment out of habit. Just as he was getting a better sense of how to use the wind to his advantage, he saw it.
Not just the smoke but a bright flare -- like an explosion or a burst of flames. He sailed closer, going way off course and saw long tongues of flames licking at the sky from behind a construction site. The fire was definitely spreading. What if nobody was aware of this? What if nobody was working there now? It was after all a quiet Sunday afternoon. For a second he hesitated, then decisively swung his sail over and stepped deftly onto the other side of the board until the sail caught the wind from the other side. Hwa directed his surfboard at Li-An's speedboat, avoiding a law of the slower surfers who were heading behind. "Fire!" Hwa shouted when he got within earshot of Li-An. She stared at him, clearly confused. "Wrong way!" she shouted back. "First! First!" Hwa yelled again, waving one hand towards land in the direction of the smoke. "Call 995!" She looked at where he was pointing, saw the smoke and understood his intent. Hwa waited long enough to see Li-An talking into her mobile phone urgently before turning his attention to the race.
The others were far ahead of him now. A gust of fresh wind had sprung up -- too good to be wasted -- and Hwa swung about to meet it full on. Hwa laughed out loud in exhilaration at the rhythm of the wind and wave powering him forward. This was not about him and the other competitors; this was him playing with the wave and the wind, with the sea and the sky.
As always, back on land after a sail, Hwa fell down. News reporters and photographers started to surround him. Good job, third place, he was being told -- good enough for the bronze medal. Those words sounded strange, almost like a taunt. So finally he was seen as "good enough"? Whatever happened to the "nots"?
"Third place," the announcement blared from the speaker system, "even with having made the detour to raise the warning about the fire! A tremendous achievement by..." Hwa heard his name being announced, and then the sound of applause and cheering.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 26 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Have you ever wondered what the Earth looked like 300 million years ago? __________ were swamps and marshes everywhere and it was warmer than it __________ today. Ancient trees, ferns and plants grew everywhere. Very weird-looking animals roamed the Earth, and fish that looked __________ stronger lived deep in the oceans and seas. When __________ prehistoric plants and animals died, their bodies decomposed in the same way __________ organisms do today. The dead organisms became buried __________ layers of mud, rock, sand and water. Gradually, these layers built up and __________ began to exert a great amount of pressure __________ the layers below it. As millions of years passed, the decomposed plants and animals formed different types of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The type of fossil fuels that formed depended on whether it was the remains __________ plants or animals or both, and __________ long the organisms had been buried. It also depended on the temperature and pressure conditions during the decay of the organisms.
Have you ever played multiplayer video games or even just watched someone else play? If you had, you would know how tiring these games can be.
If you had, you would know how tiring these games can be. In many ways, competitive video games are very similar with traditional sports such
competitive video games are very similar with traditional sports such as basketball or soccer. Players train, practise, and develop their professionaly in
Players train, practise, and develop their professionaly in their chosen game in an effort to being the best.
They develop new strategies and teknicks. However, instead of working on how to run faster or throw a ball most
They develop new strategies and teknicks. However, instead of working on how to run faster or throw a ball most correctly, video game players focus more on trained their minds, reflexes, and
video game players focus more on trained their minds, reflexes, and finger dexterity to xcell on a virtual playing field.
finger dexterity to xcell on a virtual playing field. Finally, they face off against each other in intirence head-to-head matches.
Finally, they face off against each other in intirence head-to-head matches. Today, more and more people are taking video games seriousness as a new
Today, more and more people are taking video games seriousness as a new kind of competitive sport. Know as e-sports, these professional video game
kind of competitive sport. Know as e-sports, these professional video game competitions are drawing masieve audiences.
competitions are drawing masieve audiences. These competitions are also turning the best players into worldwide celebrities.
A map is a drawing of all or part of the Earth's surface. Its basic __________ is to show where things are.
They may also show things that cannot be __________, such as boundaries and temperatures.
These often __________ of natural and man-made features within the area represented.
__________ maps show the boundaries of countries and cities, or even the climate of different areas.
While globes can provide the __________ information as flat maps, it is a more __________ representation.
This is because a spherical globe shows the Earth as it __________ like when observed from outer space.
Unlike modern maps, __________ maps had drawings to show locations of features like castles and mountains.
To __________ that the drawings were clear, they were painted on large canvases.
Such maps were nice to look at and easy to understand. __________, as more details were included, they became cluttered.
__________ time, maps were made simpler.
Modern mapmakers use __________ drawings with symbols.
Features such as cities, rivers and railroads are represented __________ different symbols.
For __________, double black lines with red between them can be a symbol for a main road.
__________ to maps with drawings, such maps contain more details and are still easy to read.
Given the variety of symbols, a legend is therefore included to describe their usage in maps.
The man refused to cooperate with the police. It led to his arrest. The man's _________________________________________________
Melanie has given the homeless man some food. _________________________________________________ by Melanie.
The trainer gave the command. The dog ran towards the rubble. No sooner _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
Kiyi did not want to make matters worse. She apologised quickly to her mother. Not _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
"Did you have the chance to speak to Ahmad yesterday?" Rina asked Joseph. Rina asked Joseph _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________
Have you ever wondered where your vegetables come from?
Singapore imports most of our produce from all over the world. This is because Singapore does not have enough land for farming. To ensure Singapore is able to produce its own food, the Government is encouraging urban farming.
In fact, in recent years, urban farming has become increasingly popular as people are more concerned about the source of their vegetables and fruits. They are worried about the amount of pesticides used. More people are growing edible plants in urban spaces, such as balconies and HDB corridors, without the use of pesticides.
Located at Kranji, City Farm is one of the more established urban farms in Singapore. On weekends, they offer farm tours and workshops for parents and children to get in touch with nature and learn about the importance of growing their own vegetables. They also help design and build edible gardens for residential and commercial uses so that more Singaporeans can enjoy their own fresh produce. In addition, they conduct school visits to educate students on urban farming.
Student Ambassadors needed!
Do you have a passion for gardening? Volunteer with us and help promote urban farming to your schoolmates!
City Farm visits schools to give educational talks, teach students how to grow vegetables and build gardens together with them. We will train student ambassadors to guide other students in the correct techniques for growing their own vegetables.
Interested students are to drop us an email at joinus@cityfarm.sg
What is the main purpose of the event?
The miniature garden workshop teaches participants to ________________.
In the section 'How To Make A Seed Ball', which of the following statements is true?
Milla is interested in taking a guided tour around the farm. She ________________.
According to the excerpt from Nature Magazine, why are Singaporeans becoming more interested in urban farming?
According to the flyer, City Farm builds 'edible gardens'. What does the term 'edible gardens' refer to?
City Farm contributes to local farming efforts by _______________
What does City Farm look for in its selection of Student Ambassadors?
Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes. People usually get malaria _______ being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Symptoms of malaria such as fever, chills and muscle aches begin appearing from seven days _______ four weeks later.
It is more difficult to fight malaria in Myanmar _______ in Singapore.
The reason is that Myanmar is a larger country _______ far more forests, making it harder to control breeding places.
Myanmar is a less developed country. _______ Singapore, most of the people in Myanmar live in villages surrounded by forests.
Villages _______ are good breeding places for mosquitoes.
Hospitals and clinics are few and far _______. As treatment is not easily accessible, thousands die.
In 2010, to save lives and reduce the spread of malaria, the government decided to rely _______ volunteers from the villagers.
The training and medicine for health volunteers are paid _______ by foreign donors.
The villagers are more likely to come forward to be tested _______ they become more and more aware of the disease.
Rahim and I know each other well. We are familiear with each other's hobbies,
quirky mannerisms and even our most embaresing secrets. However, the most
important aspect of our friendship is helping each other become a good person.
As my best friend, Rahim is excelent for relieving my stress and making me laugh.
Unfortunately, his optimistic attitude has a downside. He has a *tendency to
dismissing any serious situation. One fateful ocassion, however, changed that!
(Continuation of question 44)
It was a week before our examinations. I was buried in a montainus heap
of work when Rahim was busy folding origami paper cranes. I pleaded with Rahim
to get down to some serious studies. Rahim grinned and announced that the
examinations would be a piece of cake. I shook my head in exasparation.
All too soon, it was the examinations. Having worked hard, I braezed through the papers. I caught see of Rahim later. He looked pale and was perspiring even though it was a cool day. I had never seen Rahim look this anxious before!
It was not until I saw Grandmother and Ian together the next day. Finally, it dawned on me why she treated him so much better. She was sitting on a kitchen chair with her head bent next to his. She had taught him enough Chinese so that they could hold short, simple conversations. With their faces so close, I could see how much alike they were.
Ian and I both have the same brown eyes, but his hair is black, while mine is brown, like Dad's. In fact, everything about Ian looks more Chinese. Except for the shape of my eyes, I look as Caucasian as Dad. And yet people sometimes stare at me as if I were a freak. I've always told myself it is because they are ignorant and never learned manners. It was really hard to have my own grandmother make me feel that way.
Ever since Grandmother had arrived, I had been practicing my ballet privately in the room I now shared with Ian. I slipped one of the shoes onto my foot, but when I tried to tie the ribbons around my ankles, the ribbons came off in my hands. Grandmother was sitting in the recliner in the living room. My first instinct was to avoid Grandmother but I squared my shoulders. Uneasily, I approached her.
"Pew-paw," I said, "can you help me?"
Grandmother gave a start when she turned around and saw the ribbons dangling from my hand. Then she looked down at my bare feet, which were callused from the three years of daily ballet lessons. When she looked back at the satin ribbons, it was with a hate and disgust that I had never seen before.
"Give those to me." She held out her hand.
I clutched the ribbons tightly against my stomach.
"They'll ruin your feet." She lunged toward me and tried to snatch them away.
From the first paragraph, which two-word phrase tells us that Stacy and Ian are meeting their grandmother for the first time? [1m]
Based on lines 5-12, fill in the blanks below to show what the children paid attention to on meeting their grandmother? [2m]
Which two of the following words best describe how Stacy's mother welcomed Grandmother? Put a tick √ in the box beside each of your answers. [2m]
What were two rules Stacy's mother laid down for Stacy and Ian when Grandmother came to live with them? [2m]
Look at the table below. What do the phrases in the left column mean in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [3m]
Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [1m]
Fill in the following table. [2m]
"Finally, it dawned on me why she treated him so much better."(lines 40-41) a) How had Stacy been feeling towards her grandmother? [1m] b) From Stacy's point of view, why did Grandmother treat Ian better? [1m]
Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. [3m] Table with three statements: a) Grandmother was not comfortable with being hugged. b) Mother tried to make Grandmother's stay comfortable. c) Ian and Stacy look alike.
Why did Grandmother look at the ribbons with 'hate and disgust' (line 58) and try to snatch them away from Stacy? [2m]
Which of the following is true of Maple Estate's Community Day?
According to the Maple website, residents can engage in the Community Day activities to ______________.
Those who want to take part in the Maple Estate Chefs activity must ______________.
Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, "It's Community Day again!"?
In the article on the website, Mr and Mrs Wang did not socialise with their neighbours much at first because they ______________.
The Maple Estate Community Day is organised by __________.
Mdm Siti just moved to the estate and wants to get to know her neighbours. She is encouraged to __________.
How does the Bingo game allow residents to get to know their neighbours better?
Read the passage below and answer questions 71 to 80.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. This year's National Day Parade (NDP) was open to the public. Almost every seat at the Marina Bay floating platform was filled for the birthday bash on 9 August. NDP 2022 was a big difference ___ (29) ___ the previous two years, which had been drastically reduced ___ (30) ___ size to adapt to the safe management measures. This year's celebrations were comparable ___ (31) ___ those pre-Covid-19, involving as many Singaporeans ___ (32) ___ the floating platform as possible. Themed 'Stronger Together, Majulah', NDP 2022 coincided ___ (33) ___ the 55th anniversary of National Service. On 9 August, there ___ (34) ___ a combined land, air and sea Total Defence Display at the float. The organising committee had also brought back crowd favourites ___ (35) ___ the Red Lions conducting freefall jumps. During the grand finale, simultaneous firework displays were set ___ (36) ___ in the heartland areas. The organising committee also gave this year's celebrations a heartland twist. ___ (37) ___ the weekend of 6 and 7 August, there were exhibitions, carnivals and other performances in five venues ___ (38) ___ the country, including displays of military and police vehicles. What a spectacular event!
Here are some ways to get involved!
• Be a Digital Buddy to teach our seniors the various digital skills on their mobile devices. We offer training for volunteers and are actively seeking to improve the digital experience for the elderly.
To volunteer to be a Digital Buddy or to find out more before being one, please email to contact@eldercare.sg.
• Cash Donations - Your donations will help seniors from low-income families to purchase their mobile devices like mobile phones or tablets. Should you wish to make a cash donation, please mail the cheque to ElderCare's main office at 12 Digital Avenue, Singapore 333456.
• Donations of Mobile Phones – Do you have a used phone in working condition and is lying around at home? Why not donate it for a good cause?
Simply drop it at the reception counter at ElderCare main office.
You can check out other ElderCare projects to see how you can do your part to create a digitally-ready future for our elderly! To find out more about other support programmes organised by Eldercare for the seniors, you can visit www.eldercaresupport.org.
For more information on Seniors Go HiTech Programme, please visit ElderCare's homepage at www.eldercare.org
The Seniors Go Hi-tech Programme by ElderCare aims to _________.
With the use of the ScanGo application, the elderly can _________.
Game packs are given to the elderly who have _________.
Those elderly who are interested to go on the learning journeys will have to _________.
Anyone who wants to volunteer as a Digital Buddy must first _________.
Which of the following statements is true?
In the information provided for Online Learning, why is the colon (:) used in "These resources include step-by-step guide on:"?
Mr Rama, an elderly, has a child living overseas. He wishes to learn how to make video calls. How can he do so?
Since I was three, I had been taking part in art competitions and consistently emerged a winner. However, recently, I would feel extremely upset when this was no longer true. It hurt to know that I might not be as good as I thought. I wanted to quit before I started to hate drawing. Therefore, I was hesitant to enter any competition but Mrs Tan, my teacher, encouraged me to give it another try before I graduated from primary school. She said I was talented. She did not want me to lose an opportunity just because of some setbacks. With reluctance, I submitted my name to her. Unfortunately, two weeks before the deadline, I stared at the blank paper for hours.
Then, I recalled all the things I had unleashed on myself whenever I lost an art competition. "Well, what did you expect? You are not talented!" my inner thoughts seemed to smirk. "Do you seriously think you have what it takes to be an artist?" My rebellion towards these unsympathetic thoughts poured out onto that drawing. Satisfaction overwhelmed me when I finished. However, the whole process had been tiring as I fought every single thought which kept forming in my mind. I almost did not want to submit my drawing to Mrs Tan but since she believed in me, I thought I owed it to her.
Mrs Tan told me it was one of the best drawings I had ever done. She was confident that the judges would love it. I brushed her praises off. I thought she was just trying to comfort me. Just as Mrs Tan had predicted, I did win the top award. Initially, it felt like a great load had been lifted off my chest. It meant that my talent was recognised! Yet, almost as soon as the happiness rushed over me, self-doubt swept me into a sea of troubled thoughts.
I had not thought that this drawing had been outstanding. I had been rejected numerous times for entries I was proud of. I had stashed these pieces away in the storeroom display. Hence, what made this particular piece stand out? I did not believe in myself and attributed it to my sheer luck this time round.
A backstage crew member tapped my shoulder and this brought me back to the present. His whispered, "You're next! Get ready to receive your award soon!"
I walked over to a mirror to neaten up and saw my reflection. "So, you finally did well," my reflection seemed to say to me, without a hint of emotion.
"Yes!" I replied defiantly to myself. "I worked really hard on the drawing and it was a challenge. The judges felt I was good and I finally won so why am I still so angry with myself? This is not fair!" Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. Slowly, I calmed down and gathered my emotions. It all became clear to me that every time I failed, I wanted to give up. I brushed this aside. Perhaps I had thought that if I were hard on myself, I would somehow get back on my feet to prove myself worth.
That day, I realised that I was my worst critic. It dawned on me that I should not give up each time I failed. I had constantly doubted myself and this stopped me from even trying. I winked at my reflection and got ready to go on stage. Perfection needs practice and each setback takes one a step closer. I would never again think that the number of awards I attained defined my true talent.
Fill in the blank (29) with a suitable word from the list (A to Q). Each word can be used only once. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
In 1959, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed an interest (30) _______ Zubir's composition but requested the composer to make (31) _______ changes.
In 1959, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed an interest (30) _______ Zubir's composition but requested the composer to make (31) _______ changes.
He told Zubir that a National Anthem must be brief, and to the point (32) _______ people could remember easily.
He also wanted the anthem to be in Malay as it (33) _______ the native language of the region.
On 3 December 1959, it was performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the opening of the newly renovated Victoria Theatre. (34) _______, when Singapore attained self-government, it was chosen as the island's anthem.
Reflecting on (35) _______ composition, Zubir said, "The difficulty is not just about composing the music score (36) _______ the coming up with the lyrics also takes time.
Reflecting on (35) _______ composition, Zubir said, "The difficulty is not just about composing the music score (36) _______ the coming up with the lyrics also takes time.
He was so inspired (37) _______ the words "Majulah Singapura" near the foyer of the Victoria Theatre and wanted to capture the mood and heighten the feelings of Singaporeans for (38) _______ country.
He was so inspired (37) _______ the words "Majulah Singapura" near the foyer of the Victoria Theatre and wanted to capture the mood and heighten the feelings of Singaporeans for (38) _______ country.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Much of Europe shivered under the lash of a snowstorm before Christmas on cp (39) ___
This snowstorm closed many airports, caused kayous on the roads and gave school children an early start to their holidays. (40) ___
In France, the early snow disrupt transport ...and forced the closure of the Eiffel Tower by the autorities. (41) ___
The French capital and much of the country woke up to finding a sèven-centiime blanket of snow which caused flights to be delayed (42) ___
for up fill three hours. (43) ___
The eyekonic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors and (44) ___
train and bus services are delayed in many areas as daytime tempreche dropped to (45) ___
below zero for the first time in the year. (46) ___
In England, two airports were closed overnight before heavy snow fall over (47) ___
south and east England, with many incoming flights being dyeverted to other (48) ___
destinations. One of the airports reopened its runways when they were cleared but others remained closed. Heathrow, the world's busy international air hub, remained (49) ___
open. Police warned people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. (50) ___
Fill in the blank: Latin name means "quill pig."
Fill in the blank: __________ meal. In fact, some quills, like those of Africa's crested porcupine, are nearly 30-cm __________
Fill in the blank: Porcupines have soft hair. However, on many parts of their bodies, __________ is usually mixed with sharp quills.
Fill in the blank: When a porcupine is attacked, these quills will stand up as a __________ mechanism.
Fill in the blank: The quills also have sharp tips and overlapping scales or barbs that make them difficult to __________ once they are stuck in another animal's body.
Fill in the blank: To __________ the quills they lose, porcupines quickly grow new ones.
Fill in the blank: __________ to popular belief, porcupines cannot shoot the quills at their predators.
Fill in the blank: These quills can easily fall off when touched.
Fill in the blank: The porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their __________ in trees.
Fill in the blank: Some even have strong tails to __________ them in climbing.
Fill in the blank: The North American porcupine is the only species __________ lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines.
Fill in the blank: A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines __________ their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood.
Fill in the blank: They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew __________ canoe paddles.
Fill in the blank: Female porcupines give birth to __________ one and four young, depending on the species.
Fill in the blank: Babies have soft quills at birth which can __________ within a few days so that they can fend for themselves.
If you look hard, you will see a hidden image in the painting. __________________________________________ unless __________________________________________
"Why did you solve the problem sum this way?" Peter asked May. Peter was curious to know __________________________________________ __________________________________________
Tom was not decisive. He could not make up his mind. __________________________________________ because of his __________________________________________
My baby sister can do what she likes but I will not be angry. No matter __________________________________________ __________________________________________
John made a mess in the kitchen. He admitted to it. John admitted to __________________________________________ __________________________________________
Do you know that there is a variety of farms found in Singapore? We have farms that produce vegetables, fish, eggs and milk. Many such farms operate in the Kim Chu Kang area. These farms are one of our sources for food and play an important part in helping us to be more self-sufficient as a nation.
There are several reasons why we should buy from local farms. We can buy fresh produce directly from them. Fresh food tastes better. When food is picked and eaten at its freshest, it not only retains more nutrients, but it also tastes better. Furthermore, by choosing food produced locally, we help keep our local farmers in business.
Besides producing food, these farms offer unique experiences. You can take part in many exciting activities at the monthly farmers' market organised to bring the community together. A small number of the local farms organise educational tours with fun activities such as treasure hunts and cooking classes for visitors. For farms with animals, you can view the milking process of farm animals and even feed them.
Show your support for our local farms by visiting Granji Farmers' Market!
Did you know?
Apart from local farms, we also depend on farms overseas. We buy most of our food from many different countries. We do not depend only on a single source of supply.
To ensure that we do not depend solely on other countries for our food supply, we aim to increase our food production. The target is for our local farms to produce 30% of our food supply by 2030.
We encourage local farms that want to expand their businesses to grow their food overseas as well. Besides sending their food produce back to Singapore, they also produce fresh food for the countries they have set up farms in.
(Adapted from SFA | Our Singapore Food Story – The 3 Food Baskets)
The purpose of the question 'Do you know that there is a variety of farms found in Singapore?' is to ______________.
According to the poster, to ensure that Singapore has enough food, we ______________.
Which statement is true about local farms?
The main purpose of the poster is to ______________.
The purpose of using the exclamation mark in the sentence "Come and enjoy two weeks of fun-filled activities!" is to ______________.
Both Mrs Suni and her teenage daughter enjoy taking part in cooking competitions. They plan to attend the Granji Farmers' Market. Which is the most suitable date she should consider?
Lynette has registered for the baking workshop and wishes to find out if she will receive a free recipe book. She should send her query to ______________.
Which statement is not true about the Granji Farmers' Market?
The first day at camp flew by with the flurry of activity. Right after dinner, everyone was busy packing their bags in their rooms in preparation for the night walk. That was something Danny looked forward to especially since he had never gone on one before. Humming for coins in his pocket, Danny headed to the canteen to get a bottle of iced tea from the vending machine. "Ah! The perfect companion for the night walk!" he exclaimed as he took a sip and exhaled. Just as Danny was about to secure the bottle cap, he heard footsteps. He was caught off-guard as someone suddenly brushed past him and hit his elbow. The bottle slipped out of his hands and fell to the floor. Light brown liquid gushed out, creating ugly puddles on the floor. Danny caught a glimpse of a boy in a green T-shirt running off into the distance. "How rude!" Danny shouted, gritting his teeth. "Not even an apology!"
Just then, Mr Halim, the camp guide, approached Danny. "What are you doing here inste-" he asked but stopped midway when he saw the mess on the floor. "It wasn't me!" Danny raised his voice in self-defence. "I'm sure there's an explanation for this, but there's no reason to use that tone with me," Mr Halim replied as he glared at Danny. "You'll fix this mess you created before we head out for the night walk," he remarked and walked off in a hurry before Danny could explain himself.
"How unfortunate," Danny sulked. "It wasn't even my fault to begin with." Getting down on his knees, he started wiping up the mess. In the silence of the night, all he could hear was the chirping of crickets in the distance. Twenty minutes had passed. Danny managed to calm himself down and think clearly. He recalled how Mother had given him a second chance when he broke her vase by mistake a week ago. Realising that what had happened just now might have been an accident, Danny resolved to let bygones be bygones.
Soon, the floor was dry and Danny's work was done. As he got up to leave, he heard a strange sound. It seemed to be coming from behind a pillar. What could it be, Danny thought as he scratched his head. Everyone had left for the night walk. A lizard? A cricket?" he mused as he leaned forward, craning his neck to see what was behind the pillar. From a distance, he spotted something green sticking out of the pillar. He stopped dead in his tracks when he came face to face with the boy he had seen earlier.
"You... you..." Danny started. "Please don't yell at me," the boy begged. "Let me explain. I'm Siva. I felt bad for causing the spill earlier when I ran to get my torch for the night walk. I knew I had to make up for what I had done earlier. That is why I've been here all this while, trying to find the courage to say sorry," he said meekly.
"Well, I was upset at first," Danny admitted. "But not anymore. I figured you might not have done it on purpose," he added. Just then, the boys heard a familiar voice. "I'm glad you've cleaned up the mess. Now, we can all head out for the night walk," Mr Halim remarked with a smile. Nodding his head, Danny replied, "I'm sorry about the incident earlier, Mr Halim."
They next day, Father went to the campsite to fetch Danny when the camp ended. He was pleasantly surprised to see Danny chatting animatedly with another boy. On the drive home, Danny could not stop talking about his new friend, Siva. "I had a good time, Father, and I learnt a valuable lesson about second chances!" Danny chirped. "So, would you be keen to attend another camp in the next holiday?" Father asked. Looking at Father, Danny smiled and nodded.
Sneezing is a common experience we all share. On an average, each person sneezes about four times a day. Sneezing is our body's way __________ removing anything that may irritate our nose.
We often sneeze __________ something tickles or irritates the inside of our nose. Our body has a sneeze centre __________ sends messages to some of our muscles which work together to produce a sneeze.
These muscles __________ the chest muscles, muscles of our vocal cords and muscles in our throat.
Another interesting fact is that we cannot sneeze __________ our eyes open. This is only possible if we try really hard __________ we have to fight our body's reflex. No one really knows __________ this happens.
Possibly, the brain sends a message to our eyes to close before we sneeze.
To avoid embarrassment in public places, we may have tried to hold our sneezes in. __________ we should not do that since it can be dangerous. When we hold __________ in, pressure builds up in the nasal passages and can damage the blood vessels in our eyes or nose.
Sneezing is a natural response that we cannot control.
I lived with my family in my grandfather's wooden house built on stilts during my childhood days. [Underlined word: (blank)]
The house was (underlined: saeguated) on a big piece of land that was fenced. [Underlined word: (blank)]
The rusty gate of the (underlined: entrans) was always locked. [Underlined word: (blank)]
It (underlined: tower) over me like a giant watching over the property. [Underlined word: (blank)]
I used to sit in a big swing in the garden with my dog, Fluffy. She seemed to smile (underlined: wherever) [Underlined word: (blank)]
I made the swing go higher. I would pretend it was a bus and 'drive' the kids in the neighbourhood (underlined: (blank))
to a make-believe (underlined: destingyshen). [Underlined word: (blank)]
On some (underlined: shaysions), I cycled along the compound with a long umbrella in one hand. [Underlined word: (blank)]
My grandfather's flock of geese had a habit of (underlined: pinch) my legs with their sharp beaks. [Underlined word: (blank)]
Therefore, the umbrella was actually an (underlined: imaginer) sword to chase the nasty creatures away. [Underlined word: (blank)]
From my parents' bedroom window, I could (underlined: simple) reach out to the tree to pluck rambutan. [Underlined word: (blank)]
That (underlined: konveniens) came at a price. I was bitten by fierce red ants several times (underlined: by) the process. [Underlined word: (blank)]
New Year celebration is never complete without fireworks. Imagine seeing colourful lights bursting in the night sky to usher in the first day of the (51) _______________.
A fireworks display has always attracted (52) _______________ young and old.
Thousands will flock to venues near the display area to get the best (53) _______________ of the fireworks.
Countries around the (54) _______________ go to great lengths to put on the best show.
Do you know that fireworks were actually developed (55) _______________ China?
The first natural 'firecrackers' were (56) _______________ of bamboo stalks.
The Chinese (57) _______________ that such loud explosion would ward off evil spirits.
That was (58) _______________ the first man-made fireworks was invented.
Soon fireworks gained (59) _______________ in many countries.
They even (60) _______________ the Americans their first taste of fireworks when they settled in America.
As interest in them grew, the use of fireworks (61) _______________ widespread.
Many countries began to include them as (62) _______________ of a celebration.
In this modern day, fireworks displays can be seen during special events (63) _______________ as Christmas and the New Year.
The anticipation of the boom (64) _______________ comes after the lights usually makes us happy.
We are drawn to the suspense (65) _______________ create.
The thief stole the truck when the owner was not looking. He confessed to it. The thief confessed to _______________
"A special guest will be visiting the school next week," the teacher informed the class. The teacher informed the class _______________
You will receive a free gift if you register for the competition today. Unless _______________
Mrs Tan came home from work. She had dinner immediately. _______________ as soon as _______________
Rita was reluctant to complete her assignment. It upset her mother. Rita's _______________
Safety Precautions
✓ Participants must declare all medical conditions during registration. Those with medical conditions may be asked to sit out during strenuous camp activities.
✓ First-aid kits will be readily available. Instructors are trained to deal with emergencies, but they are not allowed to administer medication.
The purpose of the questions in the first paragraph is to __________.
Which statement is not true for those interested to go on an outdoor adventure?
According to the article, it is important to carry survival kits in the great outdoors because we __________.
Which of the following items are optional when assembling a personal survivor kit?
When assembling a personal survival kit, we should __________.
Which statement is true about Camp Leap?
The organiser will take all the following safety precautions during Camp Leap except __________.
What is the main purpose of the article?
"Hurry, Luke! Dad will be home anytime now! Let's hide to surprise him!" Lisa chirped. After placing the birthday cake on the table, something that Luke and Lisa were sure Mr Lim would not have expected, they sneaked under it. It took the children many weeks to save enough money to buy their father's favourite cake. They smiled gleefully at each other when the lingering smell of fresh paint wafted into their nostrils. Luke and Lisa had painted on their dining area's wall, intending that as decoration for Mr Lim's surprise birthday party. Moments later, the main door creaked open. Suddenly, an unexpected heater reverberated in the air!
"Who messed up the wall on purpose?" Mr Lim bellowed ferociously. Hearing that accusation, Luke and Lisa stared at each other in shock. Did they do something wrong? Why was their father so angry? The children had never seen him in such a state before. Frightened by Mr Lim's sudden outburst, Luke cowered in the corner beside him and trembled in fear.
As the elder brother, Luke knew he had to protect Lisa. Steeling himself, Luke crept out from underneath the table. Before he could utter a word, Mr Lim gave him an earful. He harshly reprimanded Luke for being irresponsible in vandalising the wall. Indignant, tears welled up in Luke's eyes. Hoping to clear the misunderstanding, Luke retorted, "Dad, you're wrong. We just wanted to ..."
"Don't you dare give me excuses!" Mr Lim hollered. Then, Mr Lim forcefully flung the newspaper he had been holding at the dining table. It smashed into the birthday cake, damaging it! Seeing that, Luke's heart shattered. All their efforts in wanting to surprise Mr Lim had gone down the drain. Overwhelmed by a gamut of emotions, Luke was at a loss for words. Then, he fell on his knees and cried.
"Daddy ... we're ... we're sorry! All we wanted to do was ... was to give ... give you a birthday sur ... surprise," Lisa explained in between sobs, after crawling out from her hiding spot.
Hearing that, Mr Lim fell silent for a moment. Then, he approached Luke. Sensing an intimidating presence nearing, Luke braced himself. He did not want the worst to happen. Instead of inflicting a physical punishment, Mr Lim bent slightly and helped Luke up. Gently, Mr Lim whispered, "I'm so sorry, Son." Then, Mr Lim held his children in a warm embrace.
After the tension defused, Luke and Lisa sang a birthday song for Mr Lim. Even though the birthday cake had been ruined, Mr Lim still thanked his children for the surprise and planted a kiss on each of their cheeks. He added that the painting on the wall was beautiful and it should be left there indefinitely. Luke and Lisa glanced at each other. They smiled. Luke was glad to have cheered Mr Lim up with this birthday surprise. That day, he was even happier to know that his could count on his little sister, Lisa.
Having a dream is a natural and fascinating aspect of human experience. It is characterised __________ vivid mental images and emotions.
Taking __________ a story-like structure, dreams occur involuntarily in the mind during sleep.
Its content can range __________ being ordinary and mundane to bizarre and fantastical.
__________ the purpose and function of dreams are still not fully understood, various theories suggest __________
dreams may serve as a way __________ processing and consolidating information, emotions and experiences during the time one is awake.
[Continuation of question 32] __________ dreams may serve as a way [etc.]
More often __________ not, dreams are forgotten shortly after waking up.
The ability to remember dreams varies __________ individuals.
Some people may recall vivid details yet others may only have vague recollections __________ even no memory of their dreams at all.
Do you recall a recent dream you __________? What emotions did it trigger then?
Complaints about wild chickens in Singapore have been growing. Their (39) _______ is becoming a common sight in many neighbourhoods across the island.
Residents whose reside in these neighbourhoods are concerned at the noise from the inconsederate roosters at ungodly hours. (40) _______
(41) _______
(42) _______
The unwelcome crowing could start as early as 5 a.m., frustretting many residents as their sleep is often disrupted. (43) _______
(44) _______
(45) _______
Another gripe that residents have is the unhygenik droppings the wild chickens leave everywhere. Those with young children are worried that their (46) _______
children would fall ill easy when they touch the droppings at playgrounds, as (47) _______
their immune is weaker. (48) _______
Though the wild chickens have been a niusence in the affected (49) _______
neighbourhoods, many of the residents are against the agressif culling of the chickens. (50) _______
Fill in the blank: Pulau Ubin is the last stronghold of rustic village life in Singapore. To get __________, you will need to take a bumboat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal, at the
Fill in the blank: __________ of $4 per person per trip. Only a short boat ride away, the rural island
Fill in the blank: will transport you to a __________ time and place from modern Singapore. There are various ways to appreciate the __________ and sounds of Pulau Ubin: You can
Fill in the blank: choose a self-guided tour where you decide how to discover the island at your own __________. Every month, NParks will run guided tours on Pulau Ubin.
Fill in the blank: A trip to Pulau Ubin begins at the Main Jetty. Ubin Town, which is to the left of the jetty, is made __________ of a cluster of wooden houses and building. This small
Fill in the blank: settlement consists of two __________ of businesses: bicycle rental shops and eateries. To rent bicycles, you can
Fill in the blank: __________ to do so at one of the many shops. Bike rental fees can vary from $10 to $30 for a full-day rental. You can also rent bike helmets
Fill in the blank: and bike locks. For a nostalgic trip back to an old-fashioned provision shop, __________ a visit to Yak Hong. At this 100-year-old shop, you can
Fill in the blank: __________ up some snacks or drinks for your exploration of Pulau Ubin. __________ the centre of the village is the Wayang Stage that was built in 1971. The
Fill in the blank: Wayang Stage was an essential part of the village's social life, __________ entertainment for residents. In the 1980s, it was even __________ as classrooms for
Fill in the blank: the island's Bin Kiang School. Nature lovers may also wish to visit the Sensory Trail in Ubin Town __________ leaving the island. The Sensory Trail was first developed in 1995 for the
Fill in the blank: visually handicapped to experience Ubin using their __________. On the Ubin Sensory Trail, you can see, touch, smell or even taste different plants and listen out for birds
Fill in the blank: and animals. It also showcases the cultural heritage of Pulau Ubin through the plants that are commonly found on the island.
Tim was scolded. It was due to his mischief. _____ for being _____
In getting help when she needed it, Julie showed her humility. The fact that Julie _____ _____
"I fell while running in the park just now," Brother told Mother. Brother told Mother that _____ _____
Grace explained the situation. Aunt Lucy ignored it. _____ignored Grace's _____
Bob improved steadily in swimming. It earned him praises from his coach. Bob's _____ _____
This outdoor adventure camp will cater for up to 100 participants this year -- the largest number thus far! Visit www.teamleap.sg from now until 15 November 2023 to register and pay the fee online. For further enquiries, please email us at teamleap@gmail.com. Registration will close early when all places are filled, so leap into action to avoid disappointment! Remember to bring your survival kit along!
What should be the top priority when planning an outdoor adventure?
Why is the colon (:) used in "How to assemble a survival kit:"?
Which of the following item is not one of the basic recommended items found in the survival kit?
Which of the following is true about the survival kit?
What is the focus of Camp Leap's activities?
In "This outdoor adventure camp will cater for up to 100 participants this year -- the largest number thus far", the dash is used here to ________.
Mrs Raja wants to register her child for Camp Leap. What must she do?
What is the main purpose of the article?
"But Mr Lim..." Sensing Ben's persistence, Mr Lim immediately gave a dismissive wave and Ben's words hung in mid-air. Without waiting for Ben to finish his sentence, Mr Lim headed back into the staffroom. Ben's heart sank. Left with no choice, he did what Mr Lim had instructed him to do.
The talk with Mr Lim on that fateful day continued to stir a lasting guilt within Ben, even to this day. As he grew older and embarked on a career as an educator, it became a story he would share time and again to emphasise something that Mr Lim had failed to teach him. Ben hoped to instil in his pupils a profound virtue that had been absent in his encounter with Mr Lim years ago. He would ask his pupils a question that had weighed heavily upon his conscience: "What if it were you in the cardboard box?"
Adapted from Salt and Vinegar by Asha Gayle
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted in order to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Travellers acquainted with Singapore will probably already know of our city's national icon - the mythical Merlion. There are seven authorised Merlion statues (29) _______ the island, the most well-known (30) _______ the one found at Merlion Park, a popular Singapore landmark. Before you visit this tourist spot, you may want to learn more about the symbolism (31) _______ the Merlion, and how it intertwines (32) _______ our nation's history. According to legend, Sang Nila Utama, a prince, landed on our shores amidst a storm. He spotted a strange creature which he identified as a lion. He saw this (33) _______ a good omen and decided to name the island "Singapura". (34) _______ means Lion City in Sanskrit. Today, the Merlion continues to be a beloved symbol of Singapore. You can glimpse echoes of this legend, embodied (35) _______ the statue at Merlion Park. Spouting water (36) _______ its mouth, the Merlion statue stands (37) _______ 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes. Originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River, it was built by Lim Nang Seng, designed by Kwan Sai Kheong, and unveiled on 15 September 1972 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. (38) _______ completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront and was relocated to the Merlion Park. As you travel around Singapore, try to spot other statues of our city's national icon!
Being adventurous, Tain decided to explore the dense woods. After hiking for an hour, he stumbled upon a _____ cave.
Excited by the prospect of discovering something new, Tom entered the cave. He _____ his way along the winding pathway.
Little did he _____ of the danger that was awaiting him.
As he _____ deeper into the cave, he soon found himself stuck in a narrow passageway.
Tom tried to wriggle his way free, but the rocks around him were too _____ packed.
With heartbeat racing and _____ rising within him, he started screaming for help.
Filled with _____, Tom was about to give up hope.
Then, he _____ something his grandfather had told him - there was always a way out if one stayed vigilant.
With a renewed _____ of determination, Tom began to scour the walls of the cave, searched for any crack or opening.
When looking for two hours, he finally found a hole big enough for him to squeeze through. Tom pushed through the hole and finally _____ into the light.
A wave of relief washed over him as he took in a deep breath of fresh air.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Fill in the blank: Do you know that 8 February is National Kite Flying Day? It is a day to encourage people to get out and enjoy the process of making a kite and flying it. On this day, kite enthusiasts mark the day by (51) __________ together to showcase their individual kites and flying them.
Fill in the blank: While the exact origin of kite-flying is unknown, it is believed to have originated in China thousands of years ago. It has since gained (52) __________ as a recreational activity all over the world, bringing joy and excitement to people of all ages and walks of (53) __________.
Fill in the blank (part of question 52): ...bringing joy and excitement to people of all ages and walks of (53) __________.
Fill in the blank: The first kite was (54) __________ of simple materials like wood and cloth.
Fill in the blank: Gradually, kite designers have experimented with new materials and designs have evolved (55) __________ the years, with modern kites made from nylon fabric which is tear resistant, lightweight and durable.
Fill in the blank: In the early years, kites were often made to (56) __________ the shape of birds.
Fill in the blank: Some kites even have LED lights attached (57) __________ them to allow for night flights and fun light shows.
Fill in the blank: Kite (58) __________ are organised in many countries where enthusiasts come together to showcase their creativity.
Fill in the blank: These competitions are a delight to spectators, as they witness the sky decorated with colourful kites that can (59) __________ intricate tricks.
Fill in the blank: Kite-flying offers (60) __________ than just entertainment.
Fill in the blank: You can learn important (61) __________ through the experience of kite-flying.
Fill in the blank: For example, patience is required as you (62) __________ for the wind to pick up and carry the kites.
Fill in the blank: You can exercise while having fun and may not even realise how (63) __________ exercise you have done.
Fill in the blank: (64) __________ you finally get your kite up, the thrill of seeing something in motion and tossed about by the wind can be a truly uplifting (65) __________.
Fill in the blank (part of question 64): ...can be a truly uplifting (65) __________.
"Did you go for the choir rehearsal yesterday?" Andy asked me. Andy asked me _______________________________________________
The company is launching a new product this year. A _______________________________________________
Lisa was shocked by how deep the pool was. The _______________________________________________
All of us do not want to go to Bishan Park for a picnic. None of _______________________________________________
The chefs prepared for the cooking competition. They were enthusiastic about it. It was with _______________________________________________
Let's read about some innovations from Singapore.
Roti maker
Roti is a traditional Indian flatbread enjoyed by many Singaporeans. Now, you can conveniently "print roti without the hard work of mixing and kneading the dough. All you have to do is to put the ingredients – flour, oil, water – into the machine and "Rotimatic" does the rest.
In 90 seconds, you will get a hot and fresh roti!
Infrared Fever Screening System
Fever is one of the most common symptoms of the SARS disease. With infectious disease like SARS, it is necessary to quickly identify individuals who are potentially disease carriers. The infrared fever screening system can detect heat emissions from the body and colour code it to identify those with a fever. It helped to effectively manage the pandemic outbreak in 2003.
Thumb drive
Invented in the year 2000, a thumb drive is a compact data storage that requires no cables and adapters and it can store more data than a floppy disk. It does not require a battery and, instead, is powered by the connection through the computer.
To get a guaranteed spot at the Young Innovators Programme, Amelia needs to _______________________.
What is an advantage of sending in your innovative ideas to Great Invention Magazine?
Ahmad would like to develop his innovation skills. According to the article, he should _______________________.
Based on the table "Top 10 most innovative nations", which of the following statements is not true?
The three products introduced in the article are invented to meet the needs of our daily lives. Based on the article, which of the following statement is true?
Why are dashes (--) used in the sentence "All you have to do is to put the ingredients -- flour, oil, water -- into the machine and 'Rotimetic' does the rest." under the section "Roti maker"?
The thumb drive is a useful innovation for the following possible reasons except __________.
What is the main purpose of this article?
Tom continued to refuse Miss Rhode's 'so-called' kind gesture. He knew she was slanting him in front of everyone. Just then, the shrill sound of the bell rang. Saved by it, the class filed out for lunch.
"Come home to lunch with us, Tom," John grinned at him. Tom's face brightened and his eyes lit up. John tried to camouflage his invitation in the guise of a play date so as not to make Tom aware of his social circumstance. John always did have a heart of gold.
At home, Tom piled food on his plate and asked for some syrup. He poured syrup on his vegetables and meat and would probably have poured it into his milk glass as well had I not told him that syrup did not go with vegetables, meat and milk. He quickly put his hands on his lap and ducked his head.
My mother heard what I had said and requested my presence in the kitchen. She was furious.
"Jane, anyone who sets foot in this house is a guest! Don't you let me catch you remarking on their ways like you are so high and mighty!"
When I returned to school, I spent the rest of the day sulking away.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
For __________________ apology to be effective, it has to be genuine.
You want to convey that you truly feel sorry and care about the person who was hurt and promise to make amends __________________ taking steps to avoid similar mistakes going forward.
It takes a lot of courage to admit that you have made a mistake __________________ to apologise for it.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
indoors as a precaution. Sumu Hamid commented, "I do not recall seeing these kind of weather here when I was a young boy." Indeed, as many countries continue to grapple onto the challenges brought by extreme weather conditions, they can only hope that the weather pattern regains some form of stability again. The nation's weather authority will continue to monitor the weather closely.
Come early and be one of the first 200 children to receive a Peranakan culture-themed balloon*.
What's more? Receive a goody bag containing an activity book and a map. Pick it up at the entrance of the museum. Follow the map and collect stamps after completing the activity at each station. There are 10 stations scattered around the various galleries. Collect all 10 stamps to redeem a limited-edition plush toy* from the Peranakan Museum!
*While supplies last.
Trail Highlights
Station 1: Peranakan Dress-Up
The traditional costume for Peranakan women, nyonya kebaya, was adapted from local Malay traditional dresses. Have fun dressing up as a Baba or Nyonya and strike a pose at the photo booth for $2.
Station 2: Miniature Snack-Making
Nyonya snacks are an essential part of Peranakan cuisine. Have fun making mini models of Peranakan snacks using clay and learn more about Peranakan food culture. You will see on display the different traditional utensils used to make these snacks.
Bring home your own mini model and also pop by the museum café for some delicious traditional snacks!
Station 5: Congkak
Congkak, derived from a Malay word, is a traditional game played across Southeast Asia and popular among the Malays and the Peranakans. Congkak means mental calculation which is essential for the game. Play the game with a friend and the winner is the one who collects the most marbles!
Station 8: Beadwork
Do you know that in the past, Nyonyas had to learn to bead their own shoes before getting married? Try your hand at beading – a tradition which involves using colourful beads to create detailed patterns.
Peranakans, also known as the "Straits-born Chinese", were __________.
In "These Chinese traders settled and raised families in the bustling ports of Malacca, Penang and Singapore — which under British rule were known as the Straits Settlements.", the dash (--) is used to __________.
Which of the following contributed to the unique taste of Peranakan cuisine?
In the section "Traditional Arts and Culture", which word best describes Peranakan needlework as an art form?
In the section "Traditional Arts and Culture", the "same craft" refers to __________.
According to the information provided in the section "Trail Highlights", which of the following is not true?
Ravi is visiting the Peranakan Museum on 3 December 2023. He will surely receive
What is the main purpose of this article?
Aunty Loh welcomed my father and me at the door. Aunty Loh had short grey curls and wide-set eyes that blinked rapidly behind her large glasses. Even though she was short and thin, she walked with a heavy foot due to arthritis, each step taken as if she was ascending a hill. Photographs of the Loh's daughter lined a shelf and, next to it, was an elaborate-looking sewing machine. She sat in black and began petting, I spun the wheel and watched the needle bouncing up and down like a finger tapestrying to music. "Hmmm! Don't touch Aunty Loh's things," my mother boomed. I jerked and hid my hand behind my back. "Never mind," she said, turning to me, "Don't worry, Ah Boy. Do what you like. Treat this place as your home."
Every day after school, I would do my homework in the living room while Aunty Loh worked on the sewing machine, next to a bulging red plastic bag overflowing with her customers' garments. Aunty Loh chattered a lot when she sewed. I learnt she missed her daughter, Pei Fen, and wished she would visit more often. Pei Fen had married recently and moved out. While Aunty Loh never explicitly said so, I could tell they did not have a good relationship. Twice a month, Pei Fen would come for dinner and stay no longer than an hour. She spoke to her mother in a dismissive manner, often deriding her for being long-winded and bothersome.
A few months later, Aunty Loh announced, "Baby! after putting down the phone with Pei Fen. Pei Fen then began coming over weekly. "Pregnancy!" she exclaimed to me, handing her aunt. There was laughter during dinner and Pei Fen would listen intently as Aunty Loh shared her pregnancy experiences and stories. Pei Fen would keep such time with a thermos filled with herbal soup.
"Ah Boy, come help me." It's spoilt again." Aunty Loh had set a pot of soup on the stove and turned the stove knob repeatedly - click-click-click - but there was no fire. I hopped across the kitchen and, with a quick twist of the knob, the bright blue flame shot out. The old stove had been faulty recently. Somehow, though, I was always able to turn it on. "Magic fingers," I declared to Aunty Loh, who waved her metal spoon like a wand in the air and laughed. "However, the magic did not work later that week.
That morning, Aunty Loh was preparing soup in the kitchen. "Ah Boy," Aunty Loh called out. "Can help me? His spoon again! I was turning late for school but I slipped my shoes off and ran to the kitchen. Aunty Loh was rapping the side of the gas stove, trying to get it to work. I moved and turned the knob. Click-click-click. No fire. I tried again, but nothing changed. "I think it's really spoilt this time. I have to go to school already." Wavering to Aunty Loh even though she was not looking, I said, "I will try again when I get home, okay?"
When I returned from school that afternoon, a small crowd had gathered outside Aunty Loh's house. I was surprised to see my father in the crowd. A burnt smell filled the air. I noticed that Aunty Loh's doorway had been cordoned off by yellow tape. "Where's Aunty Loh? Is she okay?" I asked my father as a strange tingle crawled up my neck.
"A fire broke out!" my father said, pointing to the charred walls.
"Fire? How?"
"I'm not sure, but I heard from the neighbour that her stove exploded."
"Exploded?" I echoed. "Is she okay?" I asked again. "They said that when the firemen rescued her, her clothes were all black. I tricked numbly. All I could think of was how Aunty Loh's skin must have blistered under the heat of the fire. I never saw Aunty Loh again. Her house needed extensive repair, so she moved to Pei Fen's house.
My mother, by then, had won the battle with cancer and was in remission. As she sat at the edge of my bed, sewing a button on my trousers, I caught sight of a ball of hair that had landed on her collarbone, similar to the one she first shed while undergoing treatment - and my heart faltered. With bated breath, I inched closer to take a second look, only to realise it was simply a clump of black thread.
Sharpas are a Nepalese ethnic group renowned __________ their rich culture, superior climbing skills and extreme endurance for high altitudes.
Sharpas, __________ lived in the high mountains of the Himalayas for generations, serve as guides and porters to mountaineers who climb Mount Everest.
Sherpas migrated __________ eastern Tibet to Nepal around 500 years ago.
It was not __________ the 1920s that Sherpas became involved in climbing.
The influx of mountaineers into the Sherpa homeland has dramatically transformed Sherpa culture and way __________ life.
Mostly young men, Sherpa guides are not __________ the muscles in the expedition - carrying up to 35 kilograms of clients' gear, setting up camps, cooking the meals, fixing the ropes and ladder - they are also the expert navigators.
__________ their vast experience and support, most climbers will not __________ stand a chance of reaching the peak.
Sherpa guides are an absolute necessity for __________ successful climbing expedition in Nepal.
What Sherpa guides do __________ commendable.
They put in immense hard work and dedication at the risk of their own lives, to encourage and help climbers so they can summit the world's highest peak.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Correct the underlined word: 'less fortunate'
Correct the underlined word: 'younq'
Correct the underlined word: 'when' (in context of 'When Mr Ang started working at the Soup Restaurant Group')
Correct the underlined word: 'volenteer'
Correct the underlined word: 'initiatiy'
Correct the underlined word: 'inciativly'
Correct the underlined word: 'posible'
Correct the underlined word: 'ready for operation'
Correct the underlined word: 'thrirty'
Correct the underlined word: 'trained'
Correct the underlined word: 'haigvene'
Correct the underlined word: 'equip'
Fill in the blank: It is envisioned that the campaign will ______________ together individuals and the community to do their part in keeping our environment clean.
Fill in the blank: a national culture to keep Singapore clean.
Fill in the blank: This was yet another concerted ______________ to remind diners at hawker centres and other public dining places to keep tables clean by returning their trays of used crockery to a tray return point, and by ______________ used tissues, wet wipes and leftovers into the proper receptacles provided.
Fill in the blank: by ______________ used tissues, wet wipes and leftovers into the proper receptacles provided.
Fill in the blank: We have had many campaigns since the 1960s to keep our country, our water supplies and even our hands clean. ______________ have they been effective?
Fill in the blank: Singapore is a cleaned city, not a clean city. We are ______________ on cleaners to keep our city ______________ and span.
Fill in the blank: The same is true of our public dining tables. They are cleaned by workers, many of ______________ are seniors.
Fill in the blank: Why do we, in Singapore, have such an entitled ______________?
Fill in the blank: Why do we need someone to clean up ______________ us?
Fill in the blank: NEA's survey found that close to half of the respondents felt clearing their own tables after eating will ______________ cleaners of their jobs.
Fill in the blank: This is not true. Cleaners will not lose their jobs just ______________ diners have become more responsible and gracious.
Fill in the blank: Cleaners will not lose their jobs just ______________ diners have become more responsible and gracious.
Fill in the blank: They are still needed to ______________ the general cleanliness of dining places, including sorting the used crockery at the designated tray return points.
Fill in the blank: In ______________ keeping tables clean after our meals will make their work easier.
Fill in the blank: by ______________ their workload in having to make frequent rounds to the tables.
Fred asked Mother how she turned on the dishwasher.
Lixun missed out on several interesting activities in school. Lixun was frequently absent.
The sales assistant persuaded Mother to buy the steam oven. Mother eventually agreed to buy it.
I did not know she liked the notebook. I would have given it to her.
I eagerly tore open the packaging to unveil the surprise inside when I received the parcel.
Also known as twisters, tornadoes are violently spinning, funnel-shaped columns of air that sometimes form during thunderstorms. The wind from a tornado can reach 400 kilometres per hour - faster than a race car - and cause a lot of damage. Tornadoes are capable of ripping apart buildings and bridges and sending trains and cars flying!
What causes tornadoes?
Before you try to understand the explanation found at the end of this chapter, create your own tornado with just two clear plastic bottles, water, food colouring and strong adhesive tape! Doing this experiment and watching closely to see what happens will help you get a better grasp of the concept!
What was the tone used by the writer in the section, "Why is Science Important?" ?
Refer to the section "Choose Science Alive". Which of the following words tells you that the items used for the experiments can be found easily?
The purpose of the exclamation marks found in the section "Choose Science Alive" is to ________.
Mr Tan wants to buy the book as a gift for his nephew who is celebrating his birthday in August 2023. To get the book at the lowest price, Mr Tan should buy it ________.
An extract from the book is included in the article for the following possible reasons except ________.
According to the extract, which statement is not true about tornadoes?
Which of the following statements is not true about the materials required for making the Tornado in a Bottle?
What is the main aim of the article in the magazine?
His mind wandered to the time when he was seven years old. He recalled vividly that his mother had started putting in long hours at work, and he resented that. He could not understand why she did not have time for him anymore. Looking at the throng of people, he was often envious of his friends whose mothers would be waiting eagerly for them at the school gate at dismissal time. Sadly, he could count the number of times she came to pick him up on the fingers of one hand.
On the day Nigel won a creative writing competition, he tried hard to mask his disappointment when he saw his grandmother at the school gate. He managed to force a smile, but inwardly, he chided himself for his unrealistic expectation. He had been eager to share the good news with his mother but it had to wait.
His grandmother, nevertheless, sensed he was downhearted. She understood why he was feeling that way, and gave him a warm hug. That made Nigel feel better, and he shared the good news with his grandmother. Beaming with pride, she declared, "We must have a small celebration for you tonight." Nigel nodded half-heartedly as his thoughts drifted. That night, as Nigel had anticipated, his mother missed the celebration.
To fulfil her dream, Nigel's mother toiled day and night without sufficient rest. Her pay as a cook was not much, but after many arduous months of hard work, she managed to save enough and could finally open her own noodle stall.
The red-letter day arrived. A few relatives had turned up to show support for Nigel's mother's new business. "Ready? One, two, three … smile," Second Uncle cued, as he clicked on the camera. Her beaming smile lit up the entire place. After that, she showed off her culinary skills, working up a storm at the stove and tossing the ingredients up into the air with finesse. Nigel was mesmerised as he watched his mother in action, his heart swelling with pride. He whispered to himself, "I want to be a great cook just like Mum when I grow up." He had not realised it, but at that moment, in his heart he had made peace with his mother.
Nigel made it a point to help out his mother at the stall, not just to learn cooking from her, but more so to just be with her. It was on one such occasion that he learnt what a kind person she was. An elderly man had placed his order and after fumbling around in his pockets, managed to produce only a few coins. Those were not enough. Understanding his predicament, Nigel's mother handed him his order when it was ready, and reassured him that no payment was needed. Nigel saw the elderly man's eyes glisten with tears, obviously moved by her kind gesture. As the elderly man thanked her profusely, Nigel noticed the generous portion on the elderly man's plate.
Nigel was brought back to the present when he heard his mother's movements in the house. He placed the photograph back on the shelf, went to his mother and told her the surprises he had for her. "Mum, I have just been accepted by a prestigious culinary school! I also have a special present for you and Grandma for Mother's Day! Guess what it is … I want to take both of you for a holiday overseas."
Upon hearing those words, Nigel's mother gave him a big hug and said, "Son, you are my greatest gift!"
The structure responsible for hiccups in our complex body system (29) _______ our diaphragm.
This is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of your chest and is (30) _______ all hiccups begin.
When one exhales, it relaxes and air flows out of the lungs (31) _______ the nose and mouth into the surroundings.
(32) _______ are actions which take place automatically, whether you are awake or asleep.
(33) _______ there are times when the diaphragm becomes irritated.
When this happens, the air rushes into your throat, hits your voice box and your vocal cords close suddenly, resulting (34) _______ a big hiccup.
There are many reasons as to why the diaphragm (35) _______ be irritated.
Stress, eating too much or too quickly and feeling nervous are a few common reasons that may lead (36) _______ hiccups.
There are lots of suggestions out there on how you can get rid of hiccups, and you might (37) _______ even tried one or two of them.
One way is to hold your breath and count to ten (38) _______ another one is to sip water.
Koalas are native to Australia. How much do you know about them? There is
a lot more to these amazing living teddy bears than their cuddly size and laid-back lifestyle that they are fame for. Is your curiaussicity piqued?
Is your curiaussicity piqued?
When the Europeans first settled in Australia, they mistaking these tree dwellers for a type of bear. However, koalas are similar with kangaroos, both of
When the Europeans first settled in Australia, they mistaking these tree dwellers for a type of bear.
which are marsupials - mammals that nurcher their newborn in a pouch. Of all the marsupials, its closest relatives are the wombats.
Of all the marsupials, its closest relatives are the wombats.
Koalas live and feed on the eucalyptus trees. They climb up to the branches to munch on the leaves, voraycously eating up to a kilogram of them
voraycously eating up to a kilogram of them daily.
Did you know that the leaves of these trees were poisonous? Furthermore, they are tough to digest and provide few nutrition. Koalas have a specially
Koalas have a specially adapted digestive system that not only tharaghly extracts nutrients from the leaves but newtrualises their toxins.
adapted digestive system that not only tharaghly extracts nutrients from the leaves but newtrualises their toxins. How amazing they are!
Fill in the blank: Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. Human intelligence is a unique quality that consists of the abilities to learn from experience and (51)_____________ to new situations.
Fill in the blank: When a computer or a robot is able to (52)_____________ a problem, it may seem intelligent.
Fill in the blank: However, this type of intelligence is different (53)_____________ a human's intelligence.
Fill in the blank: The term A.I. was (54)_____________ in 1955 by John McCarthy, a computer scientist working on making computers intelligent.
Fill in the blank: Computers play the games and based on (55)_____________ and error, different ways to win are figured out.
Fill in the blank: They (56)_____________ on their stored memory to build on successes and learn from (57)_____________ made.
Fill in the blank: They learn from (57)_____________ made.
Fill in the blank: It is an intelligent personal assistant who responds to your request, provides information and (58)_____________ tasks when told.
Fill in the blank: You might ask 'Siri', for example, to schedule an (59)_____________in your calendar for your next visit to the dentist or dial your mother's phone number.
Fill in the blank: A.I. robots known as chatbots* are being (60)_____________ in online shops and the websites of government agencies to answer common (61)_____________that customers may have.
Fill in the blank: A.I. robots known as chatbots are being deployed in online shops and the websites of government agencies to answer common (61)_____________that customers may have.
Fill in the blank: These chatbots have advanced to the stage where they possess (62)_____________ conversational abilities than ever before.
Fill in the blank: Amazingly, A.I. has enabled these 'deep learning' machines to learn from human behaviour, and (63)_____________ human knowledge and skills.
Fill in the blank: For instance, chatbots can take the (64)_____________ of a doctor and start prescribing medicines to people.
Fill in the blank: These expert systems can provide more advanced services which are typically carried out by highly (65)_____________ professionals – those that take many years of learning - such as doctors, lawyers and accountants.
The twins know how to cycle. Joe knows how to cycle. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
Tim was thoughtful. He bought a cake for his grandmother's birthday. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
George adjusted his school tie before going on stage. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
Everyone was having a good time. The exception was Daniel. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
"Can you explain this difficult problem to me?" John asked Miss Sim. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
## History of Chess
Chess is a popular board game relying on strategy and skill to win. Originating in India in the early 7th century, the game spread to Persia before reaching Russia. It evolved into what we know as chess around the 16th century. One of the first masters of the game was a Spanish priest named Ruy Lopez.
As the rules of chess evolved over time so did the approach to it. Many brilliant players throughout history have developed theories and tactics bringing the game to where it is today.
Now, it is enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. Its popularity has grown to the point where global competitions and tournaments are regularly held. Chess players now make up one of the largest communities in the world: 605 million adults play chess regularly.
## Benefits of Playing Chess
**Exercises both sides of the brain**
Studies show that in order to play chess well, a player must develop and utilise his brain's left hemisphere which deals with object recognition. It also develops the right hemisphere which deals with pattern recognition. Over time, playing chess exercises and develops not one but both sides of your brain.
**Improves children's thinking and problem-solving skills**
Chess enhances brain development, especially in children between 7 and 9. Research shows that playing chess improves a child's thinking, problem-solving, reading, and Maths scores. Educators and chess experts generally agree the age of 7 is the ideal time to introduce children to chess, although some as young as four or five may be ready to learn and play the game.
**Helps with rehabilitation and therapy**
Chess can be used to help rehabilitate patients recovering from a stroke or an accident. It can also be used as a form of therapy for those with brain injuries. Moving chess pieces across the board can help develop and fine-tune a patient's motor skills. Moreover, playing chess brings about a sense of deep concentration and calm which can help to relax patients who are experiencing various degrees of anxiety.
Why is an exclamation mark (!) used in the heading: "Join us at our 1st Chess Fair at Riverville Community Club!"?
Wei Xiong wants to attend the Advanced Workshop as well as play a friendly match with a Grand Master. He should be at the fair on ______________.
Linda does not know how to play chess at all. Which of the following activities would suit her the most?
Which of the following statements is true about the Chess Fair?
Which of the following shows that chess has become a popular game?
What is the most important benefit of playing chess for 7- to 9-year-olds?
According to the flyer, patients recovering from an accident play chess to _______________.
The main purpose of the flyer is to _______________.
Gus, a wildlife officer, was driving home from work when he spotted the dogs. The snowstorm made it difficult to see, but Gus's keen eyes detected the reflection of their collar tags in the flash of his headlights. What were they doing out on this stretch of road in this harsh weather? Gus parked his truck and approached the animals. He squatted and stretched out his hands to the dogs which made no effort to escape. He read their tags by his truck's headlights: "The female was named Pepper, and the male was Cooper. He pulled out his phone to call the number listed on them, but it was snowing so hard that his screen blurred. He would have to make the call from his truck.
He placed the dogs in his truck, below the passenger seat. By the time he came around to the driver's side, they had climbed onto the fabric seat where it was warm. Gus dried his phone, snapped a picture of the pair snuggling, and sent it to his wife, Katie.
Then he called the number again. A man who identified himself as Marc answered and immediately grew defensive when Gus told him why he was calling.
"Those dogs aren't mine anymore. I've given them away," Marc replied in an irritated tone.
"Wait, who did you give them to?" Gus asked hopefully.
"I don't know," came the curt reply.
"Well, do you want them back?" Gus probed.
"No. I can't take care of them." With that, Marc hung up abruptly. Thus, these dogs were abandoned, left with no place to call home. The dogs, known for their intelligence, gazed at Gus with pleading eyes. Gus called an animal shelter, but it was too late in the night. So, Gus sent a message. Then he called Katie. "You cannot put them back out in the snowstorm," she said. "Bring them home."
Katie prepared a bed for the dogs in the study room. Soft blankets were arranged with care, providing a haven of comfort against the chilly night air. Katie, then lovingly placed bowls of food and water where the exhausted animals lay together. Every now and then, Cooper lifted his head to check on Pepper. This scene stirred within Katie a desire to adopt them.
When she told Gus about it, he shook his head. Keeping this pair was out of the question — they already had a family dog. The next day, he called the animal shelter again. Katie took the dogs to the shelter to drop them off on one condition. "I'm not signing the dogs over to you if you're going to separate them," she said. The staff promised her that the couple would stay together.
In the days following, Katie phoned the shelter repeatedly. Soon after Christmas, the dogs were adopted by a loving family, much to the relief of Gus and Katie. The dogs had experienced a miracle in which kindness triumphed over cruelty.
Dreams remain a mystery that sleep experts are determined to solve. Different cultures have developed __________ own ways of understanding what our dreams mean.
__________ psychology, the process of assigning meaning to dreams is referred to as dream interpretation.
It is seen as a helpful way to learn about __________ our minds work.
There are many ways to interpret dreams. __________ are traditional, like looking at the symbols in the dream, while others are __________
[Continuation of 32] modern, like keeping a dream journal or trying to control your dreams.
Some people think that dreams are __________ way for our unconscious mind which contains feelings and thoughts we are unaware of, to talk to us and show us __________
[Continuation of 34] we really are.
Even though lots of people are interested in interpreting dreams, there is __________ a debate about whether it is a scientifically valid practice.
Some studies have shown that certain symbols in dreams __________ be connected to specific feelings or experiences, __________ others have not found any proof that dreams have a definite meaning.
[Continuation of 37]
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Ms. Lui has an incredible story to share. When she was a child, she faced [BLANK] because she has a disability.
People would bully, tease, and stare at her [BLANK] because she was different.
But something [BLANK] happened. With the support of her family and a charity organisation, she was able to follow her interests and grow into
the talented, artistic, and [BLANK] individual she is today.
[BLANK] Ms. Lui has a deep love of singing, but that's not all. She also has a keen interest
in drawing, writing, and dancing. Her [BLANK] journey is now being featured in a
new film created by Community Chest. This film [BLANK] the stories of individuals who
[BLANK] have overcoming challenges in their lives and are shining bright. It calls upon the
public to join in supporting and championing the [BLANK] of people with disabilities.
[BLANK] In addition to her creative [BLANK], Ms. Lui also has a part-time job as a retail
assistant. She [BLANK] support from a job placement programme funded by Community Chest. This programme helps individuals with disabilities find suitable employment opportunities that match their aspirations and capabilities.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Gaming addiction affects people of all ages, particularly young people. Symptoms of gaming addiction include obsessive thinking about the game, _______ (51) of interest in other activities, poor concentration and work performance, strained relationships, social isolation, and decline in physical health and hygiene.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. ...decline in physical health and hygiene. _______ (52) to scientific research, addiction is brought about by psychological, social, and environmental factors.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. One major cause of any kind of addiction, _______ (53) a brain chemical called dopamine, also _______ (54) as the 'feel-good' hormone.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. One major cause of any kind of addiction, _______ (53) a brain chemical called dopamine, also _______ (54) as the 'feel-good' hormone.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. It is released in response _______ (55) a pleasurable experience.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. It also makes a person develop a strong _______ (56) to seek out that same pleasure again and again.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. When gamers _______ (57) a goal or a new level, dopamine is released, motivating them to keep playing.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Eventually, they get stuck in a cycle in which they are increasingly _______ (58) engrossed in gaming while _______ (59) other important tasks.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Eventually, they get stuck in a cycle in which they are increasingly _______ (58) engrossed in gaming while _______ (59) other important tasks.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. _______ (60) factor that contributes to gaming addiction is socialization.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. This develops a _______ (61) of belonging to their online communities.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. However, in extreme cases, shy and introverted individuals may _______ (62) to gaming as their main source of social life, resulting in addiction.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. The home environment is a key factor in gaming addiction too. Children and teens who have _______ (63) access to gaming devices and little supervision from their parents are more _______ (64) to form an addiction.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. The home environment is a key factor in gaming addiction too. Children and teens who have _______ (63) access to gaming devices and little supervision from their parents are more _______ (64) to form an addiction.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Gaming addiction is no laughing _______ (65). By understanding its contributing factors, we may prevent its formation among our friends and loved ones.
All the pupils in class 6J are attending the party. Mr Tan is also attending the party. __________________ together with __________________
Cindy asked Jack, "Where can I pass you the book later?" Cindy asked Jack __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
The manager amended the plan before presenting it to his client. The manager made __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Her parents shook their heads. They disapproved of her decision. ________________________________ in __________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
John did not do his part for the group project. Ken was annoyed. Much to __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Lyon Bird Park
55% OFF ADMISSIONS*
Promo Code: LBP55
* Tickets are originally priced at $39 (adult), $29 (child), and $19 (senior citizen).
Promotion for local residents only.
HOW TO ENJOY THE PROMOTION
• Sign up online for a free account (if you are not yet a member).
• Select tickets for local residents.
• Key in the promo code "LBP55" to enjoy 55% off the admission tickets.
• Complete the payment process.
THINGS TO NOTE
• The promotion can only be applied to online transactions.
• The promotion is available for all ticket types (adult, child, and senior citizen).
• Up to four tickets of each ticket type can be purchased per online transaction.
• Complimentary tram service is included in the admission ticket.
• Promotion ends on 30 Nov.
HOW TO GET THERE
By public transport:
Take the North-South train service and alight at Tuas Station. From there, catch bus no. 890 for a 10-minute ride to Lyon Bird Park.
By taxi or car:
Lyon Bird Park is a 20-minute drive from the city. You can take the Cross Island Expressway (CIE) to reach the bird park.
"Lion City" is written in italics to _________.
Which of the following is true of the Lyon Bird Park?
For Mr Tan See Seng, what makes it difficult to say goodbye to the existing park?
Which part of the Lyon Bird Park would Mrs Jane Tan miss the most?
Mr Ahmed, a local resident, is planning to visit the Lyon Bird Park with his wife and three children. Which of the following is not true?
Mdm Lim lives near Tuas train station. Which of the following is the fastest way for her to get to Lyon Bird Park?
Mr Tanaka, a tourist from Japan, wishes to purchase an adult ticket. How much does it cost?
What is the main purpose of this article?
The colours of sunset faded to a purplish bruise over the horizon. Just as my eyes were getting used to the change in light, my father snapped on the torchlight. Everything except our boat vanished into the darkness. Straining to adjust to the glare, I watched as his primed the tip of a container of fish bait. Adjusting the angle of the torchlight, my father reached into the container for a few pieces of fish bait and slid them along tiny fishhooks. Once the fishhooks were attached to the fishing lines, he scattered them across the water surface. They disappeared over the side of the boat. Then he extinguished the light and put one of the lines into my hand and said, "First, learn how the current feels."
I waited for my first catch and the wait drew on. The sound of my father's voice reached me, as did other sounds – the creaking of the boat, his footfall as he crossed from stern to bow and back. Looking down, the strange feeling I had felt earlier returned. More intense this time, the boat's movement became more pronounced, rocking back and forth with each passing wave. Though I tried to keep my eyes on my line, a subtle queasiness began building up inside me.
I fixed my eyes on the moon in an attempt to distract myself. The moon, huge and low, stared from a cloudless sky, making me more conscious about my headache as the night progressed. To keep awake, I sipped hot Milo from my father's thermos flask. Time and again, when I thought I had caught something, I drew the line up, only to find my bait still intact, no takers. The unease in my stomach was slowly reaching my will. My head throbbed and my bottom became sore from the abrasion against the damp seat as the waves rocked the boat. We had been at sea for perhaps one or two hours, but I had begun to imagine being stuck in the stormy sea for days without a catch.
"Waiting is part and parcel of fishing," my father said, his hand closing over mine. "And concentrate. Try to feel the fish bite." I could only feel the line I was gripping and the callouses on his palm against the back of my hand.
Without warning, my father's line began twitching. As he was pulling in the line, our first catch leapt from the water straight towards me and lay writhing on the boat floor while he pinned it down with ease and extracted a hook from its mouth. Suddenly, he was everywhere in the boat all at once. Several other hand-sized fish soon joined the first catch to quick succession, glittering over ice slabs in the fish cooler bag. A sourness rose up into my mouth. Then the line between my fingers made a series of sharp, irregular jumps as opposed to the regular tug of the ocean currents I had felt earlier. My heart leapt in a fright. My father was right! It felt alive. I held to haul and held on to it with clammy hands, struggling not to lose my first potential catch. In the thick of the moment, it happened. Bending over the side of the boat, I threw up violently. My line grew slack just as suddenly. This time, a stinking sensation set in. Even before the hook emerged baitless and empty, I knew that the fish was gone.
I got better with practice, of course. I learnt to handle a line, eventually a rod and even Scamper. However, as I grew older, I accompanied my father on those trips less frequently as I soon became caught up with the demands of school, tests and examinations, and then later, relationships, job commitments and marriage. There were things about those nights out on the water – seasickness, the pungent smell of fish blood, the sore bottom – that I never missed. Nonetheless, those hours out in the sea, waiting in silence with my father – those precious memories would remain with me forever.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (1) and (2) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. Each word can be used only once.
Have you ever wondered why diamonds are one of the most expensive crystals on earth? To understand why, one needs to delve deeper __________ how diamonds are formed.
Diamonds are formed deep __________ the crust of the earth, which is located more __________ 150 kilometres beneath our feet.
The question is how is it __________ diamonds can be mined from the earth's surface __________ the fact that they are formed deep below it?
Scientists discovered that diamonds __________ transported to the surface of the earth by sudden and powerful volcanic eruptions hundreds of millions of years ago.
__________ newly mined from the earth, diamonds look like cloudy rocks.
They are made __________ carbon which is subjected to extreme heat and pressure before they bond together to form diamonds.
Today, modern technological advances __________ enabled scientists to grow diamonds artificially in laboratory conditions.
However, real diamonds continue to command a higher value than lab-created ones because of __________ rarity and scarcity.
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the correct word in the box. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error)
Fill in the blank: It is performed during auspicious occasions. _____________ as the launch of new businesses and the opening of a new store for it is believed to _____________ in good fortune and drive away evil spirits.
Fill in the blank: The lion dance is performed _____________ the Chinese New Year period because of its _____________ with Nian, a ferocious beast that was chased _____________ by villagers.
Fill in the blank: Different variations of the story of Nian provided some clues to the origins of the lion dance.
Fill in the blank: According to one legend, on the eve of every Chinese New Year, an unknown animal would destroy the crops and animals that _____________ to the farmers of a village in China.
Fill in the blank: Unable to _____________ what beast it was, the villagers named it Nian, which means "year" in Chinese.
Fill in the blank: To put a stop to the _____________, the villagers made a model of Nian out of bamboo and paper.
Fill in the blank: The model _____________ movements were manipulated by two men, 'pranced' around.
Fill in the blank: Coupled with the deafening beating of pots and pans, Nian was driven away in fear.
Fill in the blank: Based on _____________ version of this legend, the villagers made a model of a lion _____________ discovering that Nian was afraid of lions.
Fill in the blank: This was accompanied _____________ thundering explosions from firecrackers set off by the villagers.
Fill in the blank: As a result of their actions, they _____________ in driving Nian away.
Fill in the blank: Since then, the lion dance is performed annually on Chinese New Year with musical _____________ like drums, cymbals and gongs.
Fill in the blank: Nowadays, the lion dance is performed not only during Chinese New Year, but also for opening ceremonies, the welcoming of dignitaries and other auspicious occasions.
After eating a heavy meal for lunch, Joshua was too full to eat dessert. Having _________________ _________________ Joshua could not eat dessert.
Raju was selling muffins at the charity fair. Muffins _________________ _________________ at the charity fair by Raju.
Tim was curious. He followed the mysterious black cat into the alley. _________________ _________________ due to his _________________ _________________ Tim followed the mysterious black cat into the alley.
Jason saw Nurin on a swing. He then heard loud squeals of laughter. No sooner _________________ _________________ _________________ loud squeals of laughter.
Emily was very pleased to receive the book prize award. _________________ _________________ with great _________________ _________________ the book prize award.
What are tornadoes?
Also known as twisters, tornadoes are violently spinning, funnel-shaped columns of air that sometimes form during thunderstorms. The wind from a tornado can top 400 kilometres per hour - faster than a race car - and cause a lot of damage. Tornadoes are capable of ripping apart buildings and bridges and sending trains and cars flying!
What causes tornadoes?
Create your own tornado with just two clear plastic bottles, water, food colouring and strong adhesive tape. Do this experiment and watch closely to see what happens!
Step 1
Clean the bottles and remove any labels so that you can see through the plastic clearly. Pour water into one of the bottles until it is about three-quarters full, then add a few drops of food colouring.
Step 2
Screw the cap back on the bottle tightly. Mix the liquids together thoroughly by giving the bottle a good shake.
Step 3
Fill the bottle to the brim with water and dry the rim with a piece of cloth.
Step 4
Place the empty bottle upside down on top of the full bottle and tape them firmly together, making sure the joint is carefully sealed so that no water can leak out.
Eager to know the other steps needed to create a tornado with the above set-up? Want to learn about what causes tornadoes?
Get a copy of Exciting Science today!
In the section "Why is Science Important?", "that knowledge" refers to
Which of the following words is used to describe the ideas behind the experiments featured in Exciting Science?
The purpose of the exclamation marks in the section "Choose Exciting Science!" is to
To get the book at the lowest price, Mr Tan should buy it
An extract from the book is included in the article for the following possible reasons except to
According to the extract, which statement is not true about tornadoes?
Tommy followed the instructions on how to set up the experiment. To prevent water from leaking out while he mixed two liquids together, he __________
Which of the following is not found in the extract?
Read the passage below and answer questions 71 to 80.
What are cavities? Cavities are damaged areas on the hard surfaces of your teeth ________ eventually cause teeth decay. They look like tiny openings ________ holes and are caused by a variety of factors like frequent snacking, not cleaning your teeth well or having bacteria in your mouth.
There are three types of cavities. Smooth cavities occur on the smooth sides of your teeth, ________ pit and fissure cavities develop on the chewing surface of your teeth.
Root cavities, as the name suggests, occur at the roots of your teeth. Cavities do not happen overnight ________ occur over time.
First, plaque builds up. Plaque is formed ________ bacteria feed on leftover sugar and starch on your teeth.
A quick way to check for plaque is ________ running your tongue over your teeth.
If they feel fuzzy or rough, there is plaque present. ________ plaque be allowed to stay on your teeth
________ a long time, the acids in it will break down your teeth's hard outer covering, known ________ enamel.
Tiny holes called cavities are then created. Cavities tend to happen in your back teeth where there ________ a lot of grooves that can trap food particles.
The grooves and position of the back teeth make them harder to clean compared to your easy-to-reach front teeth.
Excitement filled Ben's heart as he eagerly took on the responsibility of caring for Fifi. He fed her, took her for walks, and showered her with love and attention. However, misfortune struck one fateful day when Fifi, filled with boundless energy, darted through the house, knocked over a shelf and caused his mother's cherished vase to shatter into countless pieces.
Ben was flabbergasted. His mum had always told him about how she loved it as the masterpiece was passed down to her from her grandmother. "Even knows the truth, she will not only scold me severely, but also will never get a pet dog for me!" Ben mumbled to himself as fear gripped his heart. Thankfully, his helper, Mary was upstairs and was not aware of what had happened. In a moment of desperation, he hatched a plan to shift the blame away from himself. Ben decided to rush back to his room with Fifi.
When his parents returned home, they asked Mary and Ben what had happened. Ben, feigning ignorance, said, "I was in my room, playing with Fifi the whole time. Then I heard a loud crash and when I came out, the vase was already shattered into pieces. I believe Mary accidentally pushed over the vase while she was doing her chores."
"No, Sir, Madam, it is not me!" Mary vehemently denied any involvement. "I didn't know that the vase was broken until I came downstairs! Please believe me!" Mary cried.
In the end, Ben's parents did not ask any further questions. His mother was heartbroken about the broken vase and went back to her room. Ben let out a huge breath and thought that the worst was over until that night, he overheard a conversation between his parents at the balcony. In the conversation, they were discussing plans to stop renewing Mary's contract and to send Mary back home because of the broken vase.
Ben's conscience was pricked as he heard about his parents' plan to terminate Mary's contract. He knew that Mary was the sole breadwinner of her family and losing her job would result in her family having no income. While having a pet dog was important to him, he could not cause Mary and her family, who were innocent, to suffer the consequences of his lie. He knew what he had to do.
The next day, Ben approached his parents, trembling with remorse. He confessed and revealed the truth about the broken vase and the role he had played in shifting the blame to Mary. His parents were furious. They admonished him for his lies and commanded him to apologise to Mary. He nodded remorsefully and did just that. Instead of scolding Ben, Mary thanked Ben profusely. Her name was cleared.
Soon, the two weeks were up. Ben returned Fifi to his neighbour, Mr Tan. Other than the broken vase, Ben had taken good care of Fifi and it had been uneventful. When he returned, his mother told him, "Son, I am proud of you for telling the truth even though it would mean you would never get a pet dog. I have decided that honesty is more important. Would you like to go to the pet shop with me this evening?" Ben broke into a smile. He could hardly believe what he was hearing!
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
If you want to exercise your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music. There are (29)__________ things that stimulate the brain the way music does.
Listening to or playing music (30)__________ a great tool to keep your brain engaged.
It provides (31)__________ total brain workout.
Research (32)__________ shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.
A sound system puts out vibrations (33)__________ travel through the air and go into the ear canal.
(34)__________ vibrations form an electrical signal that travels (35)__________ the auditory nerve to the brain, where it is reassembled into something we perceive as music.
(35)__________ the auditory nerve to the brain, where it is reassembled into something we perceive as music.
Researchers have had dozens of jazz performers and rappers improvise music (36)__________ lying down inside a machine to watch and see which areas of their brains light up.
It (37)__________ found that multiple areas in the left and right brain lit up during the improvisation process.
You may not be aware of it, but your brain has to do a lot of work to make sense (38)__________ the music that you hear.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes numbered 39 to 50. Bethany Hamilton is a well-known surfer. However, her popularity is not based on her many accomplishes. Instead, it is based on her inspiring story of returning to the sport while losing her arm in a shark attack.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes numbered 39 to 50. Instead, it is based on her inspiring story of returning to the sport while losing her arm in a shark attack.
On October 31, 2003, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton gone for a morning surf with her best friend.
On October 31, 2003, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton gone for a morning surf with her best friend.
While lie on her surfboard, a huge shark attacked her. The shark bite off her left arm and she lost a lot of blood.
The shark bite off her left arm and she lost a lot of blood.
Imidiately, Bethany was rushed to hospital where a doctor on duty raced to her rescue.
Despite losing her arm eventually, Bethany Hamilton returned to surfing.
Throughout her career, she competed in various surfing competitions and came in first for many of them.
Bethany Hamilton's incredibal story teaches us how we can overcome some of the hardest challenges with zest and determine.
Bethany never lost hope and persuaded her dreams. If you are passionate about something, you should find a way to make it happen.
With constant hard work and dedication, we can acheivc anything. Do not give up!
Fill in the blank: Instead of taking a random shot, it requires specific techniques to hurt a ball towards ten 'pins' with the (51) _______________.
Fill in the blank: There are several variations of the game of bowling, but the (52) _______________ of knocking them all down.
Fill in the blank: the (53) _______________ common form is 10-pin bowling.
Fill in the blank: Hence, 'bowling' today (54) _______________ refers to 10-pin bowling.
Fill in the blank: In 10-pin bowling, there are ten pins which are (55) _______________ in a triangle formation at the end of a long wooden lane.
Fill in the blank: The bowler has to (56) _______________ roll a heavy ball down the lane in order to knock down all 10 pins within a maximum of two tries, also known as a 'frame'.
Fill in the blank: The (57) _______________ score is calculated based on the number of pins the bowler manages to knock down after all of his or her
Fill in the blank: (58) _______________ in the ten frames.
Fill in the blank: Bowlers can also earn (59) _______________ points if they are able to knock down all 10 pins within a frame consecutively.
Fill in the blank: (60) _______________ rolling a bowling ball down the lane to hit a few pins might sound pretty (61) _______________,
Fill in the blank: it requires a great amount of skill to consistently knock all the pins down. (61) _______________
Fill in the blank: There are two (62) _______________ of shots in bowling: a straight ball, and a hook ball.
Fill in the blank: A straight ball is the most (63) _______________ shot and what most beginning bowlers start with.
Fill in the blank: A hook ball travels in a curve and attacks the pins (64) _______________ the sides.
Fill in the blank: Do all these descriptions make you want to try it (65) _______________ for yourself?
Chongli wants to complete his project. He is not interested to watch the movie.
If you look carefully at the object, you will find the tear.
"Did you lend Tom your book yesterday?" the teacher asked Sam. The teacher asked Sam if ___________
Paul did not agree with any of his friends' suggestions. Paul was ___________
The boys participated in the quiz actively. The parents were delighted. What delighted the parents ___________
Important Points to Note
✓ First aid kits will be readily available, and instructors are trained to deal with emergencies. However, take note that they are not allowed to administer medication.
✓ Participants must declare all medical conditions during registration. Those with medical conditions will be asked to sit out strenuous camp activities.
The purpose of the questions in the first paragraph is to ________.
If you are considering embarking on an outdoor adventure, the phrase "number one priority" in the first paragraph tells you that safety is ________.
According to the article, it is important to carry survival kits in the great outdoors because we
According to the instructions on assembling a personal survival kit, which of the following items should be placed inside such a kit?
When assembling a personal survival kit, we should ________.
Which statement is not true about Camp Leap?
The organiser will take all the following safety precautions during Camp Leap except
What is the main purpose of the article?
Read the passage below and answer questions 71 to 80.
Have you ever wondered why we blink? Blinking is an essential __________ involuntary action that helps protect and keep our eyes healthy.
Blinking acts __________ a natural shield for our eyes. It helps to keep foreign objects, like dust, dirt, or even insects, from entering our eyes.
When we blink, our eyelids close quickly, acting like __________ protective barrier, preventing anything harmful __________ reaching our sensitive eye tissues.
__________ blinking protect our eyes physically, it also refreshes our vision.
Not only __________ blinking protect our eyes physically, it also refreshes our vision. __________ we stare at something for a long time, the eyes can become tired or strained.
__________ we stare at something for a long time, the eyes can become tired or strained. Blinking provides a brief moment of rest __________ our eyes, allowing them to relax and refocus.
Blinking provides a brief moment of rest __________ our eyes, allowing them to relax and refocus. It is like a mini break for our visual system, helping to maintain clear and comfortable vision.
__________ average, a person blinks about 15 to 20 times per minute.
__________ , certain activities, such as reading or using digital devices, can reduce our blinking rate.
When we concentrate on something, we tend to blink __________ frequently, which can cause our eyes to become dry and strained.
Follow the five useful tips below to make clay sculptures.
1. Visualise the final piece
Before you start, sketch several designs of how you imagine the final product to look like from various angles.
2. Test clay for wetness
Pull off a small piece of the clay and roll it in your hand until it forms a cylindrical shape. If it is flexible, it is usable. If it cracks, try adding more water.
3. Shape your clay
Coiling the clay is a good way of building up the sides of a hollow shape. This prevents the shaped clay from collapsing.
4. Experiment and Practice
Get a feel for how different tools affect the material. Practise by cutting, poking and dragging the tools across a sheet of clay. Experiment ways of building up clay, connecting pieces and adding details.
5. Have fun
All sculptors improve and grow by learning from their mistakes. Working with clay is supposed to be a relaxing and fun experience that inspires you and awakens your imagination. Do not be afraid to try even if you do not have any experience.
Sign up for Funway Clay Sculpting Workshop 2023
Create your own piece of clay sculpture in any shape you like! Learn the skills of making clay sculpture from an expert. It is a great place to learn the fun way!
Sign up at www.funway.com before 20 September 2023 to get a free goodie bag!
Date of workshop: 25 October 2023
Last day of registration: 20 October 2023
Requirement: Participants will sketch their preferred design during the workshop.
Fee: $80 per child (all learning materials, including the clay, are provided.)
For more information, please call our hotline at 6222 4444.
Thoughts about clay sculpting:
"I was so engaged during the clay sculpting workshop last year! Now I can create my own unique sculpture. My dream is to become a professional sculptor and I hope to conduct classes for others when I am free."
Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, "Clay Sculptures For Beginners"?
For children who are just starting to learn sculpting techniques at home, which type of clay is the most suitable for use?
Which statement is true about setting up a workspace at home for clay sculpting? You should ___________.
Andy would like to try making a clay sculpture. He must first ___________.
According to the flyer, 10-year-old Su Lin ___________.
Cindy wants to sign up for the Funway Clay Sculpting Workshop 2023. What must she do?
According to the flyer, which of the following is not true about clay sculpting?
The main purpose of the poster is to ______________.
"Snake's inside. They spotted it this morning," said Zari, pointing to the snake handlers. Bob clapped his hands in delight, much to everyone's amusement. He was the first to volunteer to lead the way. Both of us got down on our hands and squeezed our way into the cave. Trying to spot the python. Surrounded by darkness, my initial excitement turned to regret. With hardly any room to move, the inevitable danger of encountering a menacing python made my heart race. Bob directed his torch beam down the narrow passage to reveal a massive python, coiled up tight, just two metres ahead. I felt a surge of cowardice wash over me as ferocious hisses echoed. We crawled out quickly into the sunlight again and sat up.
Moments later, Bob was squealing with joy as he experimented with his camera. I was about to suggest consulting the locals for help when Bob spotted one of the handlers making a noose out of thick rope. "We need to get that around its neck, then pull and drag it out!" suggested Bob as he impatiently pulled me up. I doubted it could work but kept it to myself. I fought to compose myself as I watched Bob behave like an eager child. As Bob skipped around playfully, I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to yell.
More doubts started to creep in as I assessed the risks. I warned Bob about the dangers of getting entangled with the python within the cramped cave. Determined to prioritise our safety, I insisted that Bob and I wear thick, layered clothing to shield ourselves from potentially getting bitten. Despite these precautions, a nagging sense of worry lingered. Concerned about our well-being, I emphasised the python's strength and unpredictable nature, stating, "Do you really think you'll get a chance to noose it?"
Immediately, one of the snake handlers produced an extendable pole with a grabber tool at one end while the other tested the resistance of the knot.
"This will work. We've got to try, right?" Bob asked. He patted my shoulder, adding, "Don't worry, I understand how snakes react. This knowledge will come in handy for sure!"
I sighed in resignation as I knew Bob was not going to give up the prospect of photographing and getting close to the snake. Zari gave us some instructions on how to assist in capturing the snake. Suddenly, the air buzzed with anticipation.
Bob and I crawled into the cave together, wedged shoulder to shoulder. While I shone the torch down the tunnel, Bob slowly inched the pole over the top coil of the python and then yanked with all his strength. To our amazement, the entire bulk of the snake slid down the cave towards us without resistance! My mind grappled with confusion as I had anticipated a fierce struggle as Bob shuffled backwards and pulled. I watched in awe as Bob skilfully maneuvred the noose over its head in the tight confines of the cave. Soon, the snake hissed madly as it tried to free itself.
"Quick! Pull the rope!" I roared as Bob appeared at the cave mouth. As he stepped back to drag the snake out, he slipped on a loose rock. The pole slipped from his grasp as he tumbled backwards. Within seconds, the python slithered back into the cave, leaving us speechless!
Eagle-eyed shoppers at IKEA Singapore spotted misprinted cloth bags __________ sale at its online store, as well as its physical store at Alexandra Road.
IKEA Singapore had misspelt its website address, printing "www.ikea.co.sg" on its cloth bag. Rather __________ disposing of the misprinted bags, IKEA decided to own __________ to its mistake and proceeded with selling the cloth bags at its retail outlets.
IKEA decided to own __________ to its mistake and proceeded with selling the cloth bags at its retail outlets.
The furniture retailer came clean about __________ error through an explanation on the tag in addition to the words "These bags __________ limited edition and they will not be back!".
The explanation on the tag included the words "These bags __________ limited edition and they will not be back!".
Similarly, at IKEA's online store, the misprinted bags are __________ being sold, with the explanation given.
A photo posted __________ Facebook user Alicia Cho showed the bags on sale at the physical store.
The bag had become popular __________ many young shoppers. This was largely due __________ the fact that the bag was sold at only $1.90.
This was largely due __________ the fact that the bag was sold at only $1.90.
IKEA explained that it did not scrap the products. __________, IKEA hoped that customers can give a perfectly new bag "a second chance" and consider it for its eco-friendly reusable function.
My grandmother was famous in her little town for the baked goods which she
said. That was a small bussiness which her mother had left her. I loved visiting her shop as there was always something intresting to look forward to.
During one visit, she was making one of my favourite snack - chocolate coolies.
I was exilerated and kept sneaking into her kitchen, hoping to steal a bite on the delitious cookies as soon as they were out of the oven.
I was exilerated and kept sneaking into her kitchen, hoping to steal a bite on the delitious cookies as soon as they were out of the oven.
Although Grandmother kept chasing me out of the kitchen, I successfully managed to sneak in to steal one and bite into it. Much to my surprise, it was not what
I had expected. It was a brown coaster that looks just like a cookie! When Grandmother saw it, she fell into a fit of laughter as she found it bizzare for me to chew on a coaster.
I had expected. It was a brown coaster that looks just like a cookie! When Grandmother saw it, she fell into a fit of laughter as she found it bizzare for me to chew on a coaster.
However, back then, I did not find it humour.
Years later, Grandmother passed over. We went to her house to go through her belongings. I had all and forgotten the coaster incident untill I found, in one péculier box, the same coaster with a perfect little bite. Tears began to well up in my eyes.
Years later, Grandmother passed over. We went to her house to go through her belongings. I had all and forgotten the coaster incident untill I found, in one péculier box, the same coaster with a perfect little bite. Tears began to well up in my eyes.
Years later, Grandmother passed over. We went to her house to go through her belongings. I had all and forgotten the coaster incident untill I found, in one péculier box, the same coaster with a perfect little bite. Tears began to well up in my eyes.
Fill in the blank: Houdini grew up in an impoverished family. From an early age, he was forced to work to help make ends ________.
Fill in the blank: To gain popularity as an entertainer, Houdini began to ______________ daring feats of escaping from ropes, chains and handcuffs.
Fill in the blank: Soon, he started to escape from various locked containers ranging from coffins ______________ prison cells.
Fill in the blank: This earned him an international reputation as his performances ______________ typically watched by thousands of people.
Fill in the blank: In one of his performances, he was chained and placed in a ______________ that was locked, roped and weighted.
Fill in the blank: The box was submerged from a boat. Houdini then surfaced after freeing ______________ underwater.
Fill in the blank: In another performance, he was suspended in mid-air with his hands tied, about 23 metres above the ground. After a few minutes, he escaped skillfully. His ______________ gasped in awe when they watched his performance.
Fill in the blank: Houdini's amazing escape abilities depended ______________ not only on his great physical strength and agility but also on his extraordinary skill at manipulating locks.
Fill in the blank: After almost three decades of public performances, Houdini eventually found another new and powerful way to ______________ out to people through movies.
Fill in the blank: He made his first ______________ in 1918.
Fill in the blank: Although his movie did not feature live magic, Houdini became one of Hollywood's first action heroes and his movie delighted audiences ______________ the world.
Fill in the blank: In 1926, he ______________ seriously ill and he died.
Fill in the blank: Many people turned up to pay ______________ last respects to Houdini.
Fill in the blank: The world knew it had lost one of the most original and beloved entertainers of all time.
Megan and the twins do not know when Mrs Lam is picking them up. Neither _______________________________________________________________
Jack confessed to Mr Low, "I am the one who broke the glasses." Jack confessed to Mr Low that _______________________________________________
You must remove the electrical cables. Your toddler may be tempted to pull them. _________________________________________________ unless _____________________
I tried hard but I could not pry open the lid of the tin. No matter _____________________________________________________________
Sally stared at the letter. She could not believe it. _________________________________________________ in ________________________
Dates: 4 to 7 December 2023
Venue: Sunny Forest Campsite
Fee: $120 per participant
Camp Leap is back by popular demand! Organized by Team Leap, this outdoor adventure camp will cater for up to 150 participants this year – the largest number thus far! Visit www.teamleap.sg from now until 15 November 2023 to register and pay the fee online. Registration will close early if all places are filled, so leap into action to avoid disappointment!
Safety Provisions:
• First aid kits will be readily available, and instructors are trained to deal with emergencies. However, take note that they are not allowed to administer medication.
• Participants must disclose all medical conditions during registration. Those with medical conditions may be asked to sit out strenuous camp activities.
The purpose of the questions in the first paragraph is to ____.
According to the article, it is important to carry survival kits in the great outdoors because we ____.
According to the instructions on assembling a personal survival kit, which of the following items should be placed inside such a kit?
According to the instructions on how to assemble a personal survival kit, we should ____.
Which statement is not true about Camp Leap?
Why is the exclamation mark used in the sentence, "Camp Leap is back by popular demand!"?
Which of the following will the organiser not do? The organiser will not ______________.
What is the main purpose of the article?
Refer to the passage below when you answer questions 71 to 80 in Booklet B.
In one of Ms Kawano's classes, more than a dozen students held mirrors to their faces. They were stretching the sides of their mouths__________ with their fingers. The students were practising __________ to smile.
It is not something most people would think to pay for but Ms Kawano's services as a smile instructor __________ seeing a surge in demand in Japan, where mask-wearing was mandatory __________ the COVID pandemic.
Many people have forgotten what a smile is.
Miss Yoshida is one of the students __________ took the class. It was part of her school's courses to prepare her for __________ job market.
She explained that she needed to work on her smile. "I hadn't used __________ facial muscles much in the midst of the pandemic so it's a good exercise," she said.
Ms Kawano's company, Egaoiku, which literally means "Smile Education" __________ seen a more than four-fold jump in demand __________ the previous year.
An hour-long one-on-one lesson costs 7,700 yen ($874). Her trademarked "Hollywood Style Smiling Technique" method incorporates "crescent eyes", "round cheeks" __________ shaping the edges of the mouth to bare sight pearly whites in the upper row.
Here are some exciting activities for you!
Hands-On Workshops at Blossom Community Club
NATURAL BEAUTY WORKSHOP
Date:
4 September (Monday)
Time: 8.30am – 11.30am
Fee: $10
Learn how to make body scrub with food! Come and learn different body scrub recipes using natural ingredients like oats, sugar and many others. What's more – there will be a 30% discount on Naturelle's latest products when you buy from its pop-up store.
BLACK SOLDIER FLIES AT WORK
Dates:
6 – 8 September (Wednesday – Friday)
Time: 9am – 11am
Fee: $4
Do you know even a single fly can make a big change to our food waste problem? Contribute your food waste and watch how the insect acts as a decomposer and break it down into compost.
Guided Tours
ROOFTOP GARDEN TOUR
Dates:
7 – 9 September (Thursday – Saturday)
Time: 1pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Block 5, Forest Road
Fee: $8
Learn how urban farmers make use of rooftops in our land-scarce Singapore to grow crops such as spinach and lettuce. You will receive a tasting pack of the freshest produce.
SOLAR CENTRE TOUR
Dates:
10 September (Sunday)
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Venue: Superb Centre
Fee: Free for all students
Understand the benefits of harnessing clean energy from the sun from a team of renowned researchers. Have a go at building your own solar-powered toy car.
Sign up for the activities above at www.environmentalhero.com.
This poster is targeted at ________.
What does the word 'R' on page 8 refer to?
Which statement is not true about the hands-on activities?
Samuel can only make it for the 'Be an Environmental Hero' event on one day. Which two activities would you recommend him?
Why is the colon (:) used in 'How to challenge yourself'?
Which of the following is not the reason for sharing the views of Westfield Primary School students?
Who are the sponsors of the "Be an Environmental Hero"?
What is the main purpose of the poster?
Paul looked at his fuming sister and then at his best friend, Billy. The two boys had planned to build a bike ramp in order to train for an upcoming stunt bike competition. "You're too young," Paul said. Mag stomped off toward the backtop of the lawn at 5 the foot of the hill. The boys shrugged, agreeing there was nothing they could do for Mag.
Paul and Billy set out to build a bike ramp out of a wooden plank and an upturned metal bucket. One end of the plank rested on the ground while the other rested on the bucket. The hilly terrain made it a perfect place to practise flying off the ramp. To the boys' dismay, every time they tried to ride on the ramp, the plank toppled off.
Determined to secure the plank in place, Paul hurried off to look for something. He made his way to his father's shed and re-emerged soon after, carrying four house bricks left over from the building of the garden wall. Paul placed the extra support under the plank. He announced to his mate, "This should do it." He was sure that the ramp would now be stable enough to give them the lift they needed to launch their bikes into the air.
Paul gave Billy the thumbs up. Billy, who had been waiting at the highest point on the hill, raised himself off his seat. He was determined to successfully complete the stunt. Down the hill, he rode. Strong wind was blowing in his face as his helmet wobbled from side to side.
With both boys so engrossed in testing out the ramp, neither of them noticed that Meg was approaching the ramp with a plan of her own. She had been sulking behind a tree. Now, her rage had reached boiling point. "If they won't let me play, then they won't play either." She kicked at the plank, sending it off the bucket which started to spin.
Just at that moment, Billy's bike arrived where the plank should have been but he simply could not brake in time. With no ramp, his bike's pedal got caught in the handle of the spinning bucket. The bike swung violently off course, and now, Billy was heading directly toward the shed.
Paul's response came automatically, leaping like a frightened frog away from the path of the speeding bike, out of harm's way. Alas, Billy was too stunned to react and he hit the shed door with a loud bang.
"Mag! Seriously, why did you do that?" Paul dusted himself down. Jumping up, he turned to face his sister.
"Because you guys said I couldn't have a go...," she blubbered, trembling in fear. As tears ran in rivulets down her cheeks, she rambled over and over, "What have I done?" She was certainly regretting her rash act.
His anger fading away, Paul said gently, "You can't take part in the sport, but you can help us rebuild the ramp." Smiling weakly, Mag put her hand in her big brother's. They headed over to help Billy, who was a little shaken but otherwise unhurt.
Have you wondered what happens when you flush the toilet? Each time you flush, waste, toilet paper, and water __________ through a pipe called a sewer.
This sewer pipe collects and removes other waste, __________ as soapy water from baths and leftover water from dish washing.
Combined waste from your house, known as sewage, joins that __________ other homes, flowing into larger sewer pipes, some bigger __________ a bus.
These large sewer pipes transport all the sewage to treatment plants __________ harmful substances are removed from the waste water.
Sewage contains many germs. People become very sick if they come into contact __________ the germs. The treatment process also eliminates items flushed __________ the toilet, like toys, jewellery and __________ money.
[Part of question 33 continued - appears to be related to contact with germs]
Moist towels or baby wipes can cause significant problems for the sewerage system, and experts caution they should never be flushed __________ they are labelled as 'flushable'.
[Blank number 36 for 'money' in context of items flushed down toilet]
[Blank number 37 for conjunction before 'they are labelled']
Treatment plants clean the sewage __________ several days, removing harmful components and using chemicals to kill germs.
I stood in the long line, queueing for my turn. Without warning, an arguement broke out
between two people ahead of me. It was the least ideal situation, especially when my stahmeck
was grumbling with hunger. I casting a glance at the commotion, pondering wether to intervene or not. In the end, I decided against it.
was grumbling with hunger. I casting a glance at the commotion, pondering wether to intervene or not. In the end, I decided against it.
to the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure looking in the same direction. A securely guard
to the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure looking in the same direction. A securely guard
was observing the situation disapproval. I shook my head and could not help while think about
was observing the situation disapproval. I shook my head and could not help while think about
how easily a small disagreement could esskalate into a full-blown rant if not handled properly.
As the line gradually moved forward, I realised that queueing is more than just a mundane task. It teaches us payshlence, respect for others, and how to control our emotions. It is a test of
character in a society where efficiency and fairness went hand in hand.
With each step closest to the counter, I reminded myself to stay calm and be more understanding. After all, the minutes spent waiting would soon be forgotten whereas the lessons learnt from queueing would last a lifetime.
Motion sickness can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting. It occurs when what your eyes see is different __________ what your inner ear feels.
You can get motion sickness in a car, on a train, an aeroplane __________ a boat.
Motion sickness can make travelling unpleasant but there are __________ to manage it.
The best way to tackle motion sickness is to prevent it from happening. As such, try to __________ situations that cause motion sickness.
If you are travelling in a car as a passenger, take the front seat whenever __________.
You may find that doing __________ can prevent nausea.
If you are seated at the back, consider exchanging seats with the __________ passenger before your nausea gets worse.
Hopefully, you will be able __________ have a more comfortable ride for the rest of your journey.
If you have a driver's __________, consider taking the wheel of the vehicle.
A driver of a car is less __________ to motion sickness because you control the car and can predict its motion.
Putting yourself behind the wheel will keep the queasiness __________ bay.
When travelling on an aeroplane or a boat, some people suffering from motion sickness may find that lying __________ makes them feel better.
Others may find it more effective to stand up __________.
Your options will depend on your modes of __________, so you may need to experiment to find out which one works best for you.
When natural __________ (65) do not work, you may want to talk with a doctor about your symptoms. They may be able to recommend additional therapies or prescribe medication to help alleviate your symptoms.
Don't miss the Miniature Snack-Making station if you have a sweet tooth. Got to sample these tasty snacks that will tantalise your tastebuds.
Station 1
Peranakan Dress Up
Want to look like a little Baba or Nyonya? Visit us at this booth! The traditional costume for Peranakan women is the nyonya kebaya which was adopted from local Malay traditional dresses. Once dressed, add finishing touches with a decorative hairpin and a silver belt for the ladies. Engage in playful role-playing as we capture an image of you for only $2.
Station 2
Miniature Snack-Making
Nyonya snacks are an integral part of Peranakan cuisine. Have fun making mini models of Peranakan snacks using clay and learn more about Peranakan food culture. You will see the different traditional utensils used to make these snacks.
Bring home your own mini model and don't forget to try out the sweet scrumptious snacks!
Station 5
Congkak
Did you know that this game has up to 250 names? Find out now the various explanations for the different names the game about. In the past, no boards were used. The game was played by having holes dug in the ground for placing rounded stones or rubber seeds. This game is especially popular among the Malays (which is why Malay terms were once used for the rubies) and the Peranakans. Visit us! Gain as many seeds or marbles as possible in your Congkak storehouse!
Station 9
Beadwork
Did you know that Nyonyas have to learn to bead their own shoes before getting married? Try your hand at beading — a tradition which involves using tiny colourful beads to embroider intricate patterns.
According to the article, the Peranakans are ___________.
The unique flavour of Peranakan dishes is a result of the ___________.
The dash (–) used in the section 'Traditional Arts and Culture' serves to ___________.
Which one of the statements is true about the Discovery Trail?
What can participants do at the first station?
According to the article, visitors who visit Station 5 can _______.
Jenson, a student, likes to make handicrafts. Which stations would appeal to him?
What is the main purpose of this article?
Although she felt upset, her first instinct was not to harbour anger and resentment but was more concerned about the root cause of the thief's action. "Why did you do this?" the woman probed. Head hung low, he shrugged. "How, pick up my bag!" she ordered. Still following him by his wrist, she bent down enough for him to retrieve her bag. Staring up boy's a stubborn escape, Mrs Li lightened her sincerely to heal him mutter an apology tearfully. "If you were my son, I'd teach you to discern right from wrong!" she snapped.
"Please, please let me go. I promise ..."
Mrs Li looked at the boy squarely and cut him off "Don't think about getting away so easily." Perspiration dotted his brow. He began to struggle again and that was when Mrs Li's bag dropped unexpectedly. A photograph fell out. The serenity teenager in the picture caught the boy's attention. "That's my son. He was young and full of aspirations despite his poor health. I wiped out my savings trying to treat him but ..." Her voice trailed off, choking with emotions.
"What's your name?" Mrs Li asked after gathering her composure.
"Ming. Are... you going to... call the police?"
"What for? I just stepped out of the bakery when you tried to steal my bag. Are you hungry? Would you like some?" She held up the paper bag. The boy's face contorted into a mixture of confusion and disbelief. Was he dreaming? The unmistakable growing sound from his tummy confirmed he was not. Mrs Li chuckled "Join me," she sported, pointing at an empty bench a few steps ahead of them. Ming's eyes sparkled. He chipped genuinely for the first time. The offer was irresistible. When was the last time he had had a decent meal? The boy could not recall.
"I just wanted to buy a pair of shoes," Ming mumbled as he stuffed the buns into his mouth. Mrs Li smiled and took out more bread which she quickly snatched from her hand.
"You could have got yourself a job. When I was your age, I too had indulged in luxurious items that were beyond my means," she said. "Looking back, I could have through twice before I spent. Ming locked and unlocked fingers, staring hard at his shoes. To his astonishment, he noticed that the woman was no longer watching him or her bag like a hawk. Ming sat properly having made up his mind that he did not want to be mistrusted any more. "Behave yourself and don't make the same mistake again. Remember this – tough times don't last, but tough people do." With that, she stood up and bade him farewell. Speechless and thankful, Ming felt really lucky.
With hard work comes success. Over time the young man transformed his life. He eventually became a wealthy entrepreneur who never forgot the kind woman. Ming credited his saviour's forgiveness as the turning point that inspired him to truly change for the better.
Not discovered ______________ 1958, this dark and light grey animal has a distinctive black ring ______________ its eyes and a dark patch on its lips.
[Blank 30 in passage about vaquita's distinctive features]
Today, a little ______________ half a century later, we ______________ be losing them forever.
[Blank 32 in passage about causes of vaquita extinction]
Many different factors have caused the vaquitas to be on the brink of extinction ______________ conservationists working diligently to save them.
The main threat to the vaquitas ______________ the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
[Blank 35 in passage about vaquita threats]
In spite of these challenges, conservationists have not stopped fighting ______________ the odds.
For example, bans on illegal fishing are being implemented ______________ the vaquita habitats to protect them.
The vaquita's plight highlights the importance of preserving marine ecosystems and the need ______________ sustainable fishing practices.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
I can't help but __________ about the cherished moments we have shared for the __________ ten years.
[Fill in blank for] about the cherished moments we have shared for the __________ ten years.
[Fill in blank for] being there for __________, supported each other's dreams and celebrating each other's successes.
[Fill in blank for] being there for __________, supported each other's dreams and celebrating each other's successes.
[Fill in blank for] your keen power of observation. In addition, you possess an ability to __________ and understand the world around us.
[Fill in blank for] your keen power of observation. In addition, you possess an ability to __________ and understand the world around us.
[Fill in blank for] It is __________. Thankfully, I have you beside me through it all. Time spend in your company feels effortless.
[Fill in blank for] me through it all. Time spend in your company feels effortless. Whenever I need a shoulder to cry on or __________ my joy and sorrow, you're just a call or text away.
[Fill in blank for] to cry on or __________ my joy and sorrow, you're just a call or text away.
[Fill in blank for] Whenever __________ and bored, you'll cheer me on enthusiastically. Your words of encouragement have always been a great source of __________,
[Fill in blank for] of encouragement have always been a great source of __________, pushing me to overcome the __________.
Fill in the blank: driven by Artificial Intelligence technology that has taken the world by _______
Fill in the blank: Many people have been raving about its convenience and benefits, but _______ all inventions, we must be careful as not only will there be advantages but also _______ related to their use.
Fill in the blank: One huge benefit of ChatGPT is its _______ to generate responses to your questions at the _______ of light.
Fill in the blank: Students who struggle to keep up _______ the pace in class or who wish to _______ on a topic would welcome it with open arms.
Fill in the blank (55): [blank] the pace in class or who wish to
Fill in the blank: By engaging with ChatGPT in a chat or _______ we can gather vast _______ on various topics.
Fill in the blank (57): [blank] on a topic would
Fill in the blank: [blank] we can gather vast _______ on various topics.
Fill in the blank: Since ChatGPT can operate round the _______, users can have access to its capabilities whenever they need or want to.
Fill in the blank: While using ChatGPT can be helpful, be wary of the negative consequences. Firstly, the responses generated may not always be _______.
Fill in the blank: To check for their accuracy users should always _______ them with credible sources and websites.
Fill in the blank: Secondly, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence. Thus, it does not have emotions or empathy to deal with questions that _______ emotional understanding.
Fill in the blank: Thirdly, ChatGPT is not always _______ with its responses. Sometimes, it may provide conflicting and different answers to the same question!
Fill in the blank: Bearing these factors in _______, it is important to use this tool responsibly.
Fill in the blank (65): [blank] responsibly. Technology can be incredibly useful, but it is crucial to understand its limitations.
The monitors were very pleased when they received the certificates. _________________ with great _________________
Only Mason and Benjamin have not submitted the consent form to the teacher. Everybody, other than Mason and Benjamin, _________________ _________________
Mrs Tan asked her husband, "How did you come here?" Mrs Tan asked _________________ _________________
This popular restaurant is always fully booked. Due to its _________________ _________________
The master chef is the chief judge. Everyone sang praises about him. _________________ whom _________________
Dates: 4 to 7 December 2023
Venue: Sunny Forest Campsite
Fee: $120 per participant
For children aged between 10 and 16
Early Bird Offer!
Register by 31 October 2023 and pay only $100!
Camp Leap is back by popular demand! Organised by Team Leap, this outdoor adventure camp will cater for up to 100 participants this year – the largest number thus far! Visit www.teamleap.sg by 15 November 2023 to register and pay the fee online. Registration will close early if all places are filled, so leap into action and avoid disappointment!
Safety Precautions
✓ First aid kits will be readily available, and instructors are trained to deal with emergencies. However, take note that they are not allowed to administer medication.
✓ Participants must declare all medical conditions during registration. Those with medical conditions may be asked to sit out strenuous camp activities.
The purpose of the questions in the first paragraph is to __________.
If you are considering embarking on an outdoor adventure, the phrase "number one priority" in the first paragraph tells you that safety is __________.
According to the article, it is important to carry survival kits in the great outdoors because we __________.
According to the instructions on assembling a personal survival kit, which of the following items should be placed inside such a kit?
When assembling a personal survival kit, we should ___________.
Which statement is not true about Camp Leap?
The organiser will take all the following safety precautions during Camp Leap except ___________.
What is the main purpose of the article?
Why did the narrator feel disbelief when her mother told her about moving again?
What does the phrase 'it always took a while for the new students to be included' tell us about the school environment?
Why did the narrator decide to wear her best dress and shoes on the second morning at school?
What was the narrator's intention when she borrowed her mother's bracelet?
Why did the narrator initially feel confident about starting a conversation with the girls at school?
What made the narrator realize that she had made a mistake about the horse?
Why was the narrator upset about the bracelet going missing?
What action did Mrs Brennan take after the narrator told her about the missing bracelet?
How did the narrator feel when she heard about the 'Good Citizen' award announcement?
What emotions did the narrator experience by the end of the school day after the bracelet was still not found?
During the afternoon recess, the bracelet was still nowhere to be found. Trying not to cry, I put my hands over my face. Tammy, Jess and a few other girls gathered around me, and they promised to help me look for the bracelet again the next day. "Thanks, everyone. You are so nice," I said, forcing a smile. "It's just that I shouldn't even have lost it. I wore the bracelet this morning. It belongs to my mother." Then, without knowing why, I suddenly added, "And I'm sorry I lied to you girls this morning. I've never owned a horse. Rocky belongs to my mother's friend. I told you that so you would like me. I even wore my best clothes today so I'd fit in better." That's all right," they all answered reassuringly. "It doesn't matter whether you own a horse or what kind of clothes you have. We like you just the way you are!" Rhonda, the Class Chairman, said as she gave me a hug. Tammy and Jess offered to let me ride their horse sometime.
It felt so good to tell the truth and to learn that I had misjudged the girls as being arrogant. I really did feel smiling then, even before I happened to glance at the ground and discover a bracelet that was covered by sand and almost hidden from view, right in the middle of my circle of new friends.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. (10 marks) EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. From mid-2023, shoppers at most supermarkets need to pay at least five cents for each disposable carrier bag. Two-thirds of all supermarket outlets in Singapore, including NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage, are imposing the charge (29) __________ all materials of disposable bags, including plastic (30) __________ paper. The carrier bag charge is (31) __________ several proposed amendments to the Resources Sustainability Act. The aim of the proposed changes (32) __________ to reduce packaging and food waste in Singapore. (33) __________ 2021, only 8 per cent of all plastic waste was recycled in Singapore. The carrier bag charge was first announced in early 2022. At present, the larger supermarket operators (34) __________ impose the charge report an annual turnover of more than $100 million and (35)__________ better resourced to implement the requirements. (36) __________, smaller operators are encouraged to implement (37) __________ own bag charges too. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), many such retailers (38) __________ already done so. These include The Body Shop as well as Cheers and FairPrice Xpress outlets, which started charging 10 cents for plastic bags per transaction in 2022.
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author. Although a problesteek writer of
plays, travelogues, novels and poems, he is best remembrance for his literary fairy tales.
Andersen's fairy tales, consisting of 156 stories across nine volumes, have been
translated as more than 125 languages. They are readily accessing to children but
present lessons of verchew and resilience in the face of adverse for mature readers as
well. His most famous fairy tales including 'The Emperor's New Clothes' and 'The Little
Mermaid'. His stories have inspired ballets, plays, and afincemayted and live-action films.
Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark on 2 April 1805. Andersen's
father, who had received an elementary school education, introduced his son to
literature, reads to him the 'Arabian Nights'. Andersen's mother, Anne Marie, was an
illiterate washerwoman. Andersen was sent to a local school for poor children where he
received a basic education and had to support himself, working as an aprantis to a tailor.
At 14, Andersen moved to Copenhagen to seek employment as an actor at the Royal
'Danish Theatre'. A cohleeg at a theatre told Andersen that he considered him a poet.
Section G – Comprehension Cloze. Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Diners who fail to return used trays and crockery at coffee shops, food courts and hawker centres may face tougher action from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) from 1 June. (51) _________________ of merely being advised to clean up (52) _________________ themselves, first-time offenders will be given written warnings. Repeat offenders will (53) _________________ the possibility of a fine or getting charged in court. No one has been fined or charged ever (54) _________________ the agencies kicked off efforts to curb table littering at hawker centres on 1 September 2021, and at coffee shops and food courts on 1 January 2022. However, as at 31 March, written warnings have been (55) _________________ to two individuals who refused to (56) _________________ the advice of NEA officers. NEA said the strengthened enforcement measures are meant to reinforce good (57) _________________ and deter diners who repeatedly fail to return their used trays and crockery. It said that the large (58) _________________ of diners at hawker centres do return their used trays and crockery, and the stepped-up enforcement (59) _________________ to ensure that the good efforts of the diners who return their used trays and crockery are not marred by the (60) _________________ behaviour of the minority. The agency said that it was also looking to (61) _________________ stricter enforcement against littering in general, with the deployment of remote surveillance cameras (62) _________________ April onwards. Those who are prosecuted in court could be given a fine and a Corrective Work Order (CWO). CWOs (63) _________________ recalcitrant offenders to clean public areas for between three and 12 hours. This serves to increase their awareness of the (64) _________________ of littering, and gives them a (65) _________________ of what cleaners go through. In 2022, the NEA issued around 21,200 tickets for littering. This was a marked increase from 2021, when around 15,500 tickets were issued.
Sue washed the clothes. She ironed the clothes too. Not only _________________ _________________
"My mother took me to the museum yesterday," the boy said. The boy said that _________________ _________________
Roy told his parents a lie. He admitted to it. Roy admitted to _________________ _________________
If you look hard, you will spot the bird in the bushes. _________________ _________________ unless _________________
The football match was suddenly cancelled. It caught us by surprise. The sudden _________________ _________________
I went to check on the patients who had been infected. When I was busy attending to one of the patients, I heard a sudden high-pitched beeping sound that went on for ten seconds behind me. We have lost another one, again. I felt mournful as I saw the respiratory mask being taken off the patient. I felt like I had let my patients down. I constantly wished I was able to help them more. Feeling despondent, I made my way to the exit out of the ICU. At this moment in time, we have had hundreds of losses, and I was on the verge of throwing in the towel. However, there was still a sliver of hope in me, an inner voice telling me that I can do this. I knew fortune would usually favour the brave, and a sudden surge of determination to just persevere and do my best welled up within me.
I went about my shift that lasted almost an entire day. Finally, after what felt like days since I reported for work, I sat down at the Information Centre, feeling drained and fatigued. I took off my mask to get a brief respite and let out a sigh. After a few seconds, I put it back on and walked slowly to the end of the hall. Just then, there was the sound of a machine. It was loud and beeping at a constant but fast pace. It was louder than any other machine in the wards. I ran there as fast as my legs could carry me. I stumbled upon the sight of an old lady whose vitals were dropping. It was old Mrs Dorothy. I let out a slight gasp as I opened the door and rushed in, trying my best to help her. She had difficulty breathing. Her immune system was not strong enough to battle the virus within as she had multiple chronic illnesses. It was due to this that she was deemed unfit for the vaccine. I acted swiftly by injecting a solution into her drip and performed Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). I was on the verge of breaking down. I did not want to lose another patient. I did not want to lose the fight in me. I just could not bear to see another loss.
Just when all hope was lost, I suddenly heard steady and slow-paced "beeps". I let out a huge sigh of relief followed by a small sob. Almost an hour after this incident, the nurses who came to aid Mrs Dorothy were still fussing over her. The frail lady muttered to me softly when I was about to leave, "Thank you for saving my life." I let out a slight smile despite knowing that she would not be able to see my facial expression. "Please get well," I replied, full of gratitude. I opened the door and left, knowing that the war was far from over but glad to have won this battle.
Pick out a four-word phrase from lines 8 – 14 which suggests that the narrator was about to give up on what he was doing.
How did the writer know that her vitals were dropping?
Give one reason why the old lady's vitals were dropping.
Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right.
Explain why the writer was "full of gratitude" (line 31).
About Youth Champs
Are you aged between 10 and 18 years old? Have you heard of Youth Champs? It is a voluntary organisation which works to convince young people like you that you can make a difference. Its founder, Eric Tan, sincerely believes that young people have the passion and drive to bring about big changes. He credits his parents with giving him a sense of purpose.
"My parents have consistently stressed the importance of being kind. They care about other people as well as the environment. To reduce waste, we live modestly, buying only what we need, and conscientiously reuse materials whenever possible. To avoid causing more pollution, we generally walk or use public transport. They are excellent role models for me because they act on their beliefs. If not for them, I don't think I would have set up Youth Champs."
Although Youth Champs has organised numerous events since 2020, this is the first time it is running a month-long campaign! Choose from an exciting range of activities to engage in!
Brief notes on the campaign...
• All the proceeds from the campaign will go to charity.
• Visit the Youth Champs website at www.yc.sg to register for the talks and workshops.
• Limited places are available.
• Registration will close on 26 May or earlier if all places are filled.
The main aim of Youth Champs is to make young people believe that they _______________.
Which of the following words is used to describe how Eric's family finds ways to avoid throwing things away?
What does Eric admire about his parents?
What is the similarity between the displays and talks included in the campaign?
Candy wants to participate in one of the campaign activities. If she is only free at weekends after 11 June, she can go to _______________.
Marcus wishes to attend the craft workshop. He must do all of the following except ________.
Which of the following is true of the funfair?
What is the main aim of this flyer?
One day, Ali received some bad news. All his trading ships, which were loaded with valuable cargo, had sunk in a storm out at sea. When all the people who had lent him money for his trading business heard about it, they demanded immediate repayment. Ali fell short of his creditors' demands and had to sell all his possessions to repay them. In the end, he was left with nothing.
Along with his wealth, all his friends also deserted him. "A wave of vultures," they had only bled me for my wealth!" he reflected bitterly. Realising that he had nothing to give to his family except troubles in the days ahead, his heart grew heavy. One night, plagued by such a disturbing thought, he fell into a fitful sleep.
That night, Ali had a strange dream. A monk appeared in the dream and said, "If you touch me on my head with a stick, I will change into gold—enough gold to last you a lifetime." Next, the monk bowed and Ali saw himself touching the monk's head with a stick. Instantly, the monk turned into a huge pile of gold coins.
The next morning, Ali woke up to the sound of someone knocking at the door. "Can my dream be true?" Ali wondered. His wife answered the door and called out to him, "The barber is here for you!"
"How foolish of me to believe in a dream," thought Ali as he sat down for his haircut and shave.
Just then, there was another knock at the door. This time, Ali got up and opened the door. To his surprise, there was a monk at the door. The monk was wrapped in yellow robes and looked exactly like the one who had appeared in his dream the previous night. The monk gazed at Ali in silence and bowed. Remembering his dream, Ali nervously picked up a stick beside the door and, in a daze, touched the monk on his head with it. A huge pile of gold coins appeared in front of him where the monk had stood. Ali was speechless yet relieved. He sent the barber away with a generous measure of gold coins and requested that he keep things to himself.
The barber, having witnessed how Ali had changed the monk into gold, thought, "Now that I know it, I'm going to become richer than Ali! I am tired of cutting people's hair and earning so little money for it." At once, he went to the monastery nearest to his house and invited all the monks there for a feast.
As soon as the monks entered his house, the barber took a stick and started to strike their heads—blow after blow. The monks shrieked in fear as they scrambled frantically away from the barber, believing he to be a mad man. In the confusion, one of them managed to escape and ran to seek help from the police.
The police arrived at the barber's house to find the owner, who was weary by then, still hitting the monks and swiping feebly with the stick. They arrested him and presented him before a judge.
When asked why he had beaten the monks with a stick, the barber replied, "When Ali struck a monk on his head, he turned him into a heap of gold."
The judge then called for Ali and asked him if that was true. Ali gave his story in detail and even showed the judge one of the gold coins. After hearing his account, the judge scoffed in laughter. He then jailed the barber for assaulting the monks without reason and ordered him to compensate them for their medical bills.
Singapore street food has been making waves around the world. The annual Top 50 World Street Food Masters list __________ just released at the World Street Food Congress in Manila and fourteen winners __________ the list were Singaporean. Hill Street Minced Chicken Noodles, __________ was awarded a Michelin star the previous year, clinched the number one spot.
Singapore street food has been making waves around the world. The annual Top 50 World Street Food Masters list __________ just released at the World Street Food Congress in Manila and fourteen winners __________ the list were Singaporean. Hill Street Minced Chicken Noodles, __________ was awarded a Michelin star the previous year, clinched the number one spot.
Singapore street food has been making waves around the world. The annual Top 50 World Street Food Masters list __________ just released at the World Street Food Congress in Manila and fourteen winners __________ the list were Singaporean. Hill Street Minced Chicken Noodles, __________ was awarded a Michelin star the previous year, clinched the number one spot.
Popular street food eateries from Singapore __________ invited to participate in the World Street Food Congress in Manila. The participants said that the experience __________ travelling overseas to represent Singapore in international events added to __________ businesses' credibility and reputation.
Popular street food eateries from Singapore __________ invited to participate in the World Street Food Congress in Manila. The participants said that the experience __________ travelling overseas to represent Singapore in international events added to __________ businesses' credibility and reputation.
Popular street food eateries from Singapore __________ invited to participate in the World Street Food Congress in Manila. The participants said that the experience __________ travelling overseas to represent Singapore in international events added to __________ businesses' credibility and reputation.
Not everyone believes that change and evolution is necessarily __________ only way to go and some feel affirmed in keeping __________ traditions. They view sharing their food on the world stage as sharing their culture and heritage.
Not everyone believes that change and evolution is necessarily __________ only way to go and some feel affirmed in keeping __________ traditions. They view sharing their food on the world stage as sharing their culture and heritage.
Celebrity chef ______________ television host, Anthony Bourdain, was at the congress in Manila. He revealed that an international street food market that he is opening in hot New York in 2019, ______________ be modelled after Singapore's food centres.
In 1994, the boss of McLaren Formula One or F1 was approached by a [BLANK]
nine-year-old karting champion. The boy told him solemnly, "I am going to race for you one day. [BLANK]"
I'm going to win across all odds." This bold claim was given by the child [BLANK], Lewis Hamilton.
Having won four world titles in total to date, he has more than fulfilled his childhood promise. [BLANK]
Lewis Hamilton began motor racing from a young age and in 2007, he burst onto F1 races [BLANK]
by finishing second from his first season. When he won the world title in 2008, he was just [BLANK]
twenty-three years old. At that time, he was the young winner in history. This made him a [BLANK] censation around the world.
[BLANK] F1 racing is one of the biggest and most exciting competitions in the world. The annual
F1 world championships is made up of [BLANK] races held in different countries.
The inaugural night race was held in Singapore in 2008. Singapore Grand Prix is the [BLANK]
first street circuit in Asia then, taking place on the Marina Boy Street Circuit. Since then, [BLANK]
Singapore has been [BLANK] the night race. The show will go on till 2021.
Fill in the blank: The first believes that contrary ______________ the traditional belief that gaming is merely an addictive source of entertainment, gaming has some ______________.
Fill in the blank: It aids the development of cognitive skills in both children and adults. Just ______________ physical exercise helps in improving and strengthening muscles, cognitive games help to indulge one's ______________.
Fill in the blank: Just ______________ physical exercise helps in improving and strengthening muscles, cognitive games help to indulge one's ______________ in constant stimulation, thus improving its performance.
Fill in the blank: ______________ playing a game, we are not staring at the computer inactively.
Fill in the blank: The activities and actions on the screen provide a lot of mental stimulation and help improve coordination. ______________ top of that, video games can also improve problem-solving skills.
Fill in the blank: As they involve certain rules, the player has to think carefully ______________ making any move to ensure that they stay within the required rules of that particular game.
Fill in the blank: When faced with a choice, the player needs to make a split-second ______________ that will determine whether he or she will advance to the next level.
Fill in the blank: On the other hand, there are others who believe that there ______________ more harm than there are benefits in playing video games.
Fill in the blank: We can get ______________ to gaming.
Fill in the blank: Studies have shown that a higher amount of time ______________ on playing onscreen games can be associated with lower academic performance.
Fill in the blank: Excessive gaming can have an adverse impact on our health and increase the ______________ of childhood obesity.
Fill in the blank: Sometimes, children also ______________ meals to play games they are addicted to.
Fill in the blank: It is also important to pick the right game as not ______________ of them provide the same cognitive benefits.
Fill in the blank: ______________ should also be a factor.
With more than 100 stalls selling healthier choice food and drinks as well as health and fitness equipment, attendees are in for a real treat. Try out a variety of healthy and tasty food samples. Get products at special bundle deal prices and more!
31 Mar 2023
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Workout with Fitness Gym*
Gym Ball Juniors**
Improve your balancing and motor skills while singing along to popular kids' songs.
Suitable for children 3-6 years old (adult supervision required)
Cost: $10 per parent-child pair (includes a gym ball)
Duration: 30 min
Available sessions: 10.15 a.m. | 11.15 a.m. | 3.15 p.m.
Easy Resistant Band Stretch**
Stretch to soothing instrumental music and build muscle strength.
Suitable for the elderly
Not suitable for children under 5 years old
Cost: $5/pax (includes a resistant band)
Duration: 40 min
Available sessions: 9 a.m. | 10 a.m. | 2 p.m.
Fun Dance Moves
Work out and get your blood pumping to our in-house music mix.
Suitable for all ages
No registration or fees required
Duration: 60 min
Available sessions: 9.15 a.m. | 2.15 p.m.
*All participants will receive a voucher for 15% off membership fees with Fitness Gym.
**Register online at 2023healthysg.com to secure your place in advance.
Healthy & Tasty Cook-Off Competition
Watch the top 4 contestants battle it out at the Healthy & Tasty Cook-Off Competition finals. Sample the competing dishes and vote for your favourite. The competition will also be televised live on TV 8.
31 Mar, 4 p.m. Finals
Recipes used will be available for download from 2023healthysg.com after the finals.
What is the main objective of the 2023 Healthy SG?
Suzy is interested in attending the weekend road shows. What should she do to find out more about them?
Based on the Virtual Run section, which of the following statements is true?
What is the purpose of the "Early bird discount" sticker at the Virtual Run section?
Based on the Workout with Fitness Gym section, in what way are the workout sessions similar?
Mrs Tan wants to bring her three-year-old son to the Keep Fit Bazaar after noon and she wants to watch the Cook-Off Competition. Which of the workout sessions would be suitable for them?
Based on the article, which of the following statements is not true?
2023 Healthy SG is organised by ___________.
One day, the three friends stumbled upon a poster advertising a competition to design a new school shirt for the school. "This looks interesting," remarked Sarah.
"It is just a waste of time. With our talents, we can win this with our eyes closed," Alex snorted.
"Ha! These weirdos are so full of themselves," a boy scoffed loudly within the trio's earshot. His friends sniggered. "Weirdos!" they echoed.
Alex clenched his fists, ready to lunge at the group. "Stop! There are better ways to shut them up. We can't afford to get into trouble again," Michael warned as he and Sarah quickly restrained Alex, pulling him back. "Let's sign up and prove them wrong. If we win, we even get to set the school's fashion trend!" Sarah exclaimed. "Fine!" Alex spat.
The next day, the trio gathered at their usual hideout. "I still have second thoughts about the competition. We have to make sure our submission is really the best," said Michael. "Remember how we teased John endlessly when his entry for the class camp shirt was rejected?"
"Oh, come on, Michael. We have gone through this before," said Alex, rolling his eyes. "There are three of us working on this whereas John was working alone. Surely three heads are better than one."
As the deadline for the competition approached, tensions began to rise within the group. The trio was under a lot of pressure to deliver a winning design, and they were starting to get frustrated with their lack of progress. Arguments broke out, and tempers flared as they struggled to reach a consensus on the final design. Alex kept insisting on getting his way despite Sarah and Michael's protests that his designs were impractical.
"The boy was right. You are so full of yourself, Alex," Sarah muttered, "You've stopped to our views since we started on this. Can't you see how is upsetting us?" Alex started at Sarah and then at his friends. He uttered, "I know I can be a little insistent at times. I just want to win so badly. Can't you see that?" Sarah let out a sigh. "We want to win too. Can't YOU see that? We are a team. You cannot let your fixation on winning cloud your judgement. We have to work together."
Turning his attention back to their plans, Alex began embracing his teammates' suggestions. They began building on each other's ideas. In the end, he team managed to submit their design just before the deadline. As they waited for the results to be announced, they were apprehensive and wondered if they would face the same outcome as John.
When the results were finally announced, the team was elated to find that they had won first place! "Told you we can win this with our eyes closed!" Alex grinned. Sarah rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yeah, right." Alex admitted, "Fine, only because we worked together." "That's more like it," Michael added.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 31 to 40, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Do you have the dream of blasting off on space adventures? Richard Branson, a billionaire businessman, achieved his childhood dream in July last year. He flew __________ the edge of space. The experience was even better than he had expected. "I have dreamt about this moment __________ I was a child, but nothing could have prepared me __________ the view of earth from space," he said. Mr Branson, who is 70 years old, travelled in a spacecraft belonging to Virgin Galactic, a company that he founded in 2004. Before private space travel was available, __________ governments of big countries had the resources for space flights. Even __________ most space missions are carried out __________ government agencies. However, Mr Branson is part of an emerging group of entrepreneurs __________ bold ambitions to venture into space. Another billionaire-spaceman is Jeff Bezos, the founder __________ Amazon, an online shopping company. Space missions sponsored by governments __________ mainly conducted for scientific purposes, but Mr Branson's company wants to promote space tourism. Some people find the idea very exciting. Others say it is a huge waste of money at a time __________ there are more pressing challenges to solve. What do you think?
Whales are the largest animals on Earth. The massive mammals range with the 200-kilogram dwarf sperm whale to the colossal blue whale, which can weigh more
Whales are the largest animals on Earth. The massive mammals range with the 200-kilogram dwarf sperm whale to the colossal blue whale, which can weigh more
which can weigh more than 200 tonnes.
A blue whale calf weighs two tonnes in birth and gains an extra 90 kilograms each day from its first day.
Despite their incredibal bulk, blue whales are surprisingly graceful swimmers
and very comfertable in the deep blue ocean where buoyancy helped them to surface
and very comfertable in the deep blue ocean where buoyancy helped them to surface
for our with ease. These giants are migratory animals and travel to where food is
abundant. They feed on tiny shrimp-like animals called krills. Blue whales are found in
all the world's oceans and either swim in small groups and alone.
Blue whales have been hunted for many years for their blubber almost to the point of extinction. Only a few thousand blue whales are believed to swim the world's
Blue whales have been hunted for many years for their blubber almost to the point of extinction. Only a few thousand blue whales are believed to swim the world's
oceans today. Thankfully, this endangering species is protected under the 1966 International Whaling Convention. Hence, the hunting of blue whales has largely ceased.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. (54) The blaring _______________ of the fire truck echoed through the streets. (55) signalling for vehicles to give _______________ as it rushed to the site of the inferno. (56) Black smoke billowed from the burning building, and the flames seemed to be devouring everything _______________ its way. (57) The fire crew knew they had to act quickly _______________ they were to save anyone trapped inside the fireworks factory. (58) As they _______________ their protective gear, they braced _______________ for the worst. (59) _______________ (60) Entering the building, they _______________ a series of unforeseen difficulties. (61) The floorboards were _______________ only shaky and vibrated upon each step taken, intermittent and explosive detonations also greeted the firefighters at every turn they took. (62) The intense heat was almost unbearable. Nevertheless, the firefighters had to navigate their way _______________ the chaos with bravery. (63) In the end, they managed to rescue all of the trapped _______________. (64) Thanks to their expertise and unshakeable determination it had been a harrowing experience, but the fire crew knew that it was _______________ in a day's work for heroes like them. (65) Eventually, the fire was _______________, and lives were saved. (66) Later, investigations by the Fire Department revealed the _______________ of the fire to be a cigarette lit by a worker _______________ took a puff during his short break inside the factory. (67) He did not snuff out his cigarette and _______________ of it carelessly by throwing it near a pile of old fireworks. (68) The worker was disciplined and all workers were banned from smoking within fifty metres of the factory.
Kat Erin is stubborn. She refuses to heed her sister's warning.
The dog sensed the presence of a stranger. It began to bark furiously.
Ben did not make it past the singing audition. Ali did not make it past the singing audition too.
The box was too heavy to be lifted.
I ate too many fried chicken wings. I ended up with a sore throat.
Bala asked his father, "Can you help me with my homework?"
Back in my teenage years, I lived with my family in a tiny village where most families were farmers who made as their staple crop. However, one December, the village was devastated by a drought. The sun blazed angrily in the sky, showing no mercy on the seedlings. By May, half of our crops were scorched. It resulted in no celebration of that harvest. Food was scarce and we were struggling to make ends meet. Little did I know that a child like me was able to end the problem for my village.
One fateful trip to the library changed my life. I was in the library looking for books for a school project. As I was reaching for a book on gardening, another book caught my eye. Its cover featured a row of windmills, intrigued, I grabbed it and dived into its pages. Initially, I thought nothing of the tall white towers with three blades spinning, but suddenly, I had a brainwave. I said "To my friend, Gilbert, 'I'm thinking of building a windmill to power turbines and a water pump to water our crops. It would be a blessing to the people.'" Upon hearing my idea, Gilbert pondered for a moment before giving me some constructive comments on my new project. Beaming with excitement, I swiftly grabbed the book on gardening and checked out both books from the library.
I spent mornings and afternoons planning my windmill. I pored over chapters about electricity. Soon, I created a reputation for myself as William, the garbage boy, who would always be found at the scrapyard, playing with toys and banging away, to collect unwanted parts for my windmill. I was very focused on finding resources such as scrap metal, timber parts, and old bicycle frames for my project. I often told others, "Where others see garbage, I see opportunities."
However, the process was not all smooth-sailing. On one occasion, the chain of my test model snapped, and the tower crashed to the ground and broke apart. On another occasion, black smoke started to pour out of the test model. It was a far cry from the sturdy and reliable machine that I had in mind. All my attempts were met with disappointing ends. As I worked on my windmill project, pangs and setbacks brought me to the brink of despair. It did not help that I was constantly put down by my usually wise grandfather who did not believe that I would succeed. "You are not doing anything useful," he once told me. However, I did not let my grandfather's words and my obstacles bring me down. I will all my naysayers to prepare themselves for my victory.
On my final attempt, my friends cut down several trees and built a sixteen-foot-tall tower to place the windmill on. I looked at my invention with anticipation. Many villagers eagerly gathered to watch as I started the windmill. Most of them were convinced that I was out of my mind. The windmill blades began to buzz like a set of angry propellers. Then it came - a flicker, a flash, then a burst of bright, magnificent light. My heart nearly exploded. The villagers' eyes widened in disbelief. I held the bulb in triumph and addressed the unbelievers. "Electric wind! I wasn't mad!"
I finally succeeded in creating a windmill that could harness the power of the wind and it was connected to a water pump that could water our farms. My family and the whole village were amazed by what I had accomplished. This invention of mine not only helped my family to grow crops again, but it was also widely used by farmers in other countries. I certainly have my teacher to thank for getting us to research on different farming methods in the world for our school project.
I will never forget the day when my grandfather lightly nudged me with his elbow and muttered an apology. "Wise as you are, you have clearly misjudged me this time round," I whispered.
Which two words from the first paragraph tell us that the narrator was given recognition for his invention? Each word is found in a separate sentence. [2m]
Based on lines 6-11, list two ways how the scorched crops affected the lives of the villagers. [2m]
Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [1m]
Based on lines 12-19, give an example to show that Gilbert was of help to the narrator. [1m]
Based on lines 20-24, explain clearly what the narrator was referring to when he said "opportunities" in line 24. [2m]
Based on the information from lines 25-32, fill in the following table. [2m]
Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [3m]
Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. [3m]
Which words from lines 33-38 signal a change in how the narrator felt about his invention? [2m]
Based on the passage, how did the narrator's grandfather misjudge him? Provide an example to show that the narrator's grandfather agreed that it was indeed a misjudgement on his part. [2m]
Get your tickets to watch the Chingay Parade live! See details below:
$60 / $50 / $38 / $30 / $20 (all prices are before GST)
• Click on the official website (www.chincay2023.sg) to purchase your tickets.
• Limited wheelchair accessible seating is available at the venue. Please contact us at CGY2@sg.gov.sg to make a purchase.
• If purchasing more than 10 tickets, please contact the Chingay hotline at 6345 1111.
• You may join the queue for a pair of complimentary binoculars on the days of the parade.
WATCH PARTY
This year, if you are not able to watch the parade in person, you can look forward to the live show being streamed online on YouTube. Don't miss out on the action!
Even better, if you host your own watch party by gathering your family, friends, or neighbours to watch Chingay Parade on 25 February and 26 February 2023, you stand a chance to win $500 worth of shopping vouchers!
How to become a host?
Register as a host of a watch party by 24 February 2023, 12p.m.
Gather your family, friends or neighbours at 8p.m. on the day of your watch party
Take photos or videos of your attendees watching Chingay
Submit the visuals via WhatsApp to 8430 1234
Support Chingay Watch for a Cause
EAGLES Retail Group has pledged to sponsor $10,000 worth of vouchers to benefit underprivileged families if we achieve at least 20,000 views!
ORGANISED BY
The sentence "DON'T MISS THE SHOW!" in the main heading is capitalised to __________.
In the section "What is Chingay?", which word best describes Singapore as a society that is made up of people from different countries?
In the section "How did Chingay come about?", the word 'epitome' refers to Chingay being an __________.
Which statement is not true about Chingay Parade 2023?
A family of 10 are interested to watch the two Chingay Parade. They should purchase tickets by __________.
Which statement is true about hosting a watch party on the Chingay Parade?
Which of the following words on page 9 tells us that EAGLES retail group made a promise to help the underprivileged families?
What is the main purpose of the online article?
This went on for weeks. I became concerned and asked her, "Ruby, what are you doing with your supplies?" She would always respond with answers that satisfied me. One day, after supplying a brand-new eraser and three days earlier, I became exasperated with her pleading for another one. I sternly asked her once more. Upon realising that her excuses no longer worked, Ruby lowered her head and began to cry. I waited impatiently for her to answer.
"Mum, there is this boy in my class. He has no stationery to do his work with. Other kids only made fun of him. Quietly, I've been putting the new supplies you bought me on his desk." Ruby explained in between sobs. I stood there in disbelief.
"I am sorry, Mum. I lied to you as I did not want anyone to know I was helping him," Ruby apologised. I knelt down and pulled her in for a tight embrace. I assured her that I would never get mad at her for wanting to help someone. Later that day, I had a talk with Mrs Ng and told her what Ruby had said. I then learnt that John was the oldest of four boys and their parents were struggling to make ends meet. Getting school supplies for the boys was not their priority.
As Christmas neared, the thought of John and his family weighed heavily on my mind. What would they do? Surely they would not have money for gifts. Considering their predicament, my mind was set on helping them.
When my family began our preparation for our annual Christmas celebration, I told my husband and my children that instead of the usual gift exchange, we would go shopping for gifts and groceries for John's family. Needless to say, my children and I were delighted to pick the best out for the four boys. Ruby was especially interested in things for John. At home, the children wrapped the gifts while my husband and I unpacked the groceries and stored them in our big refrigerator.
To respect Ruby's wish to remain anonymous, I roped in my three brothers to help with the delivery. Early one evening, they loaded the treasures into their car boots and set off for the address given by Mrs Ng. Upon their return, my brothers recounted the visit. A petite lady appeared shortly after they knocked on the door. She was dumbfounded upon seeing them with sacks full of gifts and bags full of groceries. They walked past a few blankets and a small television in the sparsely furnished flat, before setting the bags down on the kitchen counter. My brothers' eyes widened at how little the family had. They were at a loss for words for a moment. Before John and his family could ask any questions, my brothers just left them with shouts of "Merry Christmas!"
Ruby never told a soul in school about what we did. Yet, she would come home daily beaming widely, telling of John's new clothes and how other kids now played with him, treating him like the rest of the children.
Why did the writer dutifully provide Ruby with whatever she needed in paragraph one? [1m] The writer did not want Ruby to _______________________________________________________________
What caused the writer to become 'exasperated' (line 7) with Ruby's requests for items? [1m]
Look at the table below. What do the word(s) in the left column refer(s) to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [3m]
Based on lines 14-37, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. [3m]
"They were at a loss for words for a moment." (lines 35-36) Circle one word that best describes the feeling of the writer's brothers. DO NOT CIRCLE MORE THAN ONE WORD. [1m]
Give a reason for (a). [1m]
The writer did not want Ruby to experience the hardship of living in the state of lack like the writer did while growing up in a poor family.
The writer had just bought Ruby a new eraser three days earlier but Ruby was pleading for another one.
A boy named John whose parents were struggling to make ends meet.
a) False. Mrs Pin told the writer that John was the eldest of four boys and their parents were struggling to make ends meet.
b) Ruby's mother roped in her three brothers to help with the delivery.
c) John's mother was dumbfounded upon seeing the writer's brother with arms full of gifts and bags full of groceries when she opened the door for them
a) shocked
b) There were only a few blankets and a small television in John's family's sparsely furnished flat.
Booths 1 to 6
Over 100 titles available!
* For every 2 books you purchase, you will get to pick a mystery prize! Stand to win gift vouchers worth up to $20!
* Spend more than $100 and receive a free tote bag!
Booth 7
Meet-the-Author Sessions
Popular local authors will be present to promote their books and sign them.
1 p.m. Naomi Quek
3 p.m. Findaus Putra
5 p.m. Priya Kumar
Booth 8
Storytelling sessions
Listen to professional storytellers bring stories to life! Limited to the first 20 children aged 7 to 12 who register at the Information Booth at least an hour before each session.
What does 'it' in the first paragraph refer to?
Which of the following is a likely reason why people might be at the carnival?
Anyone who purchases books at the carnival __________.
Eleven-year-old Marcus plans to attend a storytelling session. What should he do?
Samuel wants to try winning a book voucher. He must do all the following except __________.
Which of the following is true of the book review writing contest?
Ernest bought a book by Naomi Quek from Booth 4 and wishes to get it signed by her. Which of the following is not true?
What is the main purpose of this flyer?
"Is it too late for a job interview now?" Bob asked, hopefully. "I think you have already passed your interview with flying colours!" the young man exclaimed, as he patted his grandmother's hands gently, "My company needs more people like you!"
Edward "Blackbeard" Teach was undoubtedly one of the most feared and most despised pirates of all time. Edward Teach was thought to _____ lived in England before his pirate career although his exact origins are unknown.
He _____ named "Blackbeard" because his large black beard covered his entire face.
To strike terror _____ the hearts of his enemies, Blackbeard would weave hay in his hair and light it during battles.
Edward Teach was _____ unusually large man, carrying two swords, numerous knives and pistols.
He was feared _____ by his own crew.
At the sight of _____ pirate, many of his victims were quick to surrender _____ a fight.
[Second blank for question 34 - part of same sentence] At the sight of [pirate], many of his victims were quick to surrender _____ a fight.
Blackbeard would then loot their valuables, drinks and weapons. He would allow them to sail away without harm. However, _____ the vessel resisted capture, he would either kill the crew or maroon them.
It was important _____ Blackbeard to maintain his devilish image in order to win the respect of his crew.
The members of his crew believed that he was the devil _____. He was feared by all and his crew pledged their allegiance to him.
Your heart is thumping and your mind is racing with a million thoughts.
Anticipashen slowly fills you as you take a step closer to the edge. Then, in one graceful swoop, you are free-falling 4,000 metres from the ground in a giant leap at faith, with adrenaline rushing through the body.
People choose to skydive for an gravy of reasons. Some people try skydiving
as a new experience or a casual activity while others pursuing skydiving as a sport.
Jumping out of an aeroplane that high above the ground can be an eazierating experience.
Every single one of us hdd dreamt of being able to fly.
Most skydivers
liken the sense of freefall to that of flying or floating on a kushon of air.
It also gives you the perfect oppurtunity to enjoy the picuresk scenery from a unique vantage point - from up in the sky!
Also, many people are unaware that this activity is extremely benefisial to
their health. This thrilled activity can be a great way to escape from reality for a
few minutes, help burn calories and relef stress. So, why wait? Take that leap now!
Food waste is created in Singapore's every single day from our food cycle – production, distribution, retail to consumption. This wastage is (51)__________ to several reasons, such as food spoilage, improper storage or handling, edible food thrown away or leftovers when we cannot (52)__________ our food.
Food waste is created in Singapore's every single day from our food cycle – production, distribution, retail to consumption. This wastage is (51)__________ to several reasons, such as food spoilage, improper storage or handling, edible food thrown away or leftovers when we cannot (52)__________ our food.
Food waste is produced by a wide range of (53)__________, including farms, food manufacturers, restaurants, and households.
Shockingly, last year Singapore threw (54)__________ roughly 0.68 million tonnes of food waste, and only 10% of it was recycled.
This indicates that, on (55)__________, each person in Singapore generated about 130kg of food waste per year.
If the National Environment Agency (NEA) does not (56)__________ campaigns to reduce or recycle food waste, the recycling rate for food waste is likely to remain low over the next few years.
Consequently, NEA may fail to (57)__________ its target of a 30% recycling rate for food waste.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has only released Singapore's food waste output of 0.68 million tonnes as an official (58)__________ Regrettably, this figure doesn't provide any insight (59)__________ the composition of food waste and its sources.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has only released Singapore's food waste output of 0.68 million tonnes as an official (58)__________ Regrettably, this figure doesn't provide any insight (59)__________ the composition of food waste and its sources.
Furthermore, supermarkets, food manufacturers, and food outlets are (60)__________ to disclose the amount of food waste they generate.
(61)__________ the difficulty of getting food waste data in Singapore, three journalism students from the Nanyang Technological University managed to shed (62)__________ on the problem of food wastage in Singapore.
(61)__________ the difficulty of getting food waste data in Singapore, three journalism students from the Nanyang Technological University managed to shed (62)__________ on the problem of food wastage in Singapore.
The students (63)__________ that six in ten survey respondents would buy more than what they (64)__________ when shopping at supermarkets.
The students (63)__________ that six in ten survey respondents would buy more than what they (64)__________ when shopping at supermarkets.
This could lead to overstocking of food at home and the food could end (65)__________ not being consumed.
John did not give up. He persevered to complete his revision. Instead of _______________________________________________________________________________
"Do you know the ending to this mystery story?" Tessa asked her father. Tessa asked her father _______________________________________________________________________________
The dog scampered away when it saw its owner enter the room. _______________________________________________________________________________ upon _______________________________________________________________________________
James questioned whether Tom was sincere. Tom's _______________________________________________________________________________
Mother stormed out of the house. She was exasperated. _______________________________________________________________________________ in _______________________________________________________________________________
The main purpose of the flyer is to __________.
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
Fareh intends to participate in the competition but wants to know how the submission process works. She should __________.
Which of the following is true of the competition?
What is the organiser's purpose of clearing the misconception of recycling and upcycling? To ensure that readers __________.
What is the main difference between recycling and upcycling?
How do recycling and upcycling benefit the environment?
What happens during the recycling process?
One night, owners, Peter and Francis, led the dog sled team to a bleak and miserable campsite on the shore of a lake. They knew snow wind that cut like a knife-old knife and darkness had forced them to search for a suitable camping ground for the night. Under one of the sheltering rocks, Buck made himself comfortable in a warm pit on the ground. It was so snug and warm there that he was initially reluctant to leave even when Francis was distributing dinner. When Buck had finished his dinner and returned, he found Spitz occupying his spot. For the longest time, Buck bristled trouble with Spitz, but this was too much. The beast in him roared. He lunged at him, and this took Spitz off guard.
As the two dogs fought, a starving pack of wolves came to the campsite, lured by the smell of food. When Francis and Peter sprang into action to fend the wolves off using stout clubs, they bared their teeth menacingly and fought back. Peter found one wolf with its head buried in a nearby bin. He swung the club, and it landed heavily on the wolf's ribs. He repeated the same at the other wolves rummaging through the campsite, but the wolves took the blows in their stride. They yelped and howled under the rain of blows from both Peter and Francis but kept at what they had invaded the campsite for, determined not to relent until the very last crumb of food had been devoured.
Meanwhile, the astonished sled dogs burst out of their resting spots only to see the ravaging scene before their eyes. Never had Buck seen such frightful creatures – mere skeletons with bloodshot eyes – but even that was nothing compared to the terror that they were, driven by the force of hunger. Within an instance, Buck was assailed by wolves and immediately after, his head and shoulders were ripped and slashed. The din was frightful, for both canines and humans alike. Buck fought back, biting into a wolf's neck and then flinging himself upon another. Just as he was gaining momentum, he left fresh skin into his own back. Spitz had treacherously attacked him by stealth. Spitz trotted away with a triumphant look as Buck continued fighting off the wolves. Peter and Francis hurried to save their team of sled dogs, gathering and herding them towards safety. The wild wave of famished beasts withdrew somewhat as Buck shook himself free. Buck drove himself away from the pack to flee away over the snow with his team. Once the team of sled dogs were a safe distance away, Francis decided to turn back to see what was left of the food they had while Peter took care of the sled dogs. Unfortunately, the wolves were still hanging around, revelling in their loot. Still, it was a necessary risk to take, or their chance of surviving the trek to their destination was slim.
As Francis made a baseline for an unguarded pack of food supplies, the nearest wolf pounced on him, sinking its teeth into his leg. Francis let out a piercing scream as he struggled to kick it off, but the wolf held on stubbornly. It was incredible how hunger had driven it to this. Both Buck and Spitz, the first to leave the campsite, saw Francis struggling to get away. Exchanging a knowing look, they turned wolf sprang onto the wolf, with Spitz clamping down on its neck and Buck going for its limbs. It was a fierce battle, but the wolf stood no chances against two loyal sled dogs. It released Francis from its bite and scrambled to its feet, not forgetting to grab the pack of supplies. When Francis pulled back, he whistled for Spitz and Buck to follow suit. As the trio headed to join their team, something seemed to have changed between Spitz and Buck. After the incident, Spitz was no longer hostile towards Buck. He was walking alongside him, seemingly supporting his injured teammate. From that rescue, something had changed regarding his misconception of Buck.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. The Outback is a name used by the natives for the vast, unpopulated and mainly arid areas that comprise Australia's interior and remote coasts. The drive from Alice Springs ______________ Ayars Rock is an absolute must-do, taking travellers through the heart of the country. At 348 metres, the rock is the height ______________ a 85-storey building. Ayers Rock is ______________ just any ordinary tourist attraction. It is special to the Anangu people, ______________ Aboriginal Australian tribe. Their beliefs and culture ______________ not known to many outsiders. It is important to appreciate them, ______________ visitors are encouraged to learn more and gain a deeper understanding of this place. They are asked to walk around the rock, which is sacred to the Anangu, ______________ of climbing it. The rock is said to be spiritually significant, thus it has been acknowledged as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO*. There were ______________ hundreds of thousands of visitors who scaled the rock each year and went ______________ the expressed wishes of its traditional owners. ______________ it may seem less of a mountain, the rock has reportedly claimed 37 lives in recorded history. Climbing was finally officially banned in October 2019.
On 23 November 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced its first new class of astronaut trainees in 13 years. Between the 17 selected candidates, ESA has made history by selecting an amputee which lost his leg in a motorcycle accident - [blank box (39)] - a leap towards its pioneering ambition to send someone with a physical disable into space.
[Blank box (40)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
[Blank box (41)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
[Blank box (42)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
[Blank box (43)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
John McFall, the 41-year-old Briton who lost his right leg when he was 19 and went on to competing in the Paralympics, called his selection at Europe's answer to NASA 'a real turning point and mark in history'. [Blank box (44)] - part of sentence requiring correction
[Blank box (45)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
'I'd never thought that being an astronaut was a posibility. This is the first time [Blank box (46)] - a space agency has endeavored to embark on a project like this and it sends a really, really strong message for humanity,' he said.
[Blank box (47)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
McFall will follow a seperate path from his fellow astronaut trainees because he [Blank box (48)] - will participate in a groundbreaking feezibility study exploring whether being physically disabled impaired space travel.
[Blank box (49)] - part of the sentence requiring correction
[Blank box (50)] - To date, no major Western space agency has ever put a parastronaut into space, according to the ESA.
Fill in the blank: Many of them _____________ to filtered and bottled mineral water instead.
Fill in the blank: Lonely Planet, a travel guide, recommends "vigorous boiling" of the water _____________ at least a minute.
Fill in the blank: Alternative methods that the travel guide suggests _____________ using a water filter or iodine pills to purify the water
Fill in the blank: _____________ drinking. In the rural parts of Brazil, people often store rainwater in water tanks during rainy seasons.
Fill in the blank: Sadly, the water in the tanks sometimes becomes polluted _____________ disease-causing bacteria.
Fill in the blank: Those who drink the water fall _____________ and sometimes die.
Fill in the blank: Brazil has plenty of water _____________ to some other countries in the world,
Fill in the blank: but the water is not distributed well. Water.org reports that while safe water has become more _____________ over the years, 'there are still deep inequalities' _____________ the rural and urban regions in acquiring it.
Fill in the blank: _____________ Water supply disruption is also a daily concern.
Fill in the blank: Water _____________ occurs occasionally due to reasons like pollution at river basins, effects _____________ climate change, and poor water supply infrastructure.
Fill in the blank: There are millions of people who do not have access to safe water in Brazil. The underprivileged often _____________ on their tanks or containers to collect rainwater for their day-to-day needs.
Fill in the blank: (blank line)
Fill in the blank: Anna-Luisa Beserra, a native, has invented the Agualuz system _____________ purifies water using sunlight.
Fill in the blank: In fact, this is the only invention in the world _____________ of disinfecting rainwater collected in tanks without transporting the water _____________ water treatment plants.
Fill in the blank: As clean drinking water is a basic _____________ Ms Beserra hopes to make it easier for everyone to access it.
Father was reading the newspapers. It was blown away by a strong gust of wind. A strong gust of wind __________ __________
The room was stuffy because the ventilation was poor. Owing to __________ __________
Mark insisted on going to the playground. It was snowing heavily. No matter __________
Tom is the most responsible student in the class. No other __________
Unfortunately, he was ill-prepared for the role of the main character. It was __________
~ Ms Eileen Tan, founder of Leather Works
What is the main purpose of the Skills Fair?
Gerald intends to take part in the Design Contest at the Skills Fair. He needs to __________
In prehistoric times, leather was used to make __________.
The purpose of the question just below the main heading, "Skills Fair" is to __________.
Which one of the following statements is true about the Skills Fair?
Once the long and twisting tracks came into eyeshot, my mother's face became as white as a sheet. I thought I heard my father let out a sigh of despair and throw in a murmur; a nervous glance. With anxiety written all over her face, my mother quickly clutched her bag and mumbled, "It's best that I stay on the ground to protect all our belongings, while your father goes along with you on this ride."
My sister and I wasted no time in pleading with both our parents to go with us. This caused a look of distress on their faces, which we chose to ignore. We were both excited yet terrified. Thus, we both needed a parent to flank us on each of our sides. In addition, we longed for the family photograph that would be snapped after the ride. Furthermore, there were lockers that we could safekeep our bags in. Having said our piece, we dragged them to the lockers ahead of us.
Once seated, my mother tried to question the safety measures for the ride. Suddenly, before she could say another word, the harness was lowered on us. We heard a loud squeal from my mother. Before the ride, my father had squeezed my mother's hand reassuringly and shouted words of encouragement to my sister and me. The moment the jerky ride started, he stared wide-eyed with his thin lips twitching pale in fear.
With that image in my mind, the train then leaned forward. Soon, we were twisted, turned and flipped like rag dolls. My mother's screams were now a continuous shrill. Feeling dizzy from the loops and free falls, I too joined her in screaming. Although the situation was comical as we were the only two women screaming, it was thrilling as I experienced a joy of liberation.
When we finally got off the ride, my mother's hair was nothing close to her neat expectations. My father tried to hide his unsteady gait. Speechless, we staggered to the exit. The sight awaiting us at the counter was the last straw. The camera had captured us in strange angles. My father looked like he had sniffed something rotting and my mother's hair was in a mess, beyond recognition. Nora's face was in a grimace while I looked like I had a dislocated lower jaw. Staring at the picture, we broke out in chorties.
A tender moment surrounded us. My parents had overcome their fear to join us for the ride. My heart swelled with appreciation. I hugged them in a tight embrace. Suddenly, my sister followed suit.
The photograph that we purchased still sits on our coffee table today. It does not only speak of a memorable family outing, but it also marked the beginning of a more open relationship with our remarkable parents.
However, this did not dampen community spirit among Singaporeans. ______________ providing free masks to cooking meals, ______________ acts of kindness brought out the extraordinary qualities of Singaporeans.
One such couple ______________ chicken rice stall owner Mr. Daniel Tan and his wife.
They decided to deliver free meals to healthcare workers as "an encouragement of love". Mr. Tan and his wife started an online campaign called 'Cheer Up' on ______________ Facebook page, requesting funds to deliver packets of chicken rice from their Ang Mo Kio stall to hospital staff.
The public response was overwhelming ______________ the campaign went viral.
As a result, the couple managed to raise enough money to cover the cost of the meals they delivered. To show their support for our healthcare workers, many restaurants also whipped up either lunch ______________ dinner treats.
During ______________ times of difficulty, it was inspiring to be able to witness the community come together.
Although the Covid-19 situation brought the nation to a standstill at that time, the young and old were able to take ______________ the challenge and overcome the unexpected situation.
There are 8 blanks, numbered 21 to 28, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to M) in the blank. The letter (I) has been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. (9 marks) EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Word options: (A) after (B) before (C) from (D) in (E) many (F) on (G) or (H) such (J) their (K) this (L) was (M) were
Everybody in the family have taken or is currently taking piano lessons.
Amongst all of us, Kim is the exceptional one, because she is an excellent pianist.
She has no difficulties playing all the complicated notes. She practises frequently, for at least four hours a day.
She always joins in when one of us is playing a piano, to give us the encouragement and moral support.
As a result, Kim could only use her four fingers on her right hand to play the piano. Therefore, she had to rehearsed twice as much as the rest of us.
I cannot imagine what it must have been like for her. Not only is it difficult to play the piano with only four fingers but it is also frustrated not to be able to reach some of the keys on the piano easily.
Despite this challenge, Kim displayed perseverance.
She has never felt embarassed or compared herself to us.
Fill in the blank: His quick actions saved a hiker _____________ need. Squaw Peak, a mountain in the United States, is only about 800 metres high.
Fill in the blank: _____________, its steep and slippery cliffs have resulted in countless injuries and even deaths.
Fill in the blank: One sunny morning, in 2019, Henry Grant was climbing the mountain _____________ his mother. There were other tourists ascending the mountain too.
Fill in the blank: When Henry was about 3 metres from the edge and waiting for his mother to catch _____________ with him, he suddenly heard a loud 'thump'. 'Help!' someone screamed.
Fill in the blank: A woman was crumpled in a kneeling _____________ on a small rocky ground. She had fallen about 22 metres.
Fill in the blank: Unfortunately, the woman had landed in a dangerous spot. _____________ she moved, she started to slip a little more.
Fill in the blank: Securing himself against a tree, Henry gently held onto her hand. He tried to _____________ the woman's mind off the pain from her injuries, by distracting her with questions.
Fill in the blank: He kept doing this until he was joined by _____________ hiker. Simon, who also kept reassuring her that she would be fine.
Devi will not recover from her illness. She needs to see a doctor. Unless _______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
The faulty bulb has been replaced by my brother. My brother ___________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
My uncle was generous. He inspired me to help the less fortunate. My uncle's __________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Other than Alan, all the boys enjoy playing basketball every Sunday. _________________________ except Alan _______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Happening on 28 May 2023!
Kickstarted in 2003 and held on the last Friday of each school term, Eat With Your Family Day (EWYFD) aims to encourage organisations to allow employees to leave work early at 5 p.m. to enjoy a meal with their children and families.
Many researches have found that family dinners are important, and some suggest that eating together at least four times a week has positive effects on child development. These include lower risks of obesity and substance abuse, and increased self-esteem.
Hear about why companies and individuals are taking part in EWYFD!
"EWYFD brings the family together despite our busy schedules. It helps us to bond with family members when we eat together!"
Ellen Wong
(Working mother)
"I love eating with my parents and siblings! We spend quality time when I tell them about what happened in school and they share with me about their work."
Jackson Tan
(9 years old)
"In our company, we want to support a family-friendly work culture. If our employees are happy, they are willing to do their best and work more efficiently!"
Tharman Singh
(Hiring Manager, CDE Ltd)
The main purpose of this webpage is to _______________.
What does 'some' on page 8 refer to?
According to the interviewees, they have benefitted from 'Eat With Your Family Day' for the following reasons except _______________.
Which statement is true about 'Eat With Your Family Day'?
Which statement is true about the special deals offered on the webpage?
The bulleted points under the sub-heading "Ingredients" on page 9 are to ___________.
Look at "Recipe for a fun-filled family day!" of the webpage. What is recommended that you do immediately after deciding on a date for a family outing?
The purpose of "Did you know?" on page 9 is to ___________.
Awake brain surgery is where a doctor operates on the brain while a patient is awake and alert. It is done on patients ______________ have brain tumours or seizures near the parts of the brain that control vision, movement or speech.
This surgery allows the doctor to monitor that the patient's vision, motor skills or speech ______________ not affected by the operation.
______________ the surgery, the patient will be given medication to make him relax. Since the brain does not have ______________ pain sensors, the patient will not feel any pain even though he ______________ awake.
______________ 2017, doctors at a local hospital discovered that a man had a brain tumour. Within a week, they decided to go ahead ______________ an awake brain surgery to remove it.
After the surgery, the man had to go for both radiotherapy ______________ chemotherapy.
The success rate ______________ an awake brain surgery is dependent on the type of tumour and age of the patient. ______________, many have benefitted from this surgery.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Tom lived in a small village. He was known for his adventurus spirit. One day, he decided to explore the forest and chanced in a secret garden. The flowers in the secret garden were lovely.
Tom could not resist the tamaptyation to pick a few flowers.
Since he was picking them, Tom heard a voice. He turned around and saw an old woman.
'Why are you doing?' she asked. Tom explained that he wanted to bring the flowers back to show the villagers.
'They belong to the forest. Leave them alone,' she warned. Tom apoologised. Then, the old woman handed him a seed.
'Plant this in your village,' she said. Wih that, she dissapeared. Tom was puzzled and did as he was told.
To his surprise, the seed grew into a tree with golden leaves. Tom was puzzled and did as he was told. To his surprise, the seed grew into a tree with golden leaves.
A few months later, a group of bandits came looked to steal from the villagers. Mesmerised by the beautiful of the golden tree, they decided to take it far themselves.
However, when they touched the tree, they turned to stone immidialty.
However, when they touched the tree, they turned to stone immidialty.
From then on, the tree became a simble of respect and a warning not to take what is not theirs. Tom had saved the village from harm.
The animals in the forest were very annoyed with this behaviour. "It's not that we have any secrets we are ashamed of," the monkeys said guiltily.
"No, no, we've not done anything wrong either," the leopards hurried to add, blushing.
"But we should still stop them! After all, we don't gossip about them!" the giraffes huffed. The animals all agreed they had to stop the flamingos, but how?
Finally, the monkeys, who had the most secrets to hide, had an idea. They would make a huge pot of pink paint and splash the paint all over the flamingos! With a brilliant coat of pink, the birds would no longer be able to hide in the forest! What devious but clever monkeys! Now, do you think the animals were successful?
In case you're wondering about the real reason why flamingos are pink ...
Flamingos' feathers are tinted by their diet of shrimps and algae, which are rich in beta-carotene, a vitamin with a strong colouring effect.
Sponsored by The Bird Conservation Community.
Based on the flyer, which of the following is true of the story-writing competition?
What does "supply" in the first paragraph of the winning story refer to?
According to the winning story, what did the flamingos take pride in?
According to the winning story, the animals did not want the flamingos to eavesdrop on them because they __________.
How do we know that the animals in the winning story were successful in turning the flamingos pink?
Why are many exclamation marks used in the last paragraph of the winning story?
What is the main purpose of the flyer?
Some of the information in this flyer is factual; others are made up. Which of the following information is made up?
"What a waste," Tommy said. "When you're through with the book, you just throw it away, I guess. Our computer must have a million books in it with space for plenty more. I wouldn't throw that away."
"What's this book about?" Christine asked.
"It's about school," Tommy replied.
Christine looked scornful. "What's there to write about school? I hate school." The previous week, the robot teacher had given her test after test in mathematics, and she had failed all of them. At first, her mother had thought that Christine was not working hard enough. When Christine denied it, her mother sent for the computer technician, who arrived with a box of tools and examined the teacher.
After a few minutes, the technician smiled and said to Christine's mother, "It's not the little girl's fault. I think the mathematics section was set at too high a level. Let me show you how to set a level appropriate for your daughter." Christine was disappointed. She had been hoping the technician would take the teacher away. After all, he had once taken Tommy's teacher away for a whole week for repairs.
Tommy explained further, "It's not our kind of school, silly. It's the old kind they had over a century ago. They had a teacher as well, but it wasn't our ordinary kind of teacher. It was a human being."
Christine was amazed. "How can a human being be a teacher? No human is smart enough. Besides, I wouldn't want a strange person living in my house to teach me."
Tommy roared with amused laughter. "The teachers then didn't live with their students. They had a building and all the kids went there."
It was then time for school. Christine went to her room and switched on her robot teacher. "Please insert yesterday's homework into my left slot," the teacher said. Christine did as she was told. There was a soft humming sound as the teacher analysed the words and gave her a grade. As the teacher explained to Christine her mistakes, she found her mind wandering back to what Tommy had said about the old schools. The poor children probably had to wake up very early each morning to get to their schools on time. However, if all the children went to the same school and learnt the same things, they could help one another with homework. She thought about the lonely lessons she had to take with her robot teacher, and sighed.
Most Singaporeans would have heard of the Istana. Most people, however, are unaware that the Istana might not be where it is today, __________ not for a swern of beetles.
The present Istana estate was a large nutmeg plantation __________ the 1860s, when the plantation was wiped __________ by a large number of beetles.
The present Istana estate was a large nutmeg plantation __________ the 1860s, when the plantation was wiped __________ by a large number of beetles.
__________ terrible destruction caused the plantation owner to give __________ the land. The colonial government took __________ the land to build the Government House,
__________ terrible destruction caused the plantation owner to give __________ the land. The colonial government took __________ the land to build the Government House,
The colonial government took __________ the land to build the Government House, as the Istana was __________ called.
The colonial government took __________ the land to build the Government House, as the Istana was __________ called.
The main building of the Istana, consisting of three storeys, __________ completed in 1869. __________ Singapore gained internal self-government in 1959, the building was renamed the Istana, __________ means 'palace'. This became the official home of Singapore's presidents. State visitors are also entertained there.
The main building of the Istana, consisting of three storeys, __________ completed in 1869. __________ Singapore gained internal self-government in 1959, the building was renamed the Istana, __________ means 'palace'. This became the official home of Singapore's presidents. State visitors are also entertained there.
The main building of the Istana, consisting of three storeys, __________ completed in 1869. __________ Singapore gained internal self-government in 1959, the building was renamed the Istana, __________ means 'palace'. This became the official home of Singapore's presidents. State visitors are also entertained there.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word.
"Why didn't you pay attention in class yesterday?" my father wanted to know. The father asked me ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
I last saw Uncle Bobby on New Year's eve. I have not ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Yon Peng will succeed if he is determined and diligent. Only with ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Since my cousins came early, they could sit in the first row. My cousins could not have ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Sharon can buy this blue cap or she can buy that black cap. ___________________________________________________________________________ either ___________________________________________________________________________
That particular Thursday morning— November 28, 2019—was especially pleasant. The water was flat, the sky blue and the underwater visibility spectacular. Carter and his friend, Andy Earl, spent a couple of hours among the sharks, eels, turtles, octopus, lionfish and angelfish. Finally, around noon, they headed for shore.
To a diver underwater, outboard engines have a clear, unmistakable sound. On the surface, however, swimming freestyle, Carter failed to hear the powerboat until it was almost on top of him. When he saw it, he knew he had just an instant. He pulled desperately to one side, getting his head and upper torso out of the boat's path before it ran him over. Screaming for his life, he slipped beneath the surface.
Andy heard his friend's mortal terror. He yelled at the boat to slow down. He reached Carter with urgency.
Meanwhile, the powerboat, was being reversed urgently before coming to a halt. The man at the wheel was Daniel. Horrified, he instinctively helped Andy lead Carter onto the dive platform of the boat.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Carter managed to stay alive until he reached the hospital. A team of surgeons embarked on a series of operations to save Carter's life. They amputated his right arm and addressed extensive injuries to his legs. Following these, Carter spent 68 days in the hospital. The journey to recovery was arduous for Carter but his physical healing, including the use of bioflex and a prosthetic arm, progressed remarkably well under the outstanding guidance and attention of medical professionals.
An investigation found that the powerboat had been going at least 80 kilometres per hour when it struck Carter. Daniel was charged with wilful and reckless operation of a vessel, a first-degree misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in jail. Carter insisted he did not want Daniel to be punished. He said, 'I'd rather have him working with me on ocean safety than sitting in a jail cell.'
The court hearing marked the first time Carter and Daniel had seen each other since the day both their lives changed. Daniel was sentenced to 75 hours of community service, a year's probation, a $1,000 fine and a mandate to work with Carter to enhance ocean safety and conservation. Afterward, Carter went to Daniel and shook his hand. Tears flowed and the wall of silence came down. As the two men embraced, Carter said quietly, 'Let's make a difference.'
When asked if the court sentence led to forgiveness, Carter replied, "Forgiveness comes from the heart. If I were him and had to live with the guilt and remorse, I'd almost prefer to be in my shoes. If I can ease someone else's pain, I will."
Adapted from "Forgiveness Comes From the Heart" by Gary Stephen Ross
Pick out a three-word phrase from lines 1 to 6 which suggests that the waters were clear.
Why was Carter unaware of the boat's presence despite its "unmistakable sound" (line 7)?
Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right.
Explain what the writer meant when he replied, "Forgiveness comes from the heart" (lines 33-34)
underwater visibility spectacular
To a diver underwater, the outboard engines had a clear, unmistakable sound, but Carter was still unaware of the boat's presence despite it's "unmistakable sound", as he was on the surface swimming freestyle, and failed to hear the boat until it was almost on top of him.
a) False --- Even though the boat operator, Daniel was horrified, he instinctively helped Andy load carter onto the dive platform of the boat b) True --- Although the journey to recovery was arduous for Carter she progressed quite well under the outstanding guidance and attention of medical professionals. c) False --- It was Carter who insisted that he did not want Daniel to be punished, and to go to jail. He even said that he would rather have Daniel working with him on ocean safety than Daniel sitting in a jail cell.
(line 12) – Carter screaming for his life. (line 19) --- It refers Carter's series of operations to save his life.
Carter did not forget Daniel because of the court sentence Rather to ease Daniel pain.
I stared lovingly at the precious child, then at the storm outside. As the rain poured heavily, I snuggled Sally and her little brother, Asher, into their mother's old bed. Knowing it was going to be a frosty night, the thick blanket would keep their little bodies warm. Reluctant to have Sally go to bed feeling dejected, I thought of how to lift her spirits. Right then, I knew just the story to tell them.
"I want to tell you the story of Jadav Payeng. He was my biggest inspiration when I was your age, Sally. You see, we didn't have robot machines that planted trees at a massive rate then, like we do now. Trees had to be manually grown, and it wasn't easy, but this man didn't just plant trees; he grew an entire forest - The Molai Forest!"
"Wow! Grandma, how was that possible? Did he do it alone?" Asher asked, his eyes glistening in excitement.
"Yes! He did it all by himself. In 1979, the forestry division launched a scheme of tree plantation on 200 hectares of land. Jadav was among the labourers involved in this project. When the project was completed after five years, he was the only one who stayed behind to water the plants daily. While doing so, he planted even more trees, turning the area into a forest. Slowly, wild animals found their way to it, and it became a sanctuary to many species like the Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and many vultures too!" I continued my story.
I shared how Jadav Payeng became known as 'The Forest Man of India'. "For nearly forty years, rain or shine, he planted trees tirelessly. Some days, the strong winds would blow his seeds off the ground and on other days, heavy rains would wash them away. This prevented the trees from being successfully planted. However, neither landslides nor gales would deter him," I shared with pride. "No one knew of Jadav's efforts, which only came into notice when some forest department officials went into the forest in search of a hundred elephants that had retreated there."
Sally then recalled her teachers talking about Jadav Payeng in class. They told her that poachers came to hunt for rhinos in his forest. Jadav alerted the forest department, and the officials caught them.
"I'm glad his efforts were noticed, especially when he did not give up despite failing countless times," Asher added, glancing at Sally and giving her a mischievous smile.
Sally's face reddened. She now realised why I had told them this story. Her face lit up and she suddenly exclaimed, "I'll try planting more trees tomorrow. I want to be the Forest Girl of Singapore!"
Asher and I laughed. I smiled to myself, happy that she had understood what I was driving at.
What was Sally's relationship with the writer?
Fill in the following table.
Which word in paragraph 3 shows that the forest was grown with no machinery?
What Jadav Payeng did to grow The Molai Forest
Look at the table below. What do the words/phrases in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right.
Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
Which two of the following words best describe how Sally felt in lines 34 – 36? Put a tick in the box beside each of your answers. DO NOT TICK MORE THAN TWO BOXES.
What value did the writer want to teach Sally through her story?
Did Sally learn from the writer's story? Explain why you think so.
Fill in the blank: express
Fill in the blank: exceeding
Fill in the blank: set
Fill in the blank: based
Fill in the blank: lead
Fill in the blank: include
Fill in the blank: experience
Fill in the blank: using
Fill in the blank: benefits
Fill in the blank: learn
Sally was the writer's grandchild.
She wanted to keep them warm from the cold. She wanted to motivate Sally not to give up.
Fill in the blank: manually
Choose the correct statement: a) He stayed behind after the completion of the tree plantation project to tend to the plants. b) He planted even more trees.
(line 11) – when the writer was at Sally's age. (line 13) – growing an entire forest
True – Sally wanted to play her part in environmental conservation against global warming. False – Jadav Payeng's efforts were noticed when forest department officials went into the forest to search for a hundred elephants that had retreated there.
Venue: Sun Events Space, 45 Jalan Ubin
Dates: 10-13 December 2024
Time: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Rent-A-Booth
Have some baked treats that you want to try selling? Have a creative game you think others would want to play? Or perhaps you're thinking of clearing some used items from your house?
This year, we want to bring out the entrepreneur in you! For just $5, rent a booth with us for the entire day. You get to keep all the money you make!
Hurry! Only 50 booths are available.
Step 1
Go to: www.skyrun.com/booth
Step 2
Select your preferred booth location.
Step 3
Fill in your personal particulars on the online form and submit it.
Step 4
Complete the $5 payment through online banking.
Step 5
Download the payment receipt to your phone or print a hardcopy.
Step 6
Show the carnival staff your payment receipt and be shown to your booth!
Charity Drive
Our Charity Drive is back once again to show we care! This year, our benefactor is St. Bern's Adoption Centre.
20% from ticket sales will be donated to them and donation boxes will be set up in the carnival area. Visit the centre a short walk away at 25 Jalan Rayu!
The main reason the words 'MOST ANTICIPATED' is capitalised and bolded is to ___________.
Which of the following statements is true about the carnival tickets?
Ahmad can only visit the carnival at 2 p.m. and stay till 5 p.m. Which attraction will he not be able to visit?
Which of the carnival's attractions is happening for the first time?
To rent a booth, which of the following is not one of the steps that a person has to complete?
Malling would like to do her part in contributing to the Charity Drive. She can do so by ____________________.
Which two parties are the organisers of the 'Skyrun Carnival'?
The purpose of this flyer is to ________________________.
Soon, Coach Anderson heard about Jake's talent. He saw the potential in Jake and approached him with an offer to join a prestigious basketball academy in a distant city. Receiving the offer, Jake excitedly ran home to share the good news with his parents.
"I am sorry, dear. It is too far and we will be worried about you. More importantly, your father had just lost his job. We simply cannot afford to send you there. The school fees alone is more than our salary combined..." 10 Mother's voice trailed off as Jake saw his dream slipping away. Tears welled up in his eyes as he tried to hide his disappointment as he knew his mother's words were true. They could not afford it. Wiping away his tears, he continued helping Mother clean the dishes.
One warm evening, Jake sat at his usual corner table, lost in thought, after completing his work at Mrs Thompson's restaurant. Noticing a change in Jake, Mrs Thompson approached him with a warm smile. "Jake, is you've been quiet tonight. Something on your mind?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron. Jake looked up and answered, "It's just... Coach Anderson offered me a chance to go to a basketball academy but we can't afford it." "Well, do not worry. We will figure something out," assured Mrs Thompson, still smiling.
News of Jake's predicament spread through Crestwood like wildfire, reaching the ears of the compassionate townsfolk. They rallied together, organising fundraisers, bake sales, and community events to raise money for Jake's journey, recognising the potential of their humble neighbour and the pride he could bring to their town. The overwhelming support gave Jake renewed hope and faith that the people enough had vowed to repay their faith in him. Soon, the funds needed for his journey were raised.
With tearful goodbyes and a heart full of hope, Jake left Crestwood for the bustling Cedarville City, where his talent would be moulded. At the academy, he faced challenges, intense training sessions, and fierce 25 competition. At times, these made him so tired that he wanted to give up, but he remembered the love and support from his small town and that fuelled his determination to keep training.
Months passed, and the day of Jake's first national championship arrived. Jake's team, the Cedarville Cyclones, faced formidable opponents, but Jake's skills had blossomed under the guidance of Coach Anderson. In the final minute of the game, with Cedarville trailing by a mere point, Jake stole the ball from the opponent's 30 step player. Racing down the court, the clock ticking away, he made a miraculous three-point dunk that sent the gymnasium into a frenzy. Cedarville took the lead and emerged victorious. Jake's name echoed throughout the arena.
The small town of Crestwood erupted in joy as they watched their hometown hero on national television holding the championship trophy high. Jake had not only fulfilled his dreams but had made Crestwood proud. 35 As Jake stood on the podium, tears of joy filled his eyes. "This is possible thanks to all the folks back at Crestwood," acknowledged Jake at an interview, dedicating the victory to those who had believed in him.
Jake went on to win multiple championships and became a famous professional basketball player. Jake's story became an inspiration for people of Crestwood. Jake realised not many would be as fortunate as he, so he also set up a free sports academy back in his hometown, proving local aspiring athletes an even more 40 accessible opportunity to follow in his footsteps as a way of paying it forward. The pride of Crestwood soared on many to start having dreams of their own. The small town where dreams were as scarce as rain in a desert was a thing of the past.
All of the animals will band closely together in a group and, in panic mode, move together _______ a unit.
It is very unusual for a member of the herd to stray _______ the herd.
This term also applies _______ human behaviour and usually carries a negative meaning.
_______ describes large numbers of people acting the same way at the same time, their actions driven by emotion rather _______ by thinking things through logically.
_______ describes large numbers of people acting the same way at the same time, their actions driven by emotion rather _______ by thinking things through logically.
In 2000, _______ McDonald's launched a Hello Kitty toy promotion, long queues quickly formed outside its outlets all _______ Singapore.
In 2000, _______ McDonald's launched a Hello Kitty toy promotion, long queues quickly formed outside its outlets all _______ Singapore.
When asked why, many mentioned _______ they were drawn in by all the attention the toy was receiving and thus wanted one for themselves.
Herd behaviour _______ also be seen in everyday decision-making.
_______ far more likely to choose the crowded one. Thus, some restaurants choose to seat diners near the entrance to give the impression that the restaurant is popular.
Bubble tea, a tea-based drink that has taken the world by storm. Its countless appearenses on social media have made it one of the most popular drinks.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
from Taiwan, two parties have claimed credit to the invention of this tasty beverage.
The first claim comes from Liu Han-Chieh. According to him, he begins serving tea cold after he observed coffee being sold cold in Japan. Several years later, one of his company's product developement managers came up with the idea of combining sweetened tapioca pudding, a typical Taiwanese dessert, after tea.
The tapioca balls eventually became a distinctivie part of the drink.
The second contesting claim comes from Tu Tsong-he, an entrepreneur, whom stated that he was walking along a wet market when he chanced upon some tapioca balls being sold.
Inspieyed by the sight, he wondered if it was possible to add it to his green tea. The white tapioca balls looked almost translucent when brewed with the tea and he called his discovery 'pearl green tea'.
The true creator of bubble tea may never be determining. Nevertheless, this simple drink has grown into an industry that is worth almost 2.3 billion dollars.
Fill in the blank: Lizard's are four-legged reptiles that live on land. Like all reptiles, their bodies are _____ with scaly skin and are cold-blooded.
Fill in the blank: This means they rely _____ heat from their surroundings to raise their body temperature so that they can become more active.
Fill in the blank: Therefore, the rainforest is an ideal place for cold-blooded animals _____ it is warm day and night all your round.
Fill in the blank: Most lizards are predators _____ a few lizards, such as iguanas, which feed on plants.
Fill in the blank: Their common diet _____ of insects or small mammals such as mice.
Fill in the blank: Since there are more insects and other sources of food in the rainforest than in any _____ habitat, lizards of all shapes and sizes _____ there.
Fill in the blank: Lizards have good colour vision, and their bright, alert eyes are far enough forward in the head for them to judge the distance and speed _____ their prey.
Fill in the blank: Chameleons have unique eyes mounted on little turrets. Each eye can move independently of the other, so a chameleon can look in two _____ at once.
Fill in the blank: Most lizards _____ themselves to hide from their enemies.
Fill in the blank: The chameleon is _____ the only lizard that can change colour.
Fill in the blank: In fact, many other lizards can turn darker or lighter _____ to the time of day or colour of the background.
Fill in the blank: Lizards like geckos have a surprise for their attackers – they can shed the end of their tail simply by contracting certain muscles. The shed tail switches and wriggles, _____ the predator from the fleeing lizard.
Fill in the blank: The lizards can grow a new but weaker tail. This is a small _____ to pay for their escape.
Fill in the blank: Other lizards simply pretend to be dead. Monitor lizards may puff themselves up to look even fiercer than they already do to startle and frighten their attackers.
"Did you visit the Eiffel Tower while in Paris?" Tristan asked me. Tristan asked _______________.
Father approved Amy's request. Amy was surprised. Father's _______________
Ray was very pleased to receive the award from the principal. _______________ with great _______________
Tom decided to join the tennis team. He informed his teacher about it. Tom informed _______________
The greedy child ate all the food at the party. All the food _______________ _______________
Singapore's biggest toy-making competition is back! Get ready to put your creativity into making fascinating toys and showcase your talent at this annual event!
Find a friend to participate as a team of two or simply take part as an individual.
There are two categories in the competition. Remember to register for the correct category!
Junior Category
Open to Primary 1 to 3 pupils only. Participants have to:
• include the use of bottle caps as part of the toy.
• submit at least one photo of himself/themselves creating the toy.
Senior Category
Open to Primary 4 to 6 pupils only. Participants have to:
• submit a toy that demonstrates scientific concepts creatively.
• provide a journal that records details and photographs of the toy-making process.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE
Only 10 individuals/teams from each category will be shortlisted to compete in the finals which will be held on 13 August 2024. Shortlisted participants will be informed by post and email only.
Participants must abide by the rules and regulations of the contest. All decisions of the judges will be final. No correspondence will be entertained.
Which of the following groups is not able to register for the Junior Category?
Participants of the senior category must ___ ___________.
In the section, "Please take note", the word "shortlisted" refers to individuals/teams that
Josey, a Primary 4 pupil taking part in the competition, will stand a chance to win prizes such as ___.
Tze Han, a Primary 6 boy, is ready to submit the toy that he has created. What should he do?
Which of the following about the competition is not true?
Which of the following is unlikely to be found on the website: www.scs.com.sg?
What is the main objective of the competition?
And lucky we were, to have Dad, the man who turned a simple chicken rice stall into a global sensation, all while staying true to his roots and beliefs.
Now in ______________ fourth year and supported by the bank, UBS Singapore, the award seeks to recognise Singaporeans whose extraordinary acts ______________
the award seeks to recognise Singaporeans whose extraordinary acts ______________ goodwill have improved the lives of others.
It also recognises Singaporeans who ______________ put the country on the world map or persevered ______________
or persevered ______________ others through incredible adversity.
To date, the shortlisted finalists this year ______________ Annabelle Kwok, Teo Yee Ming and Harihajan Singh.
Annabelle is the founder of an artificial intelligence company and one ______________ wears many other hats.
Yee Ming led the robotics team of Hai Sing Catholic School ______________ the world stage.
Harihajan ______________ on the front line battling a nation-wide health crisis many years ago.
Other shortlisted candidates will be unveiled ______________ batches between October and December.
President Halimah Yacob ______________ presenting The Singaporean of the Year award at a ceremony next year.
For countless children, the family pet is more than just a furry friend. It's a (39) __________ steadfast companion, offer boundless love and invaluable life lessons.
While cats and dogs often steal the spotlight, a diverse array of animals, from chirpy birds to (40) __________
scurrying hamsters, can bring warm and joy to a household. Despite their small (41) __________
stature, these pint-sized pals demand just as much attention and afection as their larger counterparts. (42) __________
(43) __________
The key to nurturing a genuin family bond with a pet lies in treating it as a (44) __________
cherish member of the household. It deserves love, respect, and proper training. A pet (45) __________
is not merely a passing playmate far children, but a lifelong companion that rely on the entire family for its well-being. (46) __________
Although many experts reccomend waiting until a child is over five years old (47) __________
before introducing a pet into the family, it ultimate falls upon the adults to assess the (48) __________
child's readiness. Issentiol qualities such as self-control and obedience serve as the foundation for responsable pet ownership. (49) __________
Pets will become integal members of our families, sharing our triumphs and (50) __________
Fill in the blank: A Hong Kong tourist, Miss Annie Lim, _________________ her three-year-old niece in tow, approached a round table where a man dressed in office
Fill in the blank: _________________ sat, surrounded by five unoccupied seats.
Fill in the blank: Perspiring after _________________ for seats for the past ten minutes, Miss Lim was
Fill in the blank: about to sit down _________________ the man told her that all the seats were taken.
Fill in the blank: Miss Lim, who was on her second holiday in Singapore, was _________________ by this new encounter.
Fill in the blank: Many Singaporeans have a habit of reserving seats for themselves, their family members or co-workers in food centres by placing _________________ such as name cards, tissue
Fill in the blank: packets, umbrellas or staff passes on the seats. They do this to _________________ that they do not end up carrying their food and going around to look for seats.
Fill in the blank: Some Singaporeans, _________________, do not agree with such a practice and are wondering if
Fill in the blank: can be done about it. This practice, they said, has _________________ in quarrels and
Fill in the blank: created situations where elderly patrons carrying trays of food are _________________ of a
Fill in the blank: seat. One suggestion made was to put up _________________ in hawker centres stating
Fill in the blank: clearly that seat reservation is not _________________.
Fill in the blank: Although there are no restrictions or laws on reserving seats in Singapore, people are encouraged to be _________________ toward those with trays in hand.
Fill in the blank: Furthermore, elderly patrons who need these seats will _________________ benefit from such acts of
My family decided to order burgers for lunch. We did not dine out. _____________ instead of _____________
"Where is my handphone?" Mary asked Raju. Mary asked Raju _____________ _____________
The teacher encouraged the girl. The girl overcame her fears. After much _____________ _____________
I did not accept the offer after knowing that he was not honest. Having _____________ _____________
Lucy did not behave well in class. It caused her to be punished by her teacher. Lucy's _____________ _____________ _____________
If you are experiencing intense itching and persistent scratching that disrupts your sleep, or if any sores appear on your scalp, you should consult a doctor.
What does the word 'Troublemakers' in the title refer to?
This article is an extract from __________________.
Based on the section 'What are head lice?', which of the following is not true?
Jason realises he has head lice. He most probably got it by __________________.
A person who has head lice would __________________.
According to the article, which of the following statements is most likely true?
Which of the following is not a reason hair conditioner is used during the treatment?
What is the main purpose of the article?
When Robert asked what his intention was, Mike replied, "Sell it!" Mike had decided that he would sell that strutting piece of poultry to a neighbour down the block. Mr Omar, who had once kept chickens in his garden. Looking shocked, Robert shook his finger at Mike and called out as he left, "You are going to mess up!"
Mike felt uneasy at this pronouncement. Maybe this was not such a good idea, maybe it was wrong. With only a twinge of guilt, Mike headed south and headed home.
Mr Omar was in his front garden when Mike spotted him. "Mr Omar!" Mike shouted. "See what I have for you – a chicken!" Mr Omar narrowed his right eye. A large man, with a tamper to match, he was not someone to mess with. He would often yell at the neighbourhood kids, as he was not a big fan of theirs. All the children knew to keep well out of his way. As Mike held open the bag, Mr Omar peeped in and offered him three dollars. Once the transaction was done, Mike ran home, trying not to think of the defenceless chicken looking up from inside the pillowcase.
Mike sat on his front porch, catching his breath, and recalling Robert's words. He had not cried for at least a year but now he felt his eyes growing moist. When the tears began to roll down his cheeks, he let them fall. Yes, he had done a dreadful thing.
Later that evening, as he was washing up before dinner, he looked at himself in the mirror. He did not like what he saw there. He kept thinking about his actions and Robert's words: "I'll save you."
Mike whispered before joining his parents for the evening meal.
After dinner, Mike asked his mother for permission to visit Robert, giving the excuse that he needed to borrow a book. As Mike made his way towards Mr Omar's house, he wondered if he could pull it off. Would he be found out? After all, Mr Omar was not someone to be trifled with.
Mike was breathing fast. Thinking of what he had planned to do, Mike lost the courage to continue. He turned and started running home. Within minutes, he was in front of his home, but he did not go inside. Reflecting on all that had taken place, he did not feel like a good person. He had told a shocking lie and had not benefited from it.
As he grew angry with himself, he started to breathe harder. "Why am I such a coward?" He turned around and once again, hurried to Mr Omar's house. Arriving there slowly into the turned around and once again, hurried to Mr Omar's house. Arriving there slowly into the garden. There Mike heard a cluck, and then a scratching sound. Straining his eyes, he spotted the garden. There Mike heard a cluck, and then a scratching sound. Straining his eyes, he spotted the chicken. One of its legs was tied with plastic twine to the porch rail.
Dropping down to all fours, Mike crept towards the porch. When he reached the animal, the little chicken stood quietly, as if aware of the purpose of his visit. Mike struggled to undo the knot with his numb fingers, but the knot would not come lose. Desperate, Mike lowered his face to the ground and began to nibble. Finally, he put through the twins. Once the chicken was free, he lifted it into his arms and duck-walked across the porch.
Running away from Mr Omar's house, Mike approached the alley, planning to leave the chicken there before going home. He was uncertain if he had done enough to redeem himself.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. Imagine having to walk barefoot in the scorching heat with nothing to protect your feet from the fiery concrete. Shocking, isn't it? I am Sia Godika, a sixteen year-old __________ the motto - donate a sole, sava a soul! When I was thirteen, an incident left a mark __________ my heart that pushed me to act on my feelings __________ compassion for others. There was a construction site near my house __________ I noticed that the workers were working barefoot. Their feet were extremely dirty and cracked and some were also wounded due to the dire working conditions. __________ broke my heart was that many of them were children. The image of bleeding feet has been at the back of my mind ever __________. Upon research, I found out that these people without shoes were __________ only exposed to wounds but also countless diseases, allergies and infections caused __________ overexposed feet. I was horrified that millions in my country had no foot cover while 350 million pairs of shoes __________ being discarded annually. I knew I had to do something about it, so I founded Sole Warriors, with a mission to provide foot cover __________ refurbished shoes. I started encouraging people to donate shoes and received a good response. At our first distribution drive, we helped 700 people and there has been no stopping since then.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
are enough to make your mouth __________. This assault on the senses is enough to make any person go __________ in the knees. Welcome to Singapore's community dining rooms where a nation of foodies came __________ to share in a national pastime.
make any person go __________ in the knees. Welcome to Singapore's community dining rooms where a nation of foodies came __________ to share in a national pastime.
dining rooms where a nation of foodies came __________ to share in a national pastime.
With a wide variety of stalls under one __________, each hawker boasts their own family recipes perfected over generations.
Dating as far __________ as the 1800s, hawker culture in Singapore __________.
Dating as far __________ as the 1800s, hawker culture in Singapore __________.
From the early migrant population. Their makeshift __________ were used to sell quick, affordable meals on street pavements. Their main advertisement? The lip-smacking aromas of delicacies being cooked and eaten on the __________ by hungry passers-by.
delicacies being cooked and eaten on the __________ by hungry passers-by.
Fast-forward a couple of centuries and the government has brought hawkers under one roof. Hawker centres have __________ become clean and open kitchens.
Customers can watch __________ their food is being prepared and served. In every __________ you look, there's a sizzling array of dishes to choose __________.
In every __________ you look, there's a sizzling array of dishes to choose __________.
In every __________ you look, there's a sizzling array of dishes to choose __________.
So how do you __________ from the hundreds of stalls? The answer is simple. Look for the __________ line, of course. When it comes to hawker cuisine, the queue is the best testament to the __________ of food sold at the stall. It is evident that hawker centres have shaped the nation's eating habits.
Look for the __________ line, of course. When it comes to hawker cuisine, the queue is the best testament to the __________ of food sold at the stall.
the best testament to the __________ of food sold at the stall.
We admire Mr Kwan. He is our local football player.
The farmer grew this plot of corn from scratch. This plot of corn ________________.
"Did you go for the class yesterday?" Mr Heng asked his students. Mr Heng wanted to know ________________.
Mark could not decide. Hence, he was late. ________________ because of his ________________.
Produce the voucher to get your meal.
The Explorers Club is an outdoor activities club that promises to provide children aged between four and twelve with hours of fun as they discover the benefits of outdoor play.
Located on top of a hill, Singa Service Club is home to The Explorers Club where we run our programmes both within the club and at various outdoor spaces around Singapore.
We offer a series of outdoor skills learning programmes, holiday camps and even host birthday parties at our venue throughout the year.
• Sign up as a member of The Explorers Club and get 10% off the entrance fee for all events planned by the club.
• All members will be able to enjoy selected facilities available at Singa Service Club too.
Why join us?
We aim to equip children with essential survival skills through play. Under the supervision of certified instructors, children as young as five years old will learn how to pitch a tent, identify edible plants, collect clean water and read maps. These skills will help children to become independent individuals.
We believe that being in nature can foster a sense of responsibility and care for the environment. Electronic devices can be great educational tools. However, learning and playing outdoors can give children a chance to grow their curiosity. They will also learn to have empathy for nature and wildlife as they admire the natural beauty around them.
We focus on exposing young children to situations that will build their character, strength, resilience and forge friendships. Outdoor activities are not always smooth sailing and children will need to persevere. Though they may not always succeed, these activities encourage children to show teamwork and communicate respectfully.
Sign your child up today!
Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, "Welcome to The Explorers Club!"?
What is the main aim of The Explorers Club?
According to the poster, which of the following is true of outdoor activities club? Participants will __________.
Which of the following is true of the activities organised at Step Out and Be Active?
Alex is thinking about joining The Explorers Club. According to the poster, he should join the club if he wants to __________.
Roger would like to learn more about plants and flowers from an expert. Which venue should he report at?
Devi wants to join the Rock Climbing Clinic on 2 September. She must __________________.
Pamela wants to take part in Step Out and Be Active on 3 September but she is only free from 3.30 p.m. onwards. Which two activities can she choose to participate in?
Emily's arrogance often landed her in trouble. Whenever her father, an experienced Mathematics teacher, tried to help her with her Mathematics homework, she would reply curtly that she did not need his help. Her father would sigh in resignation. Emily would then spend more time to complete her homework until the wee hours and often overslept the next morning. Although she usually managed to submit it, she would be punished for reporting late for school. At times, she would be reprimanded for dozing off in class.
Emily's arrogance also caused her pain. At a particularly intense training session, her Track and Field coach offered her guidance, pointing out ways to improve her running technique. Unfortunately, Emily refused to heed his advice. Not long after, she felt a sharp pain in her knee. "I will prove Coach wrong! I am sure my way is the right way!" Emily thought. However, as she continued to run, the pain intensified, shooting through her leg with every step she took. Even when her teammate, Sarah, told her not to overexert herself, she ignored her advice and snapped at her, "Mind your own business." At that, the coach shook his head disapprovingly. He could not understand why Emily insisted on her ways.
Later that night, the pain kept her awake. As she lay in bed, she found it impossible to find a comfortable position. Emily was in agony every time she moved. It was then that she realised the consequences of her arrogance. If only she had listened to her coach. At that moment, it dawned on her that she had no friends to seek comfort from. Emily sobbed uncontrollably as this thought raced through her mind.
Just when she needed somebody to talk to, Emily's mother appeared at her bedroom door, looking concerned. "Are you okay, Emily? Your coach called. I heard about what happened today. I know you're strong-willed and independent. But the greatest strength comes from accepting the advice of others. Remember, doing this doesn't mean you are weak," Emily's mother said.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Emily lowered her eyes. After she had dried her tears, she mumbled softly, "You are right, Mum. My arrogance is the reason I am experiencing so much pain and it has soiled my relationship with others. I will change. I promise I will."
Recognising the need to change for the better, Emily decided to apologise to the friends she had hurt in the past and thank her parents and coach for being patient and never giving up on her. As it was important to mend her relationships, Emily took the time to make personalised cards for them.
After her numerous visits to the hospital to treat her injury, the doctor finally told Emily she could start training again. When she returned training, her teammates and coach welcomed her back with open arms.
In the end, her knee injury became more than just a physical injury; it was a powerful lesson on the importance of humility. With her mother's words etched deeply in her heart, Emily made a promise to herself to always remain humble and be willing to learn from others. She was determined to become the best version of herself and everyone noticed a positive change in her.
Smooth-coated otters are named after their velvety smooth coats. They are one of the two otter species found in Singapore and are the largest otters in Southeast Asia. These mammals are often spotted in mangroves and coastal areas __________ they search for clams, fish and other small creatures.
They __________ webbed paws that are highly adapted __________ swimming.
They __________ webbed paws that are highly adapted __________ swimming.
They __________ webbed paws that are highly adapted __________ swimming.
They are playful creatures and like to swim in packs of four __________ twelve while chasing after fish.
Otters __________ most regularly seen at the wetlands in the past. __________ the years, there have been frequent sightings reported all over the island in places such as the Botanic Gardens and even the financial district, Marina Bay.
Otters __________ most regularly seen at the wetlands in the past. __________ the years, there have been frequent sightings reported all over the island in places such as the Botanic Gardens and even the financial district, Marina Bay.
It is natural to be curious when you chance __________ otters. However, you should not touch or chase the otters.
Avoid talking loudly or using flash photography __________ noise and light may scare and provoke them.
If you take your dog for a walk, you __________ keep it on a leash.
Your dog may chase the otters and frighten them. __________ this happens, otters may attack out of fear.
The smell of the sea always reminds me of my fishing trips with my father as a child. I would
ride pillion on his motorcycle to the usual fishing spot once a week. There, I would lay on a picnic mat and read a book.
Occasionally, I would be tasked to search for live bait. I remember digging the soil with a rusty red spade and pull out earthworms with my bare fingers.
Whenever I discovered one, I used to squeal in delight and my father would nod at me approvingly.
As I got older, my father allows me to attach earthworms onto fishing hooks.
I learnt the hard way that fishing hooks could catch on to my clothes, hair and even skin if I was not careful. Removing them are painful and difficult.
My father also taught me how to use dried radish tied to a string to lure little crabs from their hiding holes.
Catching these crabs required me to stay very still. The minute I felt the slight tug, I had to quickly position a pail below the crab to let it drop into the pail.
Once, I took my catch home and leave the pail of crabs in the kitchen overnight uncovered.
During Science lesson the next day, I felt something pinch my leg and I let out an ear-piercing scream.
Commotion ensued in the class. The crab had apparently crawled into my school bag.
As expected, I spent recess that day explaining to my teacher what had happened.
Fill in the blank: 'and every one of us can make the world a better place by being an upstander.'
Fill in the blank: 'Being an upstander means having compassion towards our peers who have ______.'
Fill in the blank: 'bullied. When we put ________ in someone else's shoes, we would then realise that we would not want to be teased or excluded.'
Fill in the blank: '________ no one gets hurt. Like a superhero without a cape, upstanders speak.'
Fill in the blank: 'when they recognise that something is not right. ________ from noticing wrongdoings,'
Fill in the blank: 'upstanders take action to make things right.'
Fill in the blank: 'Hence, bystanders merely observe events and situations ________ interfering while upstanders'
Fill in the blank: 'will report wrongdoings and offer support to victims of bullying.'
Fill in the blank: 'It ________ courage to be an upstander.'
Fill in the blank: 'crying after being teased during recess. ________ of just watching, I walked over to sit with'
Fill in the blank: 'him and comforted him. Later, I ________ my teacher about the incident.'
Fill in the blank: '________ not only made a difference to my classmate but it also inspired others to do the same.'
Fill in the blank: 'We create a ripple ________ when we are upstanders.'
Fill in the blank: 'as when others see you being an upstander, they will ________ suit.'
Fill in the blank: 'By supporting each other, we ________ create a caring community.'
Bob likes to eat pizza. He likes to eat sushi more. Bob prefers ___________________________________________________________
John saw that I was disappointed. He bought me an ice cream to cheer me up. Seeing my ___________________________________________________________
"Will you attend the workshop next week?" Ben asked Fiona. Ben asked Fiona ___________________________________________________________
The pencil case belongs to Helen. It has a keychain attached to it. _____________________________ which ___________________________
Amy had not baked cookies before. She burnt all of them. Not having ___________________________________________________________
Come to Immersive Dining with your family and friends and make the experience even more memorable! Groups of 3 to 5 diners get 10% off and larger groups get 15% off! Make a reservation before 1 December 2024 at www.immerse.sg to get 20% off for your first visit! Returning customers who make a reservation after 1 December 2024 will receive a 20% discount on their visit!
Customer Reviews
"I enjoyed the movie very much. However, watching the robot waiters take orders and serve food was even more remarkable! When I tasted the unusual dishes I had never heard of before, it felt like I was a character in the movie. I will always remember that meal!"
Charlene, 20-year-old student
"Not only were my children fascinated by the space-themed decorations, but my wife and I also found the experience amazing. The team took 3 months to curate so it is no wonder the unusual dishes tasted wonderful. What really left an impression on us were the robot waiters. We made quite a number of requests and they were able to promptly respond in an appropriate manner. It was an unforgettable family outing!"
Thomas, father of two
To ensure a pleasant dining experience, please take note of the following:
✓ Arrive five to ten minutes before your reservation time for a short presentation.
✓ Keep the floor free from clutter by storing your belongings in the lockers provided.
✓ Scan the QR code on your table to look at the menu and place your order online.
✓ Press the buzzer on your table to report a robot malfunction.
In the section "Robots, Past and Present", which word best describes the robots in the past?
According to the section "Robots, Past and Present", which statement is true?
Which of the following features is not highlighted as part of the experience at the new outlet?
Why are exclamation marks used in all the sentences under the section "Special Promotions"?
Mindy plans to go for the immersive dining experience again. Which of the following will allow her to enjoy the biggest savings?
The website quotes Charlene and Thomas as saying they had an enjoyable time. What were they both most impressed by?
If you are going for the immersive dining experience, you should __________.
What is the main purpose of the website?
Looking back, I had my childhood experiences to thank for guiding me in my career. In my growing years, I had become more resilient and patient. With all that I had been through, as a counsellor, I am now able to better connect with teens and support those in need. Even if I could turn back the clock, I would not wish for a different childhood.
Many people enjoy catching sunsets. Not (29) __________ are they beautiful to look at but they also provide us with an insight (30) __________ the world of light and colours
Many people enjoy catching sunsets. Not (29) __________ are they beautiful to look at but they also provide us with an insight (30) __________ the world of light and colours
The stunning array of colours seen during sunset (31) __________ caused by a process called scattering which occurs when sunlight is scattered in all directions.
Red light has long wavelengths (32) __________ blue light has short wavelengths.
Blue light is scattered more than other colours of light because of (33) __________ shorter wavelengths.
During sunset, when the sun is lower in the sky, sunlight passes through more of Earth's atmosphere to reach us. This causes the blue light, (34) __________ its shorter wavelengths, to scatter more.
However, the colours we see can be affected (35) __________ factors like dust particles in air pollution and haze in the air.
(36) __________ particles can scatter sunlight differently, sometimes causing the sky to appear greyish or white (37) __________ the day and affecting the colours visible during sunset.
(36) __________ particles can scatter sunlight differently, sometimes causing the sky to appear greyish or white (37) __________ the day and affecting the colours visible during sunset.
Volcanic eruptions may impact the colours of sunsets as well. When a volcano erupts, it releases large amounts (38) __________ dust into the atmosphere.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. There was a bustling hive of activity in the shopping mall. Gerald stood in line, his patience wearing thinner as he waited to lay hands on the limited edition watch he had been eyeing for weeks.
As the clock ticked, Gerald fidgeted, his impatience growing with each passed minute.
The watch he longed for gleamed in the display window, its attraction almost: tarjibel.
Surrounding him were fellow enthusiasts, their faces a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Like Gerald, they were all vied for a chance to own this masterpiece.
Of excitement and anxiety.
Antisipaeshen filled the air as the queue snaked its way through the busy mall.
Gerald checked his watch for the umpthith time, the minutes dragging like hours.
His heart raced as he neared the front of the line, the prize in reach yet still so far away.
Finally, after when seemed like an eternity, he stepped into the store.
With bated breath, he made his purchase. The watch was now his to cherish and admyear.
As he walked away, he was thrill to be the proud owner of the watch.
Fill in the blank: We all know the feeling. We get a'strange tingly sensation on our skin when we feel a cool breeze or (51) __________ a spooky sound.
Fill in the blank: That's goosebump! They are small bumps that (52) __________ the skin of chicken after the feathers have been plucked.
Fill in the blank: But have you ever (53) __________ what exactly makes your skin get all bumpy?
Fill in the blank: Do goosebumps (54) __________ a purpose?
Fill in the blank: Under our skin, there are millions of tiny muscles. Each of them (55) __________ connected to each hair on the skin surface.
Fill in the blank: (56) __________ we feel cold, these muscles tighten.
Fill in the blank: The contraction causes our hair to (57) __________ up straight, resulting in goosebumps popping up on our skin.
Fill in the blank: Based on evolutionary theories, some scientists believe that goosebumps may have been (58) __________ down from apes.
Fill in the blank: They were covered in thick fur and the tiny muscles under their skin were much stronger. This meant that when goosebumps caused their fur to stand on (59) __________ a warm layer of air would be trapped next to their skin.
Fill in the blank: Their thick hair coat therefore served as insulation, (60) __________ them from the wind and cold.
Fill in the blank: In (61) __________ to keeping them warm, some animals use goosebumps as a survival tactic when (62) __________ with danger.
Fill in the blank: In (61) __________ to keeping them warm, some animals use goosebumps as a survival tactic when (62) __________ with danger.
Fill in the blank: To prepare them for a flight-or-fight reaction, a hormone called adrenaline is released, causing the contraction of skin muscles. (63) __________ instance, when a cat is feeling threatened by a dog, the elevated hair, together (64) __________ its arched back, makes it appear bigger.
Fill in the blank: To prepare them for a flight-or-fight reaction, a hormone called adrenaline is released, causing the contraction of skin muscles. (63) __________ instance, when a cat is feeling threatened by a dog, the elevated hair, together (64) __________ its arched back, makes it appear bigger.
Fill in the blank: Similarly, we may also experience an adrenaline rush when we stand on a podium to receive an award or while watching horror movies. This often (65) __________ in goosebumps, a physical reaction to intense emotions.
"Are you aware that our neighbour's dog underwent a surgery recently?" my mother asked me. My mother asked me ___________
This novel was chosen by Janet for her book review. Janet ___________
My grandparents prefer visiting local attractions to travelling overseas. ___________ preference ___________
Sam fell ill suddenly. He missed the meeting. On account of Sam's ___________
Ramu stared at the computer screen. He could not believe it. ___________ in ___________
What is the main purpose of this advertisement?
Why is there an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence "Limited slots are available, so hurry and sign up now!"?
Ahmad would like to attend the talk with Chef John Chiang. When can he start signing up?
Which of the following statements is true?
Which of these companies most likely sponsored the high-quality cooking equipment to be given to all finalists?
Which is one of the steps required to become a finalist for Cooking Guru Competition 2024?
Uncle John is confident that he would be one of the finalists. While waiting for the invitation to join the cooking competition, he should _______________.
Which statement is not true of the Cooking Guru Festival 2024?
You know what? Secondary two was really one of the best years of my life.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
In Spain, New Year's Eve is a vibrant affair marked by lively street parties and family gatherings. __________ midnight approaches, tradition dictates eating twelve grapes, one __________ stroke of the clock, symbolising good luck for the twelve months ahead.
[Continuation of Q36 - fill in the blanks for] eating twelve grapes, one __________ stroke of the clock, symbolising good luck for the twelve months ahead.
From the colourful lantern festivals of Taiwan to the solemn ceremonies of Native American tribes, __________ celebrations showcase how humans bid farewell to the old and embrace the new. No matter the country, all these traditions have one thing in common - starting the new year with loved ones around us.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Once, there was a very hardworking farmer. He was renowned for raising exceptionally large and plump chickens. All the people in the land called him ___.
[Box for answer to question 39]
"King of Poultry". The king of the country was very angry when he came to knew that someone else had also used the title of 'King'. He was envyious that ___.
[Box for answer to question 41]
everyone admired the farmer so he ordered his soildiers to bring the farmer to him. When the farmer appeared after the king, the angry and jaelous king said, "How dare you call yourself a king? If you are really a king, I want you to ___.
bring me a rooster that can lay eggs. If you can't, you will die!" [Box for answer] The farmer returned home, feeling anxious. When his ten-year-old ___.
grandson saw this, he asked his grandfather what is wrong. The farmer told his grandson everything. The boy told his grandfather not to worry. He asked his ___.
grandfather to stay at home where he himself went to see the king on his behalf.
"My grandfather is at home," the boy replied. "He is giving birth to a baby."
(47)
The king was baffled. "How can your grandfather, a man, give birth to a baby?" he asked. The boy answered, "Unless a man cannot give birth to a baby, then how can a rooster lay eggs?"
(48)
(49)
The king was impressed with the boy's clever answer. He let the boy go
(50)
and pardoned the farmer from the same time. The farmer was thankful that his grandson had saved his life.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. The debate over whether smartphones should be allowed in primary schools is a hot topic among students, teachers, and parents. Smartphones can be a valuable educational tool. They give students _____ (51) _____ to educational apps, online resources, and interactive learning platforms. Smartphones allow for _____ (52) _____ communication between students and their parents. Parents can quickly reach _____ (53) _____ to their children during the school day and students can contact their parents in case of _____ (54) _____ or changes in plans. In today's world, digital skills are essential. Allowing smartphones in primary schools helps students become familiar _____ (55) _____ technology, teaching them how to use it responsibly. This prepares them for future academic and career opportunities where technology _____ (56) _____ a big role. However, one of the biggest concerns about smartphones in schools is the potential for distractions. Students might be _____ (57) _____ to play games, browse social media, or text friends instead of _____ (58) _____ attention to
their lessons. This can negatively impact __________________ learning and classroom environment.
Smartphones can __________________ young students to cyberbullying and social pressures. Children may face bullying through messaging apps or social media, which can __________________ their emotional well-being.
[Continuation of previous sentence about emotional well-being]
It is crucial for schools to have strategies in place to handle __________________ issues if smartphones are allowed.
Not all students have smartphones __________________ an internet connection. Allowing smartphones in school might create inequality __________________ students, with some having the latest devices while __________________ do not. This can make those without them feel left out or embarrassed. While smartphones have many educational benefits, they also come with challenges that need to be dealt with.
[Continuation of inequality question]
[Continuation of inequality question about devices]
Ahmad did not complete his homework. He watched the World Cup Final on television. Instead of _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
"Have you paid for your ticket to the Bird Paradise?" my teacher asked me. My teacher asked me _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
I tried very hard to persuade Mrs Lim but she refused to join the baking class. No matter _______________________________________________ ___________ _____________________________________________________
All the children were pleased with their gifts.Linda was not pleased with her gift. _________________________________________________ except _____________________________________________________
They were annoyed as Sally was insincere. Sally's _______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Based on the first paragraph, explain what the narrator initially believed caused his insatiable appetite. [1m]
Fill in the following table to show the narrator's physical appearance and how he felt before and at the start of secondary 2 based on line 2-16 [4m]
Which three-word phrase from lines 17 - 21 tells us that the narrator showed his displeasure with his classmates? [1m]
Water Pollution
Coral Breakage by Divers
Global Warming & Climate Change
Overfishing
Of the 4 threats above, global warming seems to be the most challenging and is the hardest to manage by us humans. We must do something to manage climate changes.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO PROTECT OUR CORAL REEFS?
Educate people on the importance of coral reefs.
Minimise diving in the coral reefs. Divers can break and harm corals.
Control water and chemical pollution near water sources.
Stop overfishing. Overfishing reduces the number of herbivorous fish which feeds on algae. Too much algae can overwhelm a coral reef by competing for resources.
Support Our Marine Heritage, Take Part in 'Reef Explore' Tour!
You can join marine conservationists at the Coral Reef Conservation Centre (CRCC) located at Pulau Hantu - an island just minutes away from Singapore. All proceeds from the tour are donated to CRCC.
• Click on ReefExplore@PulauHantu.com to book your ferry and timing for the exploration. Each fully guided tour only lasts 20 minutes to ensure sustainability of the reef. Tickets are non-transferable.
• Exploration starts from 10 a.m. onwards. Do take note that all activities cease during high tide as visibility of the colourful coral reefs is compromised then.
• All tours are subject to weather conditions. Ferry tickets are non-refundable but partial refund is allowed for tour cancellation.
• You can bring your snorkelling gear for an up-close experience.
• Place your camera or mobile phone in a waterproof bag if you want to capture the breathtaking colours of the reefs.
The article has subheadings in the form of questions to __________.
Based on the section, "What are coral reefs?", the phrase "likened to oases" is used to highlight that coral reefs are __________.
In the section, "Where can we find them in Singapore?", which word best describes the impact of water pollution on the coral reefs.
Which statement is not true about the coral reefs in Singapore?
Which statement is true about the threats faced by coral reefs and how they can be protected?
Reena was supposed to go for the "ReefExplore" tour but it was cancelled due to poor weather. Which of the following is the best possible action she can take?
Mr Lim is a participant of the "ReefExplore" tour. Which of the following must he do to have a fruitful experience at the tour?
What is the main purpose of the article?
When he burst into the laboratory, his groupmates Firdaus and Nithya were already hammering away on their keyboards, working on their project for the national coding competition. After settling into his usual spot and turning on his laptop computer, Ethan noticed something peculiar—files seemed to be missing from the club's shared drive*. He tried repeatedly to find the files, including his own, without success. His anxiety mounting, Ethan motioned urgently to Firdaus and Nithya to come over. Together, the trio tried to locate the missing files, but they were nowhere to be found.
When they turned to their teacher-in-charge, Mr Lim, for help, even he was stumped. By then, other members of the club had started to come to the same realisation, and many were panicking at the loss of their hours of painstaking work. Thus, Mr Lim mobilised the whole club to unearth the missing files. They were shocked and dismayed when they discovered that someone had entered the club's shared drive and deleted the files. Ethan and his friends struggled to make sense of the situation. Who would want to sabotage the Coding Club, and why? With Mr Lim's guidance, they dug deeper into the system and examined the log history for suspicious activity. But the more they searched, the less likely it seemed that they would ever find the culprit or their files. Just as they were about to give up hope, Ethan had a breakthrough. While reviewing the login history one last time, he noticed a pattern—a series of login attempts from an unfamiliar source, the last one just seconds ago! The club members wasted no time in tracing the address to a computer in the school library.
The Coding Club members rushed to the library, where they found a group of students huddled around a computer, snickering and whispering to one another. Among them was Meng, whom every student knew to be a troublemaker. Ethan marched up to the group and demanded an explanation. To his surprise, Meng readily confessed—he had stumbled upon the club's shared drive and thought it would be funny to delete the files as a prank. He said with a smirk in his voice that he wanted to test how clever the coding club members were by presenting them with the challenge of retrieving their files, and even mocked them for not knowing how to protect their own work.
An authoritative voice cut in. "The members of the Coding Club did not protect their files because they trusted their fellow schoolmates and never expected that anyone would do something so selfish and thoughtless," said Mr Lim. Meng looked around at the disheartened faces of his schoolmates and knew that he had gone too far. He mumbled an apology and something about making amends. "How will you do that?" retorted Firdaus. "We dug everywhere, but our files are gone. There's not even a trace of them left!"
As it turned out, not only was Meng able to restore the deleted files, but he also even showed the club members how to strengthen the security of the club's shared folder, ensuring that no one, not even he, would be able to complete with the files again.
The following Friday, as Ethan and his friends were hunched over their laptops in utter concentration, the door to Computer Laboratory 3 swung open and Meng stepped in. What now? Ethan wondered, furrowing his brow. "Boys and girls, I'd like you to welcome the newest member of the Coding Club," announced Mr Lim with a twinkle in his eye, and a hand on Meng's shoulder.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
Blank 29: Bees are known ______________ their remarkable ability to pollinate flowers.
Blank 30: They serve as pollinators for a vast number of plant species. These super-pollinators, ______________ presence in various habitats stretches across millions of years, contribute greatly to the reproduction of plants.
Blank 31: ______________ bees are extremely important in supporting food production.
Blank 32: Bees migrated across different regions of the world on their own as well as ______________ human activity, over thousands of years.
Blank 33: Before the development of modern farming, bees naturally pollinated wild plants and flowers, helping to balance the ecosystem. It was not ______________ recent centuries that humans began to understand and make use of the pollination services provided by bees.
Blank 34: Farmers started using bees to increase the yield of crops, resulting in ______________ efficient farming practices.
Blank 35: The drop in bee populations in recent decades ______________ made it harder for farmers to grow crops.
Blank 36: Each year, ______________ work with researchers to protect and support bee populations through various conservation efforts.
Blank 37: Bees, particularly honeybees, are not only ______________ pollinators but also producers of honey, a valuable resource.
Blank 38: Without their extensive pollination work, many crops ______________ fail to produce fruit.
As a child, Joseph Schooling had set his sights on competing at the Olympics. He was [BLANK] by his granduncle, a high jumper who represented Singapore at the 1948 London Games.
At the age of 14, his parents sent him to the United States to train, [BLANK] of his passion for the sport.
Schooling's big break came in 2014 when he became the first Singaporean to win a swimming [BLANK] at the Commonwealth Games.
At the 2015 SEA Games, Schooling won a whopping nine golds, before making [BLANK] later that year with a bronze at the world championships.
Then came his [BLANK] moment in 2016 - Schooling won Singapore's first Olympics gold in Rio, beating Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly event. He also set a new Olympic record.
Reflecting on his win, Schooling said, "After the Olympics, we can see the effect sport [BLANK] on bringing the nation together... I hope that shows people what winning big at that stage [BLANK] able to do for our country."
Then-Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said, "Schooling has [BLANK] us that it is possible to persevere a different pathway, one based on our own purpose and interests, take pride in it, and [BLANK] at the highest levels."
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Do you feel energised when you see the colour red? Does the colour blue make you feel calm and relaxed? Colour is a powerful communication tool __________(51)__________ can signal action, influence mood, and even __________(52)__________ to physical changes like increased blood pressure and higher metabolism. Scientific exploration of how colour affects us may be relatively new, __________(53)__________ interest in the impact of colour has long existed. Why does colour have such an __________(54)__________ on our lives? A study found that we typically link certain colours with specific feelings. Warm colours like red, orange, and yellow stir up a __________(55)__________ of emotions from warmth and comfort to anger and hostility. Cool colours, __________(56)__________ as blue, purple and green, are calming but can also trigger feelings of sadness or indifference. More than half of __________(57)__________ surveyed associated black with sadness, red and pink with love, and yellow with joy. These associations are common and play an essential __________(58)__________ in communication. Yet, our feelings about colour are often deeply personal and rooted__________(59)__________ our experiences or culture. For instance, while white represents purity and innocence in the West, it can symbolise mourning in Eastern __________(60)__________. __________(61)__________ ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, used colours to heal. This practice __________(62)__________ today as a form of alternative treatment. __________(63)__________ more research is needed, studies suggest that colour therapy may have real health benefits, like helping to reduce fatigue and stress. In the meantime, you could try a simple experiment yourself. The next time you have the blues, __________(64)__________ of throwing on a dark t-shirt to match your mood, consider something lighter that will __________(65)__________ your spirits. If you find yourself smiling soon after, you will have experienced the benefits of colour therapy first-hand.
My grandmother is blind. My grandmother is an excellent pianist. _______________________ despite her _______________________
Jeremy loves doughnuts. Jeremy cannot eat doughnuts every day. As much _______________________ _______________________.
The children refused to admit to any wrongdoing, which disappointed their parents. The children's _______________________ _______________________.
Kumari has never attended a concert. Kumari's sister has never attended a concert. Neither _______________________ _______________________.
Mother asked Father, "Did you speak with Lina about her sleeping habits last night?" Mother asked Father if _______________________ _______________________.
Bring your family and friends for an exceptional dining experience at Robo Cafe!
Group Discounts:
- Groups of 3 - 5 diners: 10% off
- Larger groups: 15% off
Weekday Special:
- Visit on weekdays before 5 p.m. and enjoy an additional 15% off!
Make a reservation at www.robocafe.sg before 1 December 2024 to enjoy the discounts.
Don't Miss Out – Reserve Your Table Today!
Visit www.robocafe.sg to secure your spot and enjoy these exclusive offers!
Offer Valid till 1 December 2024
Customer Reviews
"I enjoyed the movie very much, and watching the robot waiters take orders and serve food was most amusing! When I tasted the unusual dishes, I have never heard of before, it felt like I was a character in the movie. I will always remember that meal!"
Warren, 20-year-old student
"Not only were my children fascinated, but my wife and I also found the experience most amazing. I heard the menu took three months to curate, so it is no wonder the unusual dishes tasted wonderful. The capabilities of the robot waiters also left us speechless. We made quite a few requests, and they promptly responded in the appropriate manner. It was an unforgettable family outing! My family is looking forward to our next meal there!"
Ronald, father of two
To ensure a pleasant dining experience, please take note of the following:
✓ Arrive five to ten minutes before your reservation time for a short presentation.
✓ Keep the floor free from clutter by storing your belongings in the lockers provided.
✓ Scan the QR code on your table to look at the menu and place your order.
✓ Press the buzzer on your table to report a robot malfunction.
In the section "Robots, Then and Now", the expression "But now, things are different!" is used to ___.
Which of the following is not true about Robo Cafe?
According to the section "Robots and Futuristic Dining", which word best describes the dining experience as a unique way to enjoy a meal?
Under the section "Robots and Futuristic Dining", which of the following does not tell us what the futuristic dining experience is like?
Mr Tan wishes to have a meal at Robo Cafe. Which of the following will allow him to enjoy the biggest savings?
What do Warren and Ronald have in common in their reviews?
Diners who want to enjoy their dining experience at Robo Cafe should __________.
The main purpose of this webpage is to __________.
"Look at Timid Tim, hiding in the shadows again?" Ronnie sneered.
Upon hearing Ronnie's voice, I attempted to press myself against the wall, as if trying to make myself smaller. Barely whispering, I replied, "I don't want any trouble." Laughter erupted around me. I longed to defend myself but was overwhelmed by fear.
The bullying escalated beyond verbal taunts. Ronnie seized every chance to humiliate me. He often took advantage of my fear of public speaking, putting me in situations where my fear would be evident for all to see. Once, when the teacher asked for volunteers for a presentation, Ronnie slyly suggested that I go first. "You're too scared to speak up," he said mockingly. It was time to face the audience. My palms grew clammy. In addition, my throat became constricted. This made it difficult for me to speak coherently. Once I concluded my presentation, I gritted my teeth.
On another occasion, Ronnie decided to play a nasty prank on me. While I was frantically searching for my wallet in the classroom, Ronnie and his gang revealed themselves as the culprits, sneering at my distress. "Looking for something, Timid Tim?" Ronnie taunted, holding the wallet out of reach. Before I could react, Ronnie dashed away, turning it into a chaotic chase. In spite of my attempts to snatch the wallet from his grip, I did not manage to do so. Eventually, Ronnie dropped the wallet with a thud and walked away, laughing at my predicament. With a deep sigh, I hid my face behind my hands in case my classmates see me in this plight.
During a school camp, our relationship took a significant turn. While wandering around the campsite, I stumbled upon a diary lying on the ground. Picking it up, I realised it belonged to Ronnie upon examining its cover. Eagerly, I began flipping through its pages. As I read, I was struck by his entries. I came to learn of Ronnie's challenges at home and his pressure to do well in school. This discovery completely changed my perception of him. He was not as bad as I had thought.
One afternoon, while on a hike, disaster struck when Ronnie stumbled and twisted his ankle on a hidden rock. As Ronnie winced in pain, the group gathered around, unsure of what to do. Despite trailing behind, I immediately rushed forward to help Ronnie. "Are you okay, Ronnie?" I asked, examining the injured ankle. Ronnie, taken aback by my kindness, nodded hesitantly.
"I think so, but I can't put any weight on it," he admitted. I offered Ronnie a shoulder to lean on, helping him to his feet as the group watched in astonishment. Together, we made our way back to the campsite, supporting Ronnie every step. At the campsite, Ronnie turned to me. "Thanks, Tim. I... I didn't expect you to help me. I've been mean to you," he uttered.
I nodded, smiling. "It's no big deal, Ronnie. We're classmates after all."
Ronnie, upon hearing what I had said, stopped short. He reached out and patted my shoulder. Puzzled at this sudden turn of events, I managed a smile. Ronnie was ashamed it had taken him such a long time to realise the impact of his actions.
From then on, Ronnie began making amends by standing up for me whenever others tried to belittle me. Meanwhile, I regained my confidence, feeling more at ease in class and social activities. As my self-esteem grew, so did our friendship.
Have you ever thought about how movies based on books make us see what characters and places look like? __________ special effects in movies make action scenes exciting and realistic, watching a movie based __________ a book can aid in understanding the story, especially __________ the book is difficult to read.
Have you ever thought about how movies based on books make us see what characters and places look like? __________ special effects in movies make action scenes exciting and realistic, watching a movie based __________ a book can aid in understanding the story, especially __________ the book is difficult to read.
In schools, movies can be utilised to help students comprehend books better and foster a greater love __________ reading.
What's more, watching a movie adapted __________ a Roald Dahl story or a J.K. Rowling novel, like Harry Potter, does make the stories clearer and more enjoyable.
However, some people think that watching movies __________ less rewarding than reading.
Reading aids in enhancing vocabulary, spelling and writing skills, aspects __________, may be lost when we only watch the movies.
Moreover, books can be revisited many times for a deeper understanding. __________ movies that present only the director's viewpoint.
As a result, we __________ not notice important details, causing us to miss the book's deeper meanings.
__________, both books and movies offer unique benefits, making stories enjoyable in different ways.
What defines a true hero? In a recent news report, one lady showed exactly what it means to be one. The incident _____ on a busy road in the
_____ of a local neighbourhood, Susan Tan, a resident of Springfield,
_____ demonstrated remarkable kindness and compassion when she attended with an
elderly man in need. _____
As Susan made her way home, she catch sight of the elderly man
_____ struggling to retrieve a fallen bag of groceries amidst the
_____ incessant traffic.
_____ Instinktivli, Susan rushed to the man's aid by pick up the bag and guiding him
_____ safely across the street. This humaine act was captured on camera by a passer-by
_____ and later shared on social media platforms, which it garnered thousands of likes
_____ and shares. Netizens sang praises of her hera actions.
Fill in the blank: My parents were (51)__________ the idea of me having a phone.
Fill in the blank: (52)__________ them eventually, telling them that getting the phone for me meant that they could stay connected with me at all times and keep tabs on my whereabouts.
Fill in the blank: I could stay (53)__________ with me at all times and keep tabs on my whereabouts.
Fill in the blank: As time went by, I became increasingly (54)__________ on my phone.
Fill in the blank: I would often choose to stay home after school just to text my friends and browse the internet, rather (55)__________ focusing on my studies.
Fill in the blank: (56)__________ my efforts to strike a balance, I found myself slipping further into digital addiction.
Fill in the blank: In the end, my parents decided to intervene and put an (57)__________ to it.
Fill in the blank: I was deprived of the (58)__________ of having the phone for a few months.
Fill in the blank: I (59)__________into tears and argued for a second chance but my father, (60)__________ a stubborn man, would not budge.
Fill in the blank: I burst into tears and argued for a second chance but my father, (60)__________ a stubborn man, would not budge.
Fill in the blank: During those months, I felt lost and disconnected. (61)__________, as the days passed, I adjusted to life without any digital distractions and began to rediscover the joys of the offline world.
Fill in the blank: I adjusted to life (62)__________ any digital distractions and began to rediscover the joys of the offline world.
Fill in the blank: I set boundaries for myself, (63)__________ that my studies and personal life did not suffer because of excessive screen time.
Fill in the blank: I set boundaries for myself such that my studies and personal life did not suffer because of (64)__________ screen time.
Fill in the blank: I was grateful for the tough love that my parents showed me. Their (65)__________ to confiscate my phone taught me valuable lessons about self-discipline, moderation and the importance of living in the moment.
Thomas is the most talented chef in the restaurant. No chef is more _______________________________________________
Alan drank the entire bottle of water. He felt refreshed. _______________________________________________ having _______________________________________________
The boy persevered and managed to complete the difficult puzzle. Through_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
The students are responsible for keeping the class clean. Keeping _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Grandma asked, "Sally, do you have any chores today?" Grandma asked Sally_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Have you heard of the Kristang language?
Kristang, also known as Malacca Portuguese, is a unique heritage language spoken by the Portuguese-Eurasian community in Singapore and the Malayan region. With an estimated fewer than 100 speakers in Singapore, Kristang is a critically endangered language. Most Singaporeans are not even aware of its existence! Therefore, the need for us to preserve this language has come into the spotlight.
Why keep a rarely used language?
Preservation of languages should be a matter of concern.
• Firstly, languages carry our cultural heritage. Traditions, knowledge, values, and historical narratives of a community, and so much more, are passed from one generation to the next predominantly by language. Each language reflects the distinctive inner workings of the community that uses it.
• Secondly, languages are closely tied to a community's identity. Without a common language, a community would struggle to exist. Language is an integral part of who a person is and gives one a sense of belonging. Without it, individuals and communities would likely experience a disconnection from their cultural heritage.
How do we approach the matter?
#1 Raise awareness of the matter
• tell those around us about the cultural significance of languages and the importance of preserving them.
#2 Learn and use heritage languages
• choose to learn our own heritage languages or even others that interest us. We can ensure the continuity of the languages by attending classes in them and attempting to use them frequently.
#3 Promote and support language education
• persuade those around us to take language classes with us. Language education paves the way for the intergenerational transmission of language and creates opportunities for us to engage with our cultural heritage.
In the first paragraph, which word best describes language as comprising many different parts?
According to the section "Have you heard of the Kristang language?", what makes the Kristang language "critically endangered"?
According to the section "Why keep a rarely used language?", preserving languages is important for the following reasons except __________.
Mrs Tan, a mother of two, wants to play a part in preserving languages. She can do so by __________.
Why is the colon (:) used in "Choose from a variety of languages offered."?
Mr Li and his 8-year-old child want to take language classes on the same day. What can they do?
Which statement is true about the language classes?
What is the main purpose of this website?
Being a nature and animal lover Lucy's interest was piqued. Momentarily, she imagined trash and fish thriving in an environment free of plastic pollution – an image inspired by hours of observing the wildlife at the lake she frequented. "The first step toward a plastic-free habitat is forming the habit of recycling," she thought. "I'm sure I can come up with a brilliant idea for the project!" Her daydreaming was interrupted by a light tap from her best friend, Max.
"Do you still have that book on recycling? I'm sure there are many helpful tips that we could use for this project. Shall we work on this together?" Max inquired expectantly.
Lucy recalled having read the library book the previous night and placing it on her bedside table. "Um..." she hesitated, "I returned it this morning ... and I'm thinking of working on this project alone."
"Oh, I see," Max mumbled and walked away with his shoulders drooped.
The next day, Lucy started working on her project. She had a unique concept for the recycling bin but struggled to construct it. The design required a standard of workmanship that was simply beyond her capability. Frustrated, she went for a walk downstairs.
At that same time, Max saw Lucy trudging along, looking downcast and sighing. He called, "Lucy?" She looked up, surprised to find Max there. He had never seen her behaving like that before. "What happened?" he asked gently. Guilt-ridden, she confessed to lying about the book and apologised sincerely. Max forgave her readily.
"You're so good at handicrafts and using tools, unlike me!" Lucy lamented.
"Well, if you need a partner, all you have to do is ask!" Max replied with a twinkle in his eye. She did so, then excitedly described her design concept of the recycling bin. "Cool! I like the idea of interactive features to inform users about environmental issues!" Max chirped.
Over the week, the pair worked tirelessly to build their recycling bin. They included sections for different types of materials and added sensors that would light up when an item was correctly sorted. A robotic voice would read out tidbits on the progress of the environmental efforts by various activist groups. They painted the bin with vibrant images of nature, showing a litter-free world to emphasise their message.
Lucy and Max's hard work paid off. On presentation day, their classmates were impressed with their interactive recycling bin. Instantly, Mr Lee decided to nominate their project for the annual Environmental Innovation Award. He also commended the class for their efforts and further challenged them, "Besides recycling, what else can we do for our environment?" His question unleashed a torrent of innovative ideas. As Lucy watched her classmates electing to work on an additional environmental project, she reflected, "Real change requires collective effort, and many hands make light work."
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. (10 marks) EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE Culture is our way of life. We display culture through our values, beliefs, customs, religious practices, languages, food, clothes, architecture and even __________ we interact with each other. For example, we __________ be able to identify a group of Japanese when we observe __________ members bowing respectfully to each other in greeting, __________ bowing in Japanese culture is a sign of respect. Countries with long histories have patterns of behaviour __________ rooted within their social group that when they have new members, these patterns of behaviour are automatically taught to them and accepted. Unfortunately, not all behaviour patterns are __________ legal or civil. In some cultures, forced marriages of children occur because unwed girls may be viewed as a disgrace and a burden __________ their family. In societies that enforce __________ legal minimum age for marriage, child marriages are clearly regarded as unacceptable. Culture evolves with globalisation, migration, and technology. As societies interact more, they exchange ideas and norms. Some societies strive to keep __________ with technology while others find it hard to balance tradition __________ modern ideas. This reflects the dynamic nature of human societies in an ever-changing world.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Jordan was finally embarking on his long-awaited camping trip. As he arrived at the (39) [blank] the secluded campsite, he realised that he had the entire place to himself.
It was the perfect opportunity to set up his tent for the first time. He felt a surge of thrill (40) [blank] at the adventure awaits him.
However, he didn't realise the difficulties that lie ahead. (41) [blank]
That night, a sudden storm blew on, uprooting his tent and exposing him to rain and chilling winds. (42) [blank]
Despite being sheltered by a nearby tree, he was soaked and shivering (43) [blank] uncontrollably, quickly falling ill.
As dawn broke, Jordan tried to make his way back to the main road. However, his condition (44) [blank] and he collapsed.
A passing hiker found him lying by the trail, (45) [blank] and immediately called for help.
Jordan was rushed to the hospital, which doctors (46) [blank] treated him, but his recovery was slow, and he remained weak.
Meanwhile, his family had reported him missing to the police. A search team was (47) [blank] sent out, so no trace of Jordan was found for days.
The family grew anxious, (48) [blank] fearing the worse.
Finally, a breakthrough came when a nurse recognised Jordan from a missing person's poster at the hospital. (49) [blank]
She contacted the authorities, and his family was alerted. (50) [blank] They rushed to his side, overjoyed to see him alive.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Looking for a fun and engaging way to stay fit? Skating on wheels is a sport which attracts people of __________________ ages and backgrounds, from young children to the elderly.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. It helps you stay active and keep your body __________________ shape.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Skating engages various muscle groups, __________________ those in the legs and core.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. It is a great aerobic exercise that __________________ your heart pumping and boosts blood circulation.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Skating regularly can contribute to a healthier circulatory system, cutting down the __________________ of heart disease.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Skating also challenges your body awareness and stability by requiring you to maintain balance and coordination __________________ in motion.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. It involves a range of motions __________________ bending, twisting, and flexing the joints, which promotes joint flexibility and mobility as you glide and manoeuvre on skates.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. As a low-impact exercise, skating puts less stress on your joints __________________ running or jumping.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. This makes it an __________________ exercise for individuals with joint pain, providing a workout without excessive joint strain.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Besides its physical advantages, skating is __________________ good for your mental health.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. The concentration __________________ to maintain the continuous motion during skating helps clear your mind and promote relaxation.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Whether you are enjoying skating indoors at a rink or __________________ on suitable pavements, remember to wear appropriate __________________ gear, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, to protect __________________ from injuries.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Remember to wear appropriate __________________ gear, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, to protect __________________ from injuries.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Wear appropriate protective gear to protect __________________ from injuries.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. Overall, skating offers an extensive __________________ of health benefits.
Josh asked Mr Ng, "Did you go to Sentosa during the June holidays?" Josh asked Mr Ng ________________________________________________________________________________.
Both of the books were unavailable at the library. Neither of ________________________________________________________________________________.
Shawn announced that he had won an award. Shawn made ________________________________________________________________________________.
The bell rang. The students rushed out of the classroom. No sooner ________________________________________________________________________________.
Bella completed the marathon. She felt tired halfway through. ________________________________________________________________________________ despite her ________________________________________________________________________________.
Enjoy snorkelling alongside dolphins in a lagoon. Learn about their behaviour and anatomy from a marine mammal specialist.
All children and accompanying adults must be able to swim.
Samuel's Testimonial
"Swimming with the dolphins was an awesome family experience. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to swim and interact with these amazing creatures!"
Glamping with Manatees [NEW!]
Embark on a magical two-day-one-night adventure at the Manatees Discovery Zone. Enjoy an exclusive tour around the aquarium and visit manatees and their young. Sleep in the comfort of your own air-conditioned tents with a mesmerising view of manatees in their habitat at night.
For ages 12 and above or children with accompanying parents or guardians
Marine Lagoon [NEW!]
Sea and touch hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, starfish and turtles in a lagoon touch pool.
For ages 10 and above
Trash to Treasure Workshop [Free!]
Make your own sea creature using recyclable materials. Materials, glue, scissors and colour markers will be provided.
For ages 4 to 6 years old
Munch Time @ $5 per feed
Enjoy the thrill of feeding baby seals! The proceeds will help to fund our marine life conservation efforts.
Suitable for all ages
Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, "Explore our playground at discoveries!"?
Which of the following statements about the Singapore Aquarium is true?
Mrs Ng is keen to sign her daughter, Kim, up for the Junior Marine Explorer Workshop. What can Kim expect from the workshop?
Mr Lee and his twelve-year-old son are both swimmers. Which two activities can they participate in together?
Which of the following is the most likely reason for Ciara's testimonial to be included under the Junior Marine Explorer Workshop section?
Based on Samuel's testimonial, he enjoyed the Dolphin Paradise experience because he
Mr Tan is taking his father, wife and their three children of ages five to seven years old to the Singapore Aquarium. What should he do to enjoy the 26th anniversary ticket discount?
What is the main aim of this brochure?
Alex's father, the sole breadwinner, was suffering from chronic pain. It had left him without a job for 5 months. The family was going through a difficult time. As the eldest son, Alex was determined to put an end to their financial struggles. If he made it through the trials team, it would turn the tables for his family. He would have a stable source of income while living his biggest dream of being a professional basketball player.
Alex finally alighted a walking distance away from the indoor basketball court. His heart pounded as he hurried down the bustling street. The trial of a lifetime awaited Alex, but he had other plans in store for 10 him. An elderly woman, frail and confused, stood precariously on the kerb of a busy junction. Cars honked and swerved around her, and panic flickered in her eyes. Alex shuddered to think what could happen to her if she was left alone. With a reassuring smile, Alex approached her. The woman's eyes, clouded with anxiety, 15 met Alex's. "I can't find the bus stop," she stammered. Alex knew every precious minute counted, yet he could not ignore her plea. "Don't worry. Let me help you," Alex soothed, he took one woman's arm in his and guided her across the chaotic junction. The pair weaved slowly through a sea of impatient commuters to the bus stop. Time ticked away. Eventually, the elderly woman boarded her bus and found a seat, mouthing words of thanks to Alex as the bus pulled away. Although the trial awaited, Alex was glad to have chosen to answer a more urgent call for kindness.
Alex resumed his journey to the basketball court. Just then, a car hurled past a puddle, sending a 20 torrent of dirty water splashing across his pair of shoes. He gasped, his heart sinking as the gritmy liquid seeped through his shoes and socks. For a moment, he felt a wave of despair wash over him due to this unexpected situation. However, he could not afford to wallow in self-pity. With no time to lose, he quickened his pace towards his destination. He reminded himself about the value of resilience—and that no splash of water could dampen his spirit. 28
Fifteen minutes after his scheduled time for the trial, Alex made it to the court. His heart sank even further at the sight of the other participants, who were putting on their best game. They were also visibly more presentable in their pristine bibs and basketball shoes. Alex stood out like a sore thumb. Much as he knew that the chances were slim, he braced himself for the impossible. He would not give up just yet. He summoned his courage and approached the trial officials for a chance at the tryout despite missing his slot. With trembling hands, Alex explained his situation, apologising profusely for his tardiness. Instead of turning him away, the officials listened with empathy. Their expressions softened as they heard his story. In a remarkable display of compassion, they accorded him a chance. Seizing the golden opportunity, Alex 35 warmed up and took to the court, pushing the fact that his shoes were all squelchy out of his mind. His full concentration was on the game and how badly he wanted to prove himself worthy of the national team.
The first few tests were a series of drills. Alex cleared those with ease, having trained rigorously over countless hours of practices through the years. The match that was to take place was the true test for the participants. Besides attacking and defensive skills, being an effective team player was the key trait that officials were looking out for in players. To that effect, Alex communicated well with those who were on his team and created opportunities for his team to score. Seeing his energetic and spectacular play, the officials observing by the sidelines knew without a doubt that it was the result of countless hours of blood, sweat and 40 tears put in.
When Alex walked out of the basketball court later that afternoon, he could not help but wonder about how different things would have turned out had it not rained earlier that day. Despite that, he still concluded that he would not have done things any differently if he was caught in the same situation again. Just as he was about to cross the junction to the bus stop, his mobile phone rang. He received news that he had made it. As the saying goes, "Hard work always pays off." Alex was delighted that his hard work had 45 finally paid off.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. iwak, or civet coffee, is considered an exotic and expensive drink. A unique and intriguing beverage, it is brewed from coffee beans extracted from the faeces of
the Asian palm civet, a small animal native of Southeast Asia.
The civets selectively eat ripe coffee cherries, digesting the fruity pulp while leaving the coffee beans intact. These then passes through the civet's digestive system
where supposedly enhances their flavour by reducing bitterness and acidity while
imparting a unique aromatic scent.
After being excreted, the beans are collected, thorou ___ washed, and then
roasted to perfection. Despite its unusual production method, kopi luwak enthusiasts
love its flavour. It is notisably not bitter and has a complex flavour that is smooth,
earthy and sweet with the hint of chocolate. Due to the popular of Kopi luwak, several
plantation farms raise palm civets, sometimes in unfavourable conditions. As such,
controversy surrounds the production of kapi luwak, with some producers confines
civets in cramped cages. Despite this unethical practice, kopi luwak remains a popular beverage.
Fill in the blank: These specialised traits help organisms obtain food, avoid predators and __________ with changing conditions, ensuring their continued existence in the natural world.
Fill in the blank: __________ adaptations, organisms would certainly face a higher risk of extinction as they struggle to compete for resources.
Fill in the blank: Consider the humble moth, for __________
Fill in the blank: its wings are adorned with patterns that __________ the eyes of larger predators to scare off would-be attackers and keep
Fill in the blank: __________ safe from harm. If an insect looks like a leaf it is not easily
Fill in the blank: __________ by hungry birds. This explains why numerous insects
Fill in the blank: __________ evolved to look like leaves over the last several thousand years.
Fill in the blank: Another animal, the chameleon, has an incredible __________ to change
Fill in the blank: its colour to match the surroundings. This clever camouflage helps it blend in with tree bark or leaves, making it nearly invisible to predators and allowing it to sneak __________ on unsuspecting prey. In fact, certain prey species have bright-
Fill in the blank: coloured or distinctive markings on their bodies to keep predators away.
Fill in the blank: Like animals, adaptations in plants are just as __________ for their survival in diverse environments. Cacti adapt to survive in arid environments by storing water in
Fill in the blank: their thick stems. __________ from their stems, their shallow but wide-reaching root systems __________ them to quickly absorb water from rain or dew. The
Fill in the blank: spines of the cacti also help them to __________ water loss. These features help
Fill in the blank: them to survive in deserts.
Fill in the blank: As plants and animals adapt to their environment, they can protect __________ and ensure their continuity. Those that cannot will become extinct.
Jane asked me if I had baked the cake myself the previous week. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
John felt that it was not necessary to buy the book. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
The boy crept into the house stealthily so that he would not be noticed. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
Audrey is writing an essay on the importance of preserving our heritage sites. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
The boys persevered. They won the race. Rewrite using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentence(s).
• Groups of three to five diners get 10% off! Larger groups get 15% off!
• Come on weekdays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and enjoy an additional 15% off!
• Make a reservation at www.immerse.sg before 1 December 2024 to receive a free appetiser of your choice during your visit!
Customer Reviews
"The dining experience was extremely entertaining! I enjoyed the movie very much, and watching the robot waiters take orders and serve food was definitely my favourite! It was my first time watching Robochefs, and when I tasted the unusual dishes I had never heard of before, it felt like I was a character in the movie. I will always remember that meal!"
Charlotte, Aged 8 years old
"Not only were my children fascinated, but my wife and I also found the experience most amazing. I heard that the menu took three months to curate so it is no wonder the unusual dishes tasted wonderful. The capabilities of the robot waiters, also left us speechless. We made quite a number of requests and they promptly responded in the appropriate manner. It was an unforgettable family outing! My family, is looking forward to our next meal there!"
Thomas, Father of two
To ensure a pleasant dining experience, please take note of the following:
✓ Arrive five to ten minutes before your reservation time for a short presentation.
✓ Keep the floor free from clutter by storing your belongings in the lockers provided.
✓ Scan the QR code on your table to look at the menu and place your order.
✓ Press the buzzer on your table to report a robot malfunction.
According to the section 'Robots, Past and Present', which of the following is true about robots?
Under the section 'What You Can Expect', an exclamation mark is used in the first sentence to ________.
Under the section 'What You Can Expect', which of the following does not tell us what the futuristic dining experience is like?
Mr Tan wishes to have a meal at Immersive Dining. Which of the following will allow him to enjoy the biggest savings?
The website quotes Charlene as saying she found her experience at Immersive Dining very entertaining. What did she enjoy the most?
Under the section 'Customer Reviews', what did Chariene and Thomas have in common?
In order to ensure that his dining experience is enjoyable, Amos should __________.
The main purpose of this website is to __________.
With her backpack filled with snacks and a flashlight, Clara led the way into the forest. Sparky trotted happily beside her, sniffing the ground and wagging his tail. The deeper they went, the darker and denser the forest became. She also felt the air grow cooler and the sounds of the town fading away.
After walking for about an hour, Clara could make out the shape of a building. She thought she had found the old house so she quickened her pace. In no time, she and Sparky stood before the old house as it towered over them. The garden was overgrown with long grass and the paint on the walls was peeling. They made the place look like it had been uninhabited for years. The door was also slightly ajar, as if inviting Clara and Sparky in.
"Wow, this place is amazing. I wonder what's inside," Clara whispered to Sparky. She pushed the door open carefully, and it creaked loudly. Unfazed, Clara took out her flashlight and shone it around the dim interior. The house was filled with old furniture covered in white sheets, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Sparky started to whine faintly. Despite the eerie atmosphere, Clara felt nothing but the thrill of excitement.
After coaxing Sparky to follow her by promising him a treat, they started to explore the house. Clara noticed a long hallway with several doors. One specific door captured her attention. Clara approached it cautiously. When she peeked inside, she saw a large, ornate desk. Clara swiftly entered the room and began to look around.
On the desk, Clara found an old journal. Its cover was worn, and the pages were yellowed with age. Clara opened the journal and began to read. It belonged to someone named Elias, who lived in the house some years ago. Elias had written about his adventures and discoveries in the forest. One entry mentioned a hidden treasure buried somewhere nearby.
As Clara read on, her excitement grew and she exclaimed, "Sparky, did you know? There's a hidden treasure! We have to find it before it gets dark soon!" With the journal in hand, Clara and Sparky left the old house and began their search. The journal contained clues about the treasure's location. Solving the mystery became Clara's top priority that day. They spent the rest of the day following the clues, exploring parts of the forest they had never seen before.
Not long after, Clara and Sparky reached a clearing. In the middle of that was a large oak tree. According to the journal, the old treasure was buried at the base of that tree. As the sun began to set, Clara sighed when she realised her flashlight was not in her backpack anymore. Wasting no time, Clara quickly grabbed a small shovel from her backpack and started digging. After a while, she hit something hard.
Nowadays, dialect __________ more commonly used in short phrases amongst the youths.
we hear them use dialect when they gather __________ __________ their friends. One has to only pass __________ coffee shops or the void decks to hear them using it.
English is the most spoken language in Singapore. A few years ago, a survey was administered and it showed __________ __________ 36.9 per cent of Singaporean Chinese used English more often at home compared to other languages or dialects.
[Blank associated with blank 32]
Luckily, there is still a high number __________ youths who know their dialect.
However, there are still plenty who do not. Some even show no interest __________ learning it.
On the other hand, there __________ __________ many youths who are passionate about making sure the dialect is here __________ stay.
Some even __________ __________ social media pages that hope to inspire others.
This may be seen __________ __________ a sentimental effort by some.
This is important as it ensures that Singapore's Chinese dialects remain relevant.
Kiran was so shy when he started secondary school. Even when other classmates spoke to him, he could only _______ in return.
In the afternoons after school, he did not have a single friend who _______ invite him over to their house.
Dispirited, Kiran started to walk around the _______park to take his mind off his lonely.
[blank box for answer]
At first, he would just do a slow jog around the park. Soon, he was sprinting _______ blocks far from the park each day.
[blank box for answer]
Beads of _______ would drip down his brow and drenching his shirt.
[blank box for answer]
To his parents' surprise, he seemed to enjoying running every day.
Kiran's muscular frame, developed from running _______ on the streets, did not go unnoticed by his classmates who were on the track and field team at school.
Soon, Kiran was invited to sit with the _______ at the canteen.
He found it unbelievable. Who knew that 'running' from his problems would actually lead to a solution?
Fill in the blank numbered 51 with a suitable word. Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. Attracting tourists from all the world, it is Japan's most famous place of ___.
Fill in the blank numbered 52 with a suitable word.
Fill in the blank numbered 53 with a suitable word. A visit to Japan would be incomplete ___ at least a glimpse of this grand peak.
Fill in the blank numbered 54 with a suitable word. One can get a clear ___ of the mountain from a Japanese town.
Fill in the blank numbered 55 with a suitable word. It has many scenic spots to see the mountain and these spots never fail to ___ over tourists.
Fill in the blank numbered 56 with a suitable word. The town is also easily ___ by train from Tokyo.
Fill in the blank numbered 57 with a suitable word. As ___, many tourists have been flocking to the town.
Fill in the blank numbered 58 with a suitable word. One ___ viewpoint in the town has become so popular that it is causing problems for the locals.
Fill in the blank numbered 59 with a suitable word. Seeking the perfect photograph, many foreign tourists have been caught littering and ___ traffic rules.
Fill in the blank numbered 60 with a suitable word.
Fill in the blank numbered 61 with a suitable word. The security guards working at that viewpoint have ___ these tourists about their behaviour.
Fill in the blank numbered 62 with a suitable word. However, their repeated warnings fell on ___ ears.
Fill in the blank numbered 63 with a suitable word. In a bid to find ___ such badly-behaved tourists, the authorities began building a black barrier to ___ the view of the mountain as a last ___.
Fill in the blank numbered 64 with a suitable word.
Fill in the blank numbered 65 with a suitable word.
James is going to the library. His brothers are going to the library too. ________ as well as ________
Marilyn told Sarah, "Jo saw you at the cinema last weekend." Marilyn told Sarah that ________
Henry was negligent. The birthday cake was delivered to the wrong address. ________ owing to ________
I realised my wallet was missing when I reached home. Not until ________
Remy admitted that he had stolen the money. He shocked everyone in class. With his ________
A Healthier and Happier You
We are celebrating 'Eat Your Fruit and Vegetables Day'.This day reminds us of the importance of consuming fresh food for a healthy life. Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables prevents or controls obesity and chronic diseases.
Date: 26 October 2024
Time: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Venue: Orchard Community Club
Come dressed in green to support eating more greens and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Participants wearing green will receive a MYSTERY PRIZE sponsored by Jolly Cafe.
Farmer's Market
Shop for fresh produce from local farmers. Show this flyer to receive a 10% discount.
Time: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Venue: Atrium
Award-Winning Jolly Cafe
Enjoy a delicious farm-to-table brunch. No reservations allowed. First come, first served.
Menu Food Items
1. Caesar Salad
2. Avocado on Toast
3. Kale and Cucumber Juice
4. Cream of mushroom soup
5. Roasted vegetable sandwich
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Venue: Jolly Cafe
Fun activities for children 6 to 12 years old
• Enjoy playing on the world's first vegetable-themed Bouncy Castle
• Meet-and-Greet: Miss Lettuce, Mr Kale and Mrs Cauliflower
• Free food-tasting sessions
○ Session 1: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
○ Session 2: 11 a.m. - 12 noon
Only 50 vacancies are available for each tasting session.
Organiser: Orchard Community Club
Sponsor: Jolly Cafe
Participants who dress in green for the event will __________.
Which of the following indicates that the ingredients used at Jolly Cafe are fresh?
Which one of these statements is not true?
Linda is a six-year-old child. Which activities can she participate in?
Based on the flyer, what does "alternative farming" refer to?
Mr Lim is attending the workshop held at the Garden at 3 p.m. He will _______________.
What is the similarity between the two cooking demonstrations?
What is the main purpose of the event?
Their neighbour, a portly old man, also busied himself in the plot next to theirs, pruning his 5 rose bushes attentively and weeding diligently. The bushes were laid out interestingly in three precise rows. The roses had petals in breathtaking shades of red, deep coral, fresh pink and orange and although the flowers had yet to fully come to bloom, the elderly man's plot provided the most arresting sight in the community garden.
One morning, the young couple headed out very early, only to find the old man standing very 10 still at his usual spot. He was staring at his rose bushes. Just as they did previous times, the young couple greeted him. The elderly man turned around. He raised a hand to his chin slowly as if he had thought and turned back to his rose bushes. It would have been alright if the encounter ended there. Their neighbour had always been a peculiar old man. However, as the young couple exchanged glances, they noticed that their neighbour had begun to sob, 15 his entire body convulsing in great wracks of distress. This alarmed them. The elderly man's reaction was deeply unsettling but the young couple did not want to think too much about it. By the end of Spring, the couple had long forgotten about the old man and had gone back to having regular gatherings with their other neighbours.
Summer was their best season. The young gardeners harvested their beans and planted 20 beetroot. A new gardener joined the community garden and the customary practice of presenting him with gifts of fruit and vegetables kept the young couple really busy. Soon, they forgot that they had ever considered forming a friendship with the elderly man.
That autumn, they planted raspberries, leeks and garlic. On the plot next door, the roses 25 started to blossom. The young couple thought of how although the rose bushes were steadily thickening, weeds were beginning to grow around them. They did not notice that the elderly man's visits to the community garden were becoming more and more infrequent. By now their indifference to him was total. When he did show up, he was thin and looked almost like he had begun to curl up at the edges, like a leaf.
Winter came and the couple planted lettuce. After that, they occupied themselves with their 30 raspberries and their crop of broad beans. One day, someone said that the old man had moved away for good. The young couple were taken aback by the news and they were drawn once more to his roses. The rose bushes were flowering in violent swirls of colour. They were fully grown and utterly beautiful but now there was something different about them. The couple thought about the elderly old man and for the first time, they found themselves thinking of the 35 loss of a friend.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Have you visited Singapore's Gardens by the Bay? It is a national garden (29) _______ also one of the most popular attractions (30) _______ local and international visitors. Indeed, The Gardens is a showpiece (31) _______ horticulture and artistry that presents the plant kingdom in a whole new way. (32) _______ entertaining visitors, it also educates them about plants seldom seen in this part of the world, ranging (33) _______ species in cool, temperate climates to tropical forests and habitats. The Gardens is led (34) _______ a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who rely (35) _______ the extensive global network of plant sources for knowledge building. Guided (36) _______ vision to be a world of gardens for all to own, enjoy and cherish, The Gardens has earned numerous awards and accolades. These achievements are testament (37) _______ the ongoing excellence of the Gardens and spur the team (38) _______ their goal of attaining greater success.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'she knew in great certainty'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'it was her true vokayshen to be a photographer'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'she yeaned so much'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'she imploled with her father'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'she received a small deespasabel one'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'in eazesperashen'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'he told Michelle earnestly to look into the lens and think about what the result picture would blur images'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in the reference to 'blur images'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'think about what the result picture would look like'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'and remember what her father had said then'
Identify and correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'she lie down on the ground and waited patiently for a duckling to woddel near her'
Section G: Comprehension Cloze (15 × 1 mark) Fill in each blank with a suitable word. A little boy invited his mother to attend his first Games Day in primary school. Much to ________ the little boy's dismay, she said she would go. This would be the first time that his ________ classmates and only form ________ met his mother and he was embarrassed by her ________ Although she was beautiful, an ugly scar that covered the entire right ________ of her face. Feeling utterly ashamed, the boy ________ wanted to talk about the scar. ________ At the games, ________ was impressed by the kindness and natural beauty of the boy's mother despite the scar, but the little boy still felt uncomfortable and hid himself from all of them. He did, however, get ________ earshotof a conversation between his mother and his teacher, and ________ them speaking. ________ "How did you get the scar on your face?" the teacher asked softly. The mother replied, "When my son was an ________ he was in a room that caught fire. No one else was ________ to go in because the fire was out of ________ so I went in. ________ As I was running towards his crib, I saw a wooden beam coming down and I placed ________ over him to shield him. I was knocked out and lost ________ but thankfully, a fireman came in ________ and helped both of us out." She touched the burned side of her face. "This scar is permanent, but to this day, I have never ________ doing what I did." ________ At this point, the little boy came out running towards his mother with tears in his eyes. He hugged her and was overwhelmed by the ________ that his mother had made for him. He held her hand tightly for the rest of the day.
Everyone was surprised to hear the news. __________ __________ upon __________.
I had brought out the cake. The guests arrived. No sooner __________ __________ __________ __________.
Kelly was regularly absent. Her classmates noticed it. Kelly's regular __________ __________ __________ __________.
"Who's your dance partner for the party?" Jo asked Amelia. Jo asked Amelia who __________ __________ __________ __________ __________.
The scouts were enthusiastic and disciplined. Their teacher was impressed. The scouts' __________ __________ __________ __________.
Join us for an exciting time, learning some of Singapore's heritage languages for free! You will gain a broad understanding of the language and reach an adequate level of conversational skills. Choose from a range of languages offered:
✓ Kristang (Fridays)
✓ Baba Malay (Mondays)*
✓ Baba Hokkien (Wednesdays)*
✓ Hakka (Thursdays)
✓ Malay (Tuesdays)
✓ Tamil (Saturdays)
✓ Hokkien (Wednesdays)
✓ Teochew (Saturdays)
✓ Cantonese (Sundays)
*These languages will not be offered to B1.
Three language classes are offered (see table below), and they will initially be taught in English. The weekly two-hour classes will take place over seven weeks from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., starting the week of 11 November 2024, at Central Vista Learning Cube. More details will be emailed to you upon registration.
Click on www.nlc.sg to find out more about each language and register!
In the first paragraph, which word best describes language as comprising many different parts?
According to the section "Have you heard of the Kristang language?", what makes the Kristang language "critically endangered"?
According to the section "Why keep a rarely used language?", preserving languages is important for the following reasons except _______.
Mrs Tan wants to play a part in preserving heritage languages. She can do so by _______.
In the section, "Sign up for heritage language classes!", why is the colon (:) used in "Choose from a range of languages offered:"?
Mr Li and his 9-year-old child want to take language classes on the same day. What can they do?
Which statement is true about the language classes?
What is the main purpose of this website?
It was a hot summer day. Gina observed her father as he approached their dilapidated porch.
"Papa, how's your day?" Gina asked, her brows furrowed.
"Papa is feeling tired today. I need to rest for a little while."
Gina knew her father was more than just tired as she helped him inside. He walked with a limp that most people would not notice unless they really looked. She suspected that her father had a scuffle with his supervisors.
"Did they not give you any breaks again? I've had enough," Gina snapped and rushed into the room. She hastily gathered a few belongings and carefully packed them into a haversack. Nothing would stop her doing this time. Gina's father emerged from his bedroom; - eyes wide with fear as he realised what she was doing.
"Gina, don't! It's not safe out there. Let Papa do it; you just stay at home."
"No, you listen to me this time. I can't let you keep doing this," Gina said firmly.
Every day after that, as Gina walked down the dirt road, she would look back at their shabby house, reminding herself she had to do this for her impoverished family. She recalled having to leave school when she was ten because her family could not afford it. With her father's health declining, things became even harder.
Driven by the need to improve her family's financial stability, Gina felt a strong desire to change their situation. She had heard that many children in her community had taken the same path despite being afraid. Some never made it back from the mines. Even more, Gina felt that it was all nothing she had to do. Each day was a battle against fear and danger, risking her life for meagre earnings.
Just then, a sudden powerful quake in the tunnel snapped Gina back to reality. Time was running out. She could only take a few more breaths before the air became too hard to breathe. Knowing that her family relied on her work to survive, Gina quickly shovelled as much gravel as she could before her comrades pulled her out of the mine. Gina was dancing with death with each passing second. One moment too late, and her lungs would have been filled with coal.
Gina stumbled as she reached the surface, gasping for air. She saw her best friend, Mei, who looked as relieved and exhausted as she was. "We made it, Gina," Mei said, her voice low and shaky from their close call. Gina nodded, still catching her breath. "I thought I wasn't going to make it. I was so scared, but I couldn't give up. My family needs me!"
Surviving the day's work made Gina more determined to work harder for her family. As such, she no longer feared the dangers of working in the mines. As she walked towards the exit, she felt a renewed sense of resolve.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. If your forehead is beaded with sweat the moment you step outdoors, brace yourself! The hot weather looks set to stay _______ 2024 and could be even warmer _______ the temperatures fell in 2023 – the fourth warmest year on record for Singapore. The unbearable heat experienced _______ due to a climate phenomenon known as El Niño, _______ causes unusual weather patterns. El Niño causes hotter _______ drier weather over Southeast Asia, including Singapore. This contributes _______ significant changes in sea surface temperatures and surface winds _______ the tropical Pacific Ocean. The prediction of sweltering conditions in 2024 comes _______ the weatherman reported that 2023 was Singapore's fourth warmest year since records started in 1929. On 13 May 2023, the highest daily maximum temperature of 37 degrees Celsius was recorded in Ang Mo Kio. This was not only the warmest day in May. It also tied _______ 17 April 1983, as the highest-ever temperature recorded in Singapore. Days of reliance on fans and air conditioners _______ be a mainstay in the coming months. Besides hydrating themselves regularly, Singaporeans are encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible to endure the heat.
11 June 2024 marked the first-ever International Day of Play. The United Nations had made a _______ to create a day to honour play worldwide.
Play is more than just a pastime for children. It is a _______ part of their development.
It encourages them to be physically active, which is _______.
Play also _______ children's friendships and social skills.
It teaches them how to solve problems and resolve conflicts _______.
Through play, children can _______ their creativity and cultivate their _______.
In the growth of children, _______ benefits are important.
Additionally, engaging in play-based learning in school is _______ in helping children remember information _______.
Now, a network of organisations, including The Right to Play, is _______ an importance of play.
Susan McIsaac, its _______ and CEO, believes that play is powerful.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Over fifty people met in a park for an hour of silent reading. During the session, not a __________ was spoken.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. The only sounds in the peaceful park were the faint rustle of books gently turning and occasional contented sighs. (Blank) of books gently turning...
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. This was the latest monthly Reading Together event __________ by the Indonesian Silent Book Club for people in the city.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. There are no discussions. Participants __________ together simply to be among others who share their love of reading.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. "Many people are uncomfortable introducing __________ in large groups as they are too shy," shared Ms Hestie Istivianie, founder of the book club.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. "Hence, __________ having the need to engage in idle talk or discussions is much appreciated."
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Four years __________, Ms Hestia started the club after her sister complained about being bullied for enjoying reading.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. When the first session was __________, only ten people attended.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. What __________ her to continue with the sessions was the desire to encourage more people to read.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. This came during a period of __________, when reading for leisure was __________ popular than mobile phones, the Internet, and other distractions.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. (continuation) This came during a period of __________, when reading for leisure was __________ popular than mobile phones, the Internet, and other distractions.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Also, despite __________ posed by Covid-19, the book club continued
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. (continuation) __________Zoom, nurturing a community of shared reading during lockdown periods.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. The sessions now attract about thirty participants monthly, coming together to enjoy a __________ of reading formats like print books, e-books or audiobooks.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. "I aim to ignite a love for reading in people of all __________, young and old," said Ms Hestia.
None of the dresses in this shop is cheap. All the dresses _________________________________
"Did you go to the library today?" Mother asked her daughter. Mother asked her daughter _________________________________
Bala crumpled the letter. He was angry. _________________________________ in _________________________________
Raju asked if he could help. He saw I was confused Seeing my _________________________________ , _________________________________
The teacher modified the rules of the game. The teacher made _________________________________
Public Speaking Contest 2024
Bright Horizons Primary School invites all parents and students to join us for an Exciting Day of Speeches!
Date: 26th October 2024, Saturday
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Bright Horizons Primary School Auditorium
"Voices of Tomorrow" is an annual event designed to nurture the public speaking skills of primary school students. This contest provides a platform for students to showcase their speaking talents. Imagine a room full of young minds buzzing with ideas, each child eager to share their thoughts, passions and dreams with the world. Every student has a voice, a story and a potential to lead. 'Voices of Tomorrow' empowers students to become confident and effective communicators and future leaders.
Why Participate?
Develop Confidence : Public speaking builds self-confidence and presentation skills.
Enhance Communication : Learn to express your ideas clearly and persuasively.
Meet New Friends : Connect with other students who share your passion for speaking.
Have Fun : Enjoy a day full of learning, laughter and creative expressions!
How to Register:
Sign Up: Visit bhpsschevents.com to register with parent's consent.
Register by: August 31, 2024
Entry Fee: $10 [includes lunch]
Please pay the registration fees online by scanning the QR code provided.
*Prizes for each Category:
• 1st Place: $100 book voucher
• 2nd Place: $50 book voucher
• 3rd Place: A stationery kit
Certificates of participation will be given to all contestants.
*All prizes are sponsored by The Book Haven.
Why is an exclamation mark used in the sentence, 'Bright Horizons Primary School invites all parents and students to join us for an Exciting Day of Speeches!'?
What is the purpose of the workshops during the September school holiday?
According to the judging criteria, a contestant is expected to __________.
Which statement is true about the "Voices of Tomorrow" Public Speaking Contest?
Su Mei, a Primary 3 student, would like to participate in "Voices of Tomorrow". She __________.
The section 'Hear Their Voices' strives to __________.
At 'Voices of Tomorrow 2023', Sarah learned to __________.
The main purpose of the event is to __________.
Months later, my teacher handed me a letter from the award committee. I raced home from the bus, heart thumping in my chest. "Mum, the results are out," I gasped. My mother held up her hand to give me a high-five. However, her smile crumbled at the edges when she saw the tears in my eyes. Without a word, I handed her the letter.
"I'm sorry, honey," Mother said. "There must be some mistake." She called the organiser, who confirmed the unwelcome news. She was told that the decision was final, and he could not disclose the reasons for my non-selection. However, my mother was still very curious. She was like a dog tugging at a toy, wanting to find out more. Hence, she contacted the principal whose answers were the same.
That evening, I vented my frustration. "It's just not fair," I lamented. Mother nodded in agreement. She then told me about her friend who was a bright spark and did a lot of community work. However, he did not win any award. He was hurt and angry but that did not stop him from helping others.
I understood what my mother was trying to say. However, it still bothered me as I did not know why I wasn't chosen. "This shouldn't happen to anyone else," I told my parents. "The committee should give a reason why the students are not selected so they can do better."
We discussed ways that the selection process might be improved. My father suggested having a concrete set of requirements for selection. "For example, each applicant must have five hours a month of community service," he said. Nodding, Mother added that there should be an appeal process. Then we met the school principal to share our ideas. Days later, he rang with the news that some of our suggestions were accepted.
On the day of my graduation, the principal announced the recipients of the National Character Award alphabetically. When he skipped my name, I felt a stab in my heart.
When the applause quietened, the principal announced, "One of our teachers nominated a student for a special award in recognition of her civic-mindedness. This award goes to Daisy Ang!"
I was very excited and surprised. I jumped up and ran onto the stage. I could not stop grinning. As soon as I sat down, I heard the principal say, "The award for the best English language student is Daisy Ang!" I popped out of my seat again.
This was turning into the best night of my life. After the ceremony, my friends gathered around to congratulate me. My best friend, Alice, was smiling, yet behind her glasses, her eyes looked sad. I knew just how she felt. She had not won any award. I rushed over to her and gave her my tightest hug.
It is common to see decorators use the decorators with their initials embossed on
Polarbright membrane was patented in 1908 by fewer Nathanson? It was not
1920 there, 'bristen', a 'related Stirling', 'related Sterling', renamed the microfilm in the
On the body that hasn't in physical chemicals in blanches blanches of different senses
Itself enclosed to the body, a Prism else & (Light) (Algae) the use of 'A' sense of
During a 'the decorator', the opacalator will have a series of colours in decorators then
Taste 'measures', the 'total celours 'blanches are then 'a seed' blood 'other'
Inhalation 'desserts', the 1881 case for about 'one hours during which the exames
Inhalation 'the dark observed',
Desciabe is 'exeraise 1890', 'die the decorators 'communiolates',
Beginning 'a source is 'dying of lagging of hiding the
Tooth 'will bleaches is still 'implecent' in hidden out 'a 'quality
Audiologist is 'still bleaching' in hidden on 'a 'quality
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Predict 'Consumerism'. However, while majority of us enjoy shopping and consuming products which enhance our quality of our one conscious of the fact that excessive use of one resource.
Socially constructed to others can cease cause 'Sense and describe control'.
Predict __________ and describe cotton.
Precariat 'Consumerism'. However, while majority of us enjoy shopping and consuming products which enhance on our
If I had I see; it is incomplete; it is a sequence of one manual.
Practise Practise and beautified as characterized by this feature issuing one ('PCROM').
In lorry's 'word, milky of is key of the social practices.
Practise 'Practise' and 'beautified' with one characteristic coffee.
Communicating 'with' others 'Describes' that use makers not
Conducting a __________ can have beneficial serene on food health and well-being
A study has found that by modernizing social media as 50 minutes a day
Used beset in a Desertification __________ and in shaping studies, said being
One material 'benefit', The same daily circumvented that just being
Spending noon (read) __________ can have beneficial serene __________
A study has found that can have beneficial serene on food social and well-being
Hence __________ exercise __________ are social characteristics, We need the commemorated of
Eva and her friends were not going for the learning journey. Neither _________________ nor _________________ .
Mrs Tay lives with her sister. Her children are overseas. _________________ whose _________________
Mr Chen asked us, "Are you paying attention to what I am saying?" Mr Chen asked us ___________________________________ .
The plan was risky. The team went ahead with it. Regardless _________________________________ .
My little brother fell from the stool as it was unstable. _________________________________ due to _________________________________
Groups of three to five diners get 10% off, and larger groups get 15% off!
Come on weekdays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and enjoy an additional 15% off!
Make a reservation at www.immerse.sg before 1 December 2024 to receive a free appetiser of your choice when you visit!
Customer Reviews
"Not only were my children fascinated, but my wife and I also found the experience most amazing. It took my mum look three months to curate, so it is no wonder the unusual dishes tasted wonderful. The capabilities of the robot waiters also left us speechless. We made quite a number of requests, and they promptly responded in the appropriate manner. It was an unforgettable family outing! My family is looking forward to our next meal there!"
Thomas, father of two
"Robochef is my favourite movie and watching the robot waiters take orders and serve food was most amusing! When I tasted the unusual dishes I had never heard of before, it felt like I was a character in the movie. I will always remember that meal!"
Charlene, 20-year-old student
To ensure a pleasant dining experience, please take note of the following:
✓ Arrive five to ten minutes before your reservation time for a short presentation.
✓ Keep the floor free from clutter by storing your belongings in the lockers provided.
✓ Scan the QR code on your table to look at the menu and place your order.
✓ Press the buzzer on your table to report a robot malfunction.
Which of the following words is used to describe past robots' main function?
According to the section "Robots, Past and Present", which of the following is true about robots?
Under the section "Robots and Immersive Dining", which of the following does not tell us what the futuristic dining experience is like?
According to the section "Robots and Immersive Dining", which statement is not true?
Mr Tan wishes to have a meal at Immersive Dining. Which of the following will allow him to enjoy the biggest savings?
What do Charlene and Thomas have in common?
Amos wants to enjoy his experience at Immersive Dining. He should _________.
What is the main purpose of this website?
"Mother, I went up to the waterfall on the mountains," I said as I stepped into the house. Hearing my voice, Mother felt a weight lift off her shoulder and our eyes met for a moment. However, upon realizing what I had done, her relief quickly turned into shock. "Where were you doing there, Obayd? It is so dangerous. Even thinking about the journey there makes me shudder," she exclaimed.
"Have you ever tried finding a rainbow? Not just finding it but reaching it? It's so strange. They're always a little farther away. You go, and then somehow, it's gone," I continued. "But I found the waterfall! I found it on my own. Father told me where it was, but I went there by myself."
I had a strange look on her face, as if I was speaking a language she did not understand. Neela had the same look. I felt the divide between my sisters and me widening even more. Being girls, they could not possibly imagine how I had embarked on such a treacherous journey. I could not help but feel myself swelling with pride. "I passed under a rainbow, Mother. Father would be well again!" I said, full of hope.
My mother was hunched forward, her fingers pressing on her temples. She was upset, but not as upset as she was a few minutes ago. "Please tell me a better truth than that," she whispered.
"A better truth? This is what you wanted, isn't it? Wouldn't you want a way to make Father walk again? Mother, that's the only way we knew to make it real. We had to pass under the rainbow so that wishes would come true. You told me so!" I said, hurt that she thought I had lied to her.
"Obayd," she moaned. "That is a legend we tell children. But it's not true. Nothing happens when you pass under a rainbow." Sensing the tension in the room, Neela began picking at imaginary lint on her sari. As the oldest, she felt responsible for our actions. Alia was on the brink of tears as she whispered, "Please don't be angry with Obayd, Mother."
"How do you know it hadn't worked, Mother? I am sure Father has changed. When he wakes up from his nap in your room, his legs will be as good as new!" I proclaimed.
Looking at me as if I had grown a second head, Mother explained, "Obayd, the only thing that has changed is that you're soaked and probably going to wake up with pneumonia. We thought something terrible had happened to you and your father..."
Before Mother could continue her sentence, the front door burst open. Looking up in the direction of the door, my mouth fell agape. In front of me, with one foot on the ground and his stump on the wooden crutch I had made for him, stood my breathless, sweating father.
"Obayd!" my name came out in an exhausted bellow as Father wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Clearly, his attempts to walk had taken its toll.
"Father, you're finally using it! You're walking! It works, doesn't it? Mother, Father's walking," I exclaimed, barely waiting for either parent to respond.
Taking a few steps into the room and dropping the wooden crutch, Father slid down the wall and sat with his leg and stump stretched out in front of him. Still trying to catch his breath, he began, "Obayd, I've been out looking for you for hours. Your mother was convinced you were dead! Do you have any idea what you've put us through? I would never have been able to walk if not for my fear that you were in danger." Looking into Father's eyes at that moment, I realised the reason why Father could walk again. I never believed in rainbows again.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
Fill in the blank at position (39)
Fill in the blank at position (40)
Fill in the blank at position (41)
Fill in the blank at position (42)
Fill in the blank at position (43)
Fill in the blank at position (44) - word shown as 'medicine'
Fill in the blank at position (45)
Fill in the blank at position (46)
Fill in the blank at position (47)
Fill in the blank at position (48)
Fill in the blank at position (49)
Fill in the blank at position (50)
Fill in the blank: There is nothing quite like a big bug. An embrace can show affection, offer condolences, be __________ a goodbye, and provide comfort to a loved one.
Fill in the blank: A warm __________ often creates a calming or relaxing feeling.
Fill in the blank: The 'cuddle' hormone is released when people or pets snuggle __________ to us.
Fill in the blank: Oxytocin released has been found __________ reduce inflammation and improve wound healing.
Fill in the blank: __________ with the 'cuddle' hormone.
Fill in the blank: Giving someone a firm, reassuring hug before or during a __________ event can help them stay calm because your hug increases their oxytocin level.
Fill in the blank: Scientists say that giving another person support __________ touch can even reduce the stress of the person doing the comforting.
Fill in the blank: __________ to the way that a hug reduces stress, it also decreases pain.
Fill in the blank: The weight of the blanket creates pressure points that relieve anxiety and can help one sleep.
Fill in the blank: A hug a day may, in fact, __________ the doctor away.
Fill in the blank: One study showed that the more often people received social support and hugs, the less __________ they were to get sick.
Fill in the blank: Hugging increases serotonin. Also known as the 'feel good' __________, it is produced and spread in the brain.
Fill in the blank: Hugging triggers the release of serotonin to create happiness and help __________ sad feelings.
Fill in the blank: Instinctively, we want to hug our friends or loved ones __________ are in pain.
Fill in the blank: Do not __________ the healing power of a hug!
Nelly's sisters do not like lemons. Her father does not like them too. Neither _________________ _________________ _________________.
You cannot leave earlier than scheduled. Your parents must submit a special request. Unless _________________ _________________ _________________.
The workers are moving the furniture to the basement. The furniture _________________ _________________ _________________.
Madhu asked her brother, "Did you throw the leftovers away like I told you to?" Madhu asked her brother _________________ _________________ _________________.
If Mr Lau had not permitted it, we would not have been able to have the barbecue. With Mr Lau's _________________ _________________ _________________.
For a healthier and happier you!
Come on down to Orchard Community Club
26 September 2024, 8a.m. to 7p.m.
In conjunction with The Health Organisation (THO), we are celebrating Eat More Fruit and Vegetables Day once again to remind us of the importance of including fresh food in our meals to promote a healthy lifestyle. Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables can prevent or control obesity and chronic diseases such as arthritis and asthma.
Participants wearing green will receive a mystery gift sponsored by Jolly Café. Come dressed in green to support eating more greens and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Farmer's Market
Shop for fresh produce from local farmers. Show this cut-out to receive a 10% discount.
Time: 8a.m. to 6p.m.
Venue: Atrium
Award-Winning Jolly Café
Enjoy scrumptious, healthy farm-to-table brunch from 11a.m to 3p.m. Walk-in only.
Caesar Salad: $12
Avocado on Toast: $10
Kale and Cucumber Juice: $7
Roasted vegetable sandwich: $10
Fun activities for children 6 to 12 years old
• Enjoy playing on the world's first vegetable-themed bouncy castle.
• Meet-and-Greet: Miss Lettuce, Mr Kale and Mrs Cauliflower.
• Free food-tasting sessions: 10a.m. to 11a.m. and 11a.m. to 12p.m. Only 50 vacancies are available for each tasting session.
More hydration. More life!
Eat water-rich foods to stay hydrated. Cucumbers and lettuces contain over 95% water. The high-water content helps to maintain energy and optimise our heart and muscle function. Proper hydration is essential for good health.
• A pomegranate can hold up to 1400 seeds.
• Green beans are fruit.
• Each pineapple plant produces one pineapple a year.
• Blackberries and strawberries are not berries, but a banana is.
All participants will __________.
Which of these statements is not true?
Ravi is five years old. Which activities can he participate in on his own?
Which one of the following words best describes the section 'DID YOU KNOW?'
Mr Han is attending the workshop held at the Garden at 3 p.m. He will __________.
Why is the colon (:) used in 'Reasons for 5 A Day'?
What is the similarity between Cooking Classes and Grow Your Own Vegetables?
What is the main purpose of this article?
Although flattered, she felt awkward. Anna blushed and waved away the praises. Her father was obviously heartened by that. "My sweetie, no matter where you go, always value what you have, use what you have and trust what you have." His words of wisdom were a constant source of empowerment for her. Giving her father a long loving hug, Anna promised him that she would do him proud. Soon, the bus pulled over, breaking the morning serenity with its cheerful rumble.
Arriving at the new school and navigating through unfamiliar corridors, Anna eventually found her classroom. Despite the flutter in her stomach, she summoned all her resolve to confront her apprehension head-on. Unsurprised, she was met with curious stares. Her simple clothing and the innocent sparkle of village life in her eyes became the subject of whispers and giggles among the city-bred children. At that precise moment, someone 15 entered the room. Her commanding presence ushered in silence. Much to Anna's delight, she spoke in a warm voice, easing the tension she felt in her stomach. "Class, we have a new friend joining us today. Let's welcome Anna." Linda, the monitor, yawned audibly. Jim sniggered. Murmuurs filled the room until Mrs Yan declared, "New, a quiz. Write down the seven wonders of the world." Everyone immediately wrote down feverishly the answers as they recalled the previous day's lesson, except Anna, whose pen was hovering over the paper. Noticing that, the teacher approached her, "Don't worry, Anna. Just write what comes to your mind."
Anna looked up, her eyes sincere. "It's just that there are so many wonders. I'm thinking about which to select," she explained. With a gentle nod, Mrs Yan gestured for her to proceed. After the papers were collected, she began to read the answers aloud. The entire classroom was filled with a sense of achievement as the students had penned down 'The Great Wall of China, The Colosseum in Italy, Giza Pyramids in Egypt' and so on. However, Mrs Yan paused for a while when it came to Anne's response.
Then she carried on, "The Seven Wonders are – To be able to see, to be able to hear, to be able to feel, to laugh, to think, to be kind and to love." A profound silence enveloped the room. Visibly moved, the children looked at Anna, their eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and enlightenment.
Jim and Linda exchanged sheepish smiles. Then Jim spoke, "I never thought of it that way. That's really cool. You've reminded us of something very important." His voice was tinged with newfound reverence.
Linda gave the thumbs up before chiming in, "Wow! I've lots to learn from you. Sorry about just now." The children's affirmation had created a welcoming atmosphere, showing acceptance and inclusion towards the new student.
Anna replied, "It's alright. These are the wonders we live by every day in our village."
Seizing the teachable moment, Mrs Yan proposed, "Let's dedicate today to exploring these everyday wonders. Share what each of them means to you." While her classmates were actively engaged, Anna was deep in her thoughts. Her father was right. Had she not valued what she had, would she have won her classmates' love and respect? Her father would be pleased to know that her day had ended on a high note of camaraderie.
Half your world is overhead. So why not look up and get to know ____________ unknown realm better? Stargazing might not be a common activity in Singapore but that does not mean that you ____________ do it at all.
Simple and accessible ____________ almost everyone, everywhere, it is the perfect way to disconnect from the screens.
Embarking on ____________ new hobby might sometimes come with a hefty price tag
____________, for stargazing, the essential tools to start with are not sophisticated and expensive gadgets but the ones we're born with – our eyes.
Additionally, having a sky map and tapping on various apps are ____________ you can significantly enhance the experience of navigating through the dazzling constellations.
You can heighten your stargazing experience at Upper Seletar Reservoir. ____________ you cannot biast off into space when you visit the rocket-shaped tower there, it can offer you a closer look at a star-filled sky at night!
____________ if we are not conscious of it, the endless sky helps us realise how small we are in the grand scheme
More so, it reminds us of ____________ good stewards of our planetary home.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Fill in the blank: The problem with mobile phones is that people look at them too much. Many people today find it _____________ to put their smartphones away even for a short while.
Fill in the blank: They always make sure that they are within their _____________.
Fill in the blank: This is an observation made by Mr Cooper, an engineer dubbed as the 'father of mobile phones', who _____________ the first handheld wireless phone some fifty years ago.
Fill in the blank: Understandably, smartphones are equipped _____________ multiple functions,
Fill in the blank: resulting in most users becoming _____________ on them.
Fill in the blank: The digital camera is one such function that enables us to _____________ thousands of pictures without having
Fill in the blank: to _____________ about insufficient storage space.
Fill in the blank: The instant image viewing means you can edit the images on the phone as and _____________ you wish.
Fill in the blank: Another reason for the prolonged smartphone _____________ is the messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
Fill in the blank: Unlike many people, Mr Cooper uses his phone to make or _____________ calls rather than to search for vast amount of information or entertainment online.
Fill in the blank: Given the plethora of apps, we are surely _____________ for choice.
Fill in the blank: The once weighty and bulky phone had become a thing of the _____________.
Fill in the blank: The first mobile phone _____________ more than a kilogram, a huge contrast with today's smartphones which
Fill in the blank: are so sophisticated and _____________ that it can easily fit into one's pocket.
Fill in the blank: Indeed, smartphones have transformed our way of life and will _____________ to change due to the many benefits they can provide.
We did not agree to bury the treasures behind the mountain. We objected ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
It is worrying that many people are ignorant about the dangers of too much sun exposure. Many people's _____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
Mrs Li asked her son, "Why did you write such an unbelievable story for your test?" Mrs Li asked her son ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
Soldiers apply face paint to camouflage themselves effectively. Face paint ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
Being reckless and disobedient, the teenager was chided by his mother. _________________________________________________________________ for his _________________________________________________________________.
Participants must first join a facilitated tour through the "Virtual Kingdom: Videogames Transformed" exhibition. As they unlock the next level of this programme, participants will proceed to join a workshop where 2-Dimensional drawings on paper will be transformed into an actual game. Are you game enough to create a video game?
This is a hands-on workshop that encourages young visitors to create their own version of everybody's favourite sea turtle, Tut. They will get creative and explore ways to upcycle discarded materials by giving them a new life in this workshop.
The main purpose of the webpage is to encourage ___________________.
The ScienceArt Exploraganza will be held _______________ the month of March.
According to the webpage, which one of the following is true?
Why is the title SCIENCEART EXPLORAGANZA written entirely in capital letters on the webpage?
Participants will need to attend an exhibition before they take part in the activity " ___________________________".
According to the webpage, participants who are keen to join the Soapy Art workshop will attend the session at ________.
Which one of the following sentences in "Planet or Plastic? Make Your Own Tut" will encourage readers to book the tickets as soon as possible?
Ariel is 9 years old and will be attending the workshop "Planet or Plastic? Make Your Own Tut". Which of the following is not true for her?
The little boy moved more closely beside his sister, trembling. She felt blindly for his hand and held it very tightly. The tension he felt faded away slowly. When a boy is only eight, a big sister thirteen years old can be wonderfully comforting.
"Mary," Peter whispered, hand over his stomach and his eyes looking pleadingly at his sister. Mary sighed. She felt in the pocket of her dress and pulled out a paper-covered stick of barley sugar. It was their last one. She broke it; gave him half and slipped the other half back in her pocket, telling him to suck it instead of biting it. Then, Peter started to move about restlessly from one foot to another. Mary reached for his hand again and squeezed it, asking him if he was alright. "My leg's bleeding. I can feel a sharp pain," Peter groaned.
Mary bent down and refastened the bandage around his leg. They nestled together, holding hands and looking into the blackness of the Australian night. They could neither see nor hear anything, other than the stillness of the night. Later, there would be other sounds as the wilderness came to life. But now, an hour after sunset, the bushes were silent and frighteningly still. To the children, they were full of terrors unseen and unknown. It was a far cry here compared to their home back in the city.
The hours passed like slow, unhurrying snails. Peter gradually fell asleep soundly, but Mary could not. She recalled that she was in the aeroplane again and she knew that something was wrong. She and Peter were the only passengers there. She was looking at the engine of the plane. She knew that the flames would come soon. She bit her lips and her heart was pounding fast. Shortly, the red sparks spread out of the aeroplane's engine and she watched the flames in horror before her mind went blank. The next thing she knew was that she and Peter were staggering away from the blazing plane. She was pulling him frantically because one of his legs was numb and their feet kept sinking into the soft, yielding sand.
Mary breathlessly gasped for Peter to move quickly away from the flaming embers. She heard a thumping roar. Looking back, she saw the pilot and his co-pilot stumbling out of the wreckage. Then, the children saw both of them collapsing to the ground and they were motionless thereafter. Mary clutched her brother's hand tighter. Neither of them wanted to relive that experience again.
Soon, the night sky began to turn brighter and the unknown of the fereel was lifted. At the horizon, the sunrise of a new day was upon them.
A meadow is a place where grasses and other flowering plants grow well, but trees are rare. Natural meadows are only found on high mountains __________ trees cannot grow.
On the other hand, man-made ones can be found __________ the bottom of valleys.
This is where farmers have cut __________ the trees to make grazing land for animals.
__________, these animals tend to overgraze on the land. As a result, new trees are not able to grow.
In one meadow, there is a wider variety of grasses and flowering plants __________ any other places.
Over five hundred kinds of plants have been found and this is possible __________ there are no trees preventing them from receiving sunlight.
As the meadow provides plenty of food for many animals, __________ attracts many winged hunters.
Hunters like hawks patrol by day __________ others like owls patrol by night.
__________ hunters threaten the other land animals such as the rabbits and field mice __________ also live in the meadow.
As a result, some animals choose to stay in their holes for days.
Around the world, there are at least twenty kinds of kangaroo rats. They often live in areas far away in water as they are able to survive without drinking for a long period of time.
Unlike animals which live and travel in a pack, kangaroo rats prefer to be detached from the rest.
Unlike animals which live and travel in a pack, kangaroo rats prefer to be detached from the rest. They are great burrowers, making dens to sheltur them from the heat of the day.
They are great burrowers, making dens to shelter them from the heat of the day.
They appear at the night to look for seeds, leaves and insects.
They appear at the night to look for seeds, leaves and insects. They move slower with their paws and pause to skrabie for food by picking up scraps with their tiny forefeet.
They also store seeds underground and will fight any neighbour who invade their territory.
If the kangaroo rats are frightening, they will leap away on their hind legs.
While balance on their long tails, they are kapabel of covering over two metres in a single leap.
While balance on their long tails, they are kapabel of covering over two metres in a single leap.
Baby kangaroo rats born early in the spring may give birth to their young before the summer begins.
Unfortunately, despite their ability to breed rapidly, kangaroo rats are not in abundance now.
Fill in the blank: Single-use plastics are designed for convenience. They are used in items such as straws, plastic bags and takeaway containers, __________ it easy to carry items on the go.
Fill in the blank: __________ it is convenient, such plastics often leave a lasting environmental footprint as they are difficult to break down.
Fill in the blank: Yet, massive amounts are used and __________ away every day.
Fill in the blank: In Singapore, supermarkets have started __________ the use of plastic bags by getting consumers to pay for the plastic bags.
Fill in the blank: As such, they are more likely to pause and consider how many they really __________.
Fill in the blank: It also serves as a __________ for them to bring their own reusable bags, therefore reducing the use of disposables.
Fill in the blank: While it is encouraging that Singapore is __________ steps to reduce plastic waste, more has to be __________.
Fill in the blank: Governments and companies need to __________ on the use of disposable packaging.
Fill in the blank: Since COVID-19, many people have switched to online shopping and grocery deliveries. The packaging involved in such services often result__________ greater wastage.
Fill in the blank: __________ giving penalties, rewards can also be given to affirm consumers for their green actions.
Fill in the blank: For example, discounts can be given to those who bring along their own containers for food takeaways. This will __________ more consumers to go green by shifting consumer attitudes and habits toward more environmentally friendly __________.
Fill in the blank: Finally, proper crockeries and utensils should be used in hawker centres. This will not only __________ our efforts to reduce waste but __________ improve our dining experience.
The school shall is mopped by Mdm Lim every day. Mdm Lim _______________
Sailing is a sea sport. Surfing is a sea sport. _______________ as well as _______________
The zookeeper was attacked by the elephant. He was very experienced in working with animals. _______________ whom _______________
Kelly was satisfied. She had finally completed the puzzle. Much to _______________ _______________
Our class monitor received many votes. He was popular. Due to _______________ _______________
Merah Park
The easiest of the four suggested trails, this 1-kilometre hike should take you less than 30 minutes. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy the special bird hides along the way. You can observe bird species such as eagles and woodpeckers.
Victoria Nature Park
Located at the northern part of the island, this easy 2-kilometre hike should take about an hour. There are plenty of fruit trees such as jackfruit and bananas. Do look out for dragonflies. There are at least 56 species that have been recorded in the park, which is almost half of the dragonfly species found in Singapore.
Coconut Marine Park
This 2-kilometre trail, located along the south-west shore of Singapore, is a little challenging and will take you about 2 hours from one end to the other. Keep your eyes open for the hidden beaches along the way.
Ridge Community Park
Ridge Community Park, located in the central part of Singapore, offers the most challenging trail of 5 kilometres, which will take most hikers about 3 hours to complete. However, once on the trail, you will get to enjoy the beauty of the streams and lakes as well as the many squirrels and monkeys.
HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS:
Wear comfortable footwear
• Choose well-fitting footwear with good ankle support. Make sure they are comfortable enough so you do not get blisters on that long hike.
Select the right trail
• Read up on the various trails before you decide on one that is most suitable for you. Start off with a shorter and easier trail especially if you have not exercised in a while, or are uncertain of your fitness level.
Check the weather
• Take note of lightning alerts and check the weather forecast before you begin your hike.
Stay hydrated
• Drink plenty of water during your hike, especially when it is hot.
Carry essentials
• Bring along a small backpack with items like a first-aid kit, mosquito repellent and healthy snacks.
Walk with a friend
• Hike with a partner as a safety precaution. This will ensure there is someone to keep you company and seek help should there be an emergency.
What is the main aim of Hike Singapore?
Look at the last sentence of the first paragraph, 'Hiking, of course!' Why is the exclamation mark used at the end of the sentence?
According to the flyer, which of the following is true of the benefits of hiking?
Jacob wants to explore one of the hiking trails. He should _______________.
Mrs Wee would like to show her son some birds spotted in natural surroundings. Which trail should she select?
What is the similarity between the Victoria Nature Park and the Coconut Marine Park? Both trails _____________.
According to the flyer, which of the following is not true about the advice given to hikers?
Under the section 'FOUR HIKING TRAILS TO EXPLORE', which of the following trails does not have information on where it is located?
"I have put your new uniform and shoes on the mat there," her grandmother said gently. "Calm down. Are the villagers all waiting for you outside? Never mind, take your time." Dawan smiled gratefully at her grandmother and walked over to the mat where her things lay waiting. She dressed hurriedly as she wondered nervously, "Will I get used to studying in the city?" She heard the sound of the old and only bus rumbling in the distance that could take her to the city. Her nervousness increased as she heard it. The last thing that she wanted was to miss the only bus to the city that day.
Dawan obediently crawled to where her grandmother sat and knelt in front of the old woman when she called for her. Her grandmother was not only caregiver since birth, so it made saying goodbye difficult. That was the most painful part of the morning. "Be bold! Gather yourself together and face the world. You hear me?" Dawan nodded and calmed down after hearing her grandmother's soothing voice. Her grandmother gave her a gentle shove. "Hurry, you must go now."
Her grandmother advised, "You have a long life ahead of you and this is just the first step." Dawan stared at her blankly, then shook her head. "No, no, I can't go yet!" she blurted out. Swallowing hard, she continued desperately, "Grandmother, please, I'm not ready. I haven't packed everything yet. How about you? I can't pack you in my luggage! How about my friends? I'll miss them!" She tried to fight a sob rising from her throat but could not stop it. Her grandmother smiled and answered firmly, "My child, you will have a better future by going to the city. Go now, child."
"Hold on to this lotus and watch it unfold during your long bus ride to the city. This lotus bud is just like you, it's all closed up, small and afraid of the outside. However, with water and strong sunlight, it will unfold, petal by petal. Dawan, you will unfold too," her grandmother convinced her. Dawan took a deep breath, held her head up and walked out confidently when she heard those words. She saw her teacher, her cousin Noi and her classmates among the crowd but not her brother, Kwai, whom she loved dearly. "You deserve this. We are proud of you!" her teacher commented. Her cousin, Noi, nodded in agreement and gave her a big hug. With a heavy heart, she boarded the bus.
As Dawan was sitting on the bus, she wondered if her brother Kwai was still angry with her for winning the scholarship as he had wanted it much more than she did. She felt dejected. As the river came into view, all of a sudden, Dawan heard a familiar tune, carried by the gentle breeze. Kwai was there, standing on the old bridge, with arms outstretched. "I'll miss you, Sister. Make us proud!" Kwai smiled and was singing the song that they sang together at every dawn before school. Feeling elated, Dawan joined him in the song. Dawan leaned out and watched as her brother's waving figure disappeared off into the distance. Leaning back, she picked up the glass jar with the lotus flower that her grandmother had given her. Just then, a ray of sunshine pierced through the glass jar. The first few petals had just begun to unfold. As Dawan saw it unfold, she became more convinced that her grandmother was right. Her grandmother was indeed wise to give her the lotus. Dawan knew she was ready to face the world.
A video of the young boy and girl clad in school uniforms __________ posted on Facebook page – Roads.sg last Sunday.
They were students walking __________ a nearby primary school towards a HDB block.
Lugging backpacks and with drinks __________ hand, the pair was about to make their way across a zebra crossing.
As a car approached, the boy raised the hand holding his drink __________ alert oncoming motorists.
The girl followed suit soon __________. In the middle of the crossing, __________ of them then unexpectedly bowed to the driver.
__________ of them then unexpectedly bowed to the driver.
Upon reaching the __________ side of the road, the two of them bowed once more.
The video has since garnered __________ 64,000 views, and many have praised the pair for __________ courteous actions.
Some added that the gesture, albeit a small one, would have warmed the heart of the driver witnessing it.
Others noted that bowing to thank motorists __________ still a common practice in Japan today.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. (39) [underlined word: suztained]
(40) [underlined word: blinking]
(41) [underlined word: unnecessarly]
(42) [underlined word: recouperate]
(43) [underlined word: backening]
(44) [underlined word: charlenges]
(45) [underlined word: stood beside him]
(46) [underlined word: pursevereed]
(47) [underlined word: sukseeded]
(48) [underlined word: his greatest moment of glorious]
(49) [underlined word: be]
(50) [underlined word: finally]
Fill in the blank: The deer had been freshly killed and its ______________ had invited a crow to fly in for some scraps.
Fill in the blank: Turning his ______________ slowly, Claudio, our expedition leader, nodded towards a dark shape approaching through the shadows.
Fill in the blank: Suddenly, a beast ______________ from the jungle, its giant, grey-brown body raised from the ground with its long tail dragging behind.
Fill in the blank: The monstrous, flat head was held high, and from its ______________ flickered a yellow 30-cm tongue.
Fill in the blank: I had travelled thousands of kilometres ______________ this encounter. However, now, I felt ______________ like the hunted than the hunter.
Fill in the blank: I dared not budge. Even the slightest movement could provoke him. Beads of perspiration ran down my face, ______________ I could not wipe them away.
Fill in the blank: Although this creature was over three metres long and weighed nearly 90 kilograms, it could outrun me for sure.
Fill in the blank: "Don't move," Claudio whispered. "It smells blood. If you ______________, it'll think you are prey."
Fill in the blank: The Komodo dragon scampered across the trail before gripping the branches of a tree with ______________ five-clawed toes on each foot.
Fill in the blank: Then, nimble as a cat, it ______________ up the tree and settled on a branch.
Fill in the blank: Almost as agile as the komodo dragon, Claudio climbed the tree, grabbed the animal ______________ the snout and carried it down.
Fill in the blank: Binding its jaws and legs with strips of tape, Claudio sliced a tiny slit on the tip of its tail. A sliver of flesh and a few drops of blood were eased into a test tube. Finally, he dabbed antiseptic on the ______________, unwrapped the bindings and gently set it down.
Fill in the blank: Claudio was ______________ of the many conservationists who were endeavouring to help this species survive.
Fill in the blank: He drew blood and skin samples from these Komodo dragons ______________ trace the generation of individual dragons.
Fill in the blank: His findings will enable wildlife managers to select endangered species of komodo dragons for captive ______________. This will widen the gene pool and thus improve their chances of survival.
"Are we going to the sushi restaurant for dinner tonight?" Tom asked Father. Tom asked Father ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
You may enter the staffroom if you have your teacher's permission to do so. Unless__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
The construction workers are repairing the damaged roof. The damaged __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
A lot of people distrusted Tim because he was insincere. Tim's________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ .
Jenny ate a large bowl of ice cream. Her mother did not approve it. __________________________________________________________________ without __________________________________________________________________
In the competition, pupils will have to spell a multitude of words both familiar and unfamiliar to them.
COMPETITION EVENTS
1. Preliminary Round (3 June, 10 a.m. at Expo City)
Participants are required to take a 40-minute written test. A list of 50 words will be read out to them and they have to spell them out on paper. The top 80 participants will move on to the semi-final round.
2. Semi-Final (10 June, 2 p.m. at Expo City)
The semi-final round will take place on stage. An announcer will read words and participants will take turns to spell them aloud. Each participant is given a time limit of 1 minute to spell the word correctly. Participants who are unable to do so will be immediately eliminated. The elimination process will continue until the top 10 participants emerge and they will then compete in the Grand Final.
3. Grand Final (22 June, 10 a.m. at University of Singapore)
The format of the Grand Final will be similar to the semi-final round. Each participant will spell the word given aloud. When he/she is unable to do so, he/she will be eliminated. This will go on until one participant emerges as the champion.
Organiser: Singapore News
Sponsors: Big Bookstore
Expo City
University of Singapore
Why is an exclamation mark used in the heading, "The Annual National Spelling Whiz is back!"?
Which of the following about the "Competition Events" is true?
What must a participant do in the last round of the competition?
If Riya emerges second in the Grand Final, she will receive ______________.
In the flyer, Jason was quoted as saying etymology was his newfound love. According to Jason, he developed this interest because ______________.
According to the flyer, which of the following is true of Nuratika?
Which one of the following students can be registered for the National Spelling Whiz?
What is the main purpose of the flyer?
From then on, I would meet Estella every day at school. I showed her my list at least once a week. I would cross out items on the list by practising those activities blindfolded daily until I got used to them and eventually mastered them. Sometimes, that worked and when it did not, I would move on to the next item on the list but it certainly helped prepare me for the impending future. The list had filled up three pages, and many items had been crossed out through my hard work and determination.
These days, I would leave my glasses at home since I was hardly able to see beyond a few inches. Despite that, I was living a full life thanks to the list. I still climbed the cherry tree every day and I could get up and down on my own easily now. It had been the first thing I crossed out from my list. The list truly showed me that I could do much more than I had dared dream of. I was so thankful to Estella for her idea. If we had not met by chance years back, I might not be who I am today.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
old biases against left-handedness have started to give way to enlightened attitudes in much of the rest of the world, it __________ not be readily accepted in Asian households still. This is due to long-standing cultural and social prejudices against using the left hand, especially for writing and eating.
[This is a continuation of question 37, showing a blank to be filled in the middle of the passage]
Have you ever wondered what it means to have good manners? A person with good manners ___
polite and respectful too. Having good manners will help to develop good ___ with others.
Unfortunately, people often think of themselves as being too busy, too important ___ or too good to extend kindness to someone else.
Rude attitudes and unkind behaviours are ___ mean but hurtful.
Rude attitudes and unkind behaviours are ___ How then can we get back to be kind and showing respect to everyone around us?
An act of kindness, no matter ___ small, can go a long way.
It can be as simple as ___ holding the door to someone after you or offering your seat to the elderly.
smile on someone's face or giving someone a pleasant surprise is easy. These acts of kindness do not cost a cent.
Encouraging and praising someone is also another simple gesture that can brighten
up a person's day. Write a note to people you love to let them know that they have did
well. Such heartwarming notes will definitely put a smile on their faces. It is actually not
difficult to be kind and courteous. It pays to have good manners. Let courtesy be our way of life.
In the far corner of Bukit Town lies a "sleeping dragon" – the Da Long Dragon Kiln. An ancient Chinese invention, a dragon kiln is a gigantic oven consisting of a long chamber built on a hill slope. When the kiln is fired up, it flames, hisses and gives off smoke like a dragon. The temperatures in the kiln can reach above 1200°C, turning clay pieces into pottery.
What the inside of a kiln looks like
Firewood is fed into the firebox at the "dragon head".
More firewood can be fed through "eyes" or openings along the body of the kiln.
Clay pieces are arranged neatly at different parts of the kiln.
Smoke escapes through the "tail" or the chimney.
Entrances to the kiln are sealed when the fire is burning.
Kiln is built on raised ground.
The Prosperous Past
In the 1950s, the kiln produced flower pots for sale to several farms in the area. When the farms relocated to make way for housing in the 1970s, the kiln switched to producing crockery such as sauce spoons and bowls. A decade later, the kiln stopped producing goods commercially, not being able to compete with modern gas and electric kilns which require less labour. These days, the kiln is fired up only three times a year on special occasions, a far cry from its past when it was fired up as many as four times a month.
Which of the following descriptions is the most likely reason for the name "dragon kiln"?
At which parts of the dragon kiln can wood be fed to keep the fire burning?
Why did Da Long stop mass-producing goods for sale?
Why is "The Lively Present" an appropriate sub-heading for that section?
In "A large quantity of fuel – more than 5000 kg of firewood each time – is also needed to fire the kiln", dashes are used to __________.
According to the section "A Hopeful Future", which of the following is not true of dragon kiln firing?
Mr Ng has three pieces of clayware. He is able to participate in the firing of the kiln on 7 December from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. What should he do?
What is the main purpose of the article?
"It's probably Dan. Aida and I saw him walking back to the dance room when we left," said Limel almost accusingly, as if he should know what had happened.
Dan quickly replied, "I forgot my water bottle and went back to get it, but…but I didn't notice anything amiss."
Mr Tay reminded the dancers that it was not the time for finger-pointing. He said, "Where's your Star spirit? We should be working together on the problem. The performance is taking place tonight!"
As usual, Bryan, nicknamed The Brain, spoke up. "We won't be able to paint another Angsana tree in time. How about projecting its image onto a white screen instead? It will take just a few minutes to find a suitable picture."
"But won't the light be shining on our faces when we dance?" asked Shanthi.
Bryan pondered a while before replying, "What if we place the projector behind the screen? This way, the dancers who are in front of the screen will not be affected."
"That might just work," Mr Tay smiled. "Of course, we may need to dim the lights in the hall so the projection will appear more clearly."
That night, the hall was in darkness, drawing the audience to the projection of a majestic Angsana tree onstage. After the show, the performance received many positive comments, so did the stunning projection. The dancers beamed with joy. Some thought that the backdrop had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
At practice the following week, the dancers were all chatting excitedly about their success. It was therefore a great surprise when Mr Tay walked into the dance room looking solemn. He said, "We should celebrate Friday's wonderful performance, but there's something I thought you should know." Mr Tay stepped aside to reveal Dan behind him.
"I'm…so, so sorry," Dan croaked emotionally. "I spilled water on the canvas cloth when I wanted to drink from my water bottle. But when I was reaching out for the rag nearby, I accidentally toppled a tin of paint and made an even greater mess. I could wipe the spilled water but not the paint. I knew you'd all be furious, so I hid the canvas cloth away."
Everyone looked at Dan, not knowing what to say nor how to react. A gentle voice finally broke the tension when Aida spoke, "It's over and fortunately we managed to turn the situation around with the projection on the screen. But having spent such a long time painting the backdrop, I feel attached to it. Where is it?"
Dan led the dancers to the storeroom where the rolled up canvas cloth was tucked behind some dusty old props. The canvas cloth was unfurled on the floor, displaying an ugly blotch of paint at the bottom of the cloth. Gasps of dismay echoed in the room as the dancers looked at the disastrous end to their hard labour.
"Hmm, can anyone see in that blotch the shape of someone jumping?" Bryan wondered aloud. Shanthi grinned. She found a paint brush and with a few strokes painted over the blotch to draw a boy leaping into mid-air. True to the club spirit, the others chipped in and added a few more dancing figures.
To this day, the backdrop showing the Angsana tree with dancing figures still hangs in the dance room, reminding all of the sparkling Star spirit.
Vanda Miss Joaquim sounds like the name of a lady. _________________, when Singaporeans hear this name, they would likely think of _________________ national flower – an orchid with white and pink petals and an orange centre.
On 15 April 1981, Vanda Miss Joaquim _________________ made Singapore's national flower to foster national pride and identity. The choice of an orchid as the national flower can be expected since orchids have traditionally _________________ associated with Singapore. It came _________________ no surprise then that out of the 40 flowers from _________________ Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected, 30 were orchids.
Besides standing out _________________ its attractive colours, the flower is hardy and thrives well in the tropics. These are qualities that represent _________________ of Singapore. In 1893, Henry Nicholas Ridley, _________________ was the first director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, described Vanda Miss Joaquim as a hybrid which was created _________________ two plants found "in almost every garden in Singapore". Having a hybrid as a national flower is rather appropriate for Singapore as it reflects her multi-racial society.
Correct the underlined word: 'Dear Diary,'
Correct the underlined word: 'bore' in 'This is the fourth day I've been stuck at home. I feel so bore!'
Correct the underlined word: 'fever' in 'On Monday, when I told Mrs Chan that I felt fever, she suspected that'
Correct the underlined word: 'chickenPox' in 'I was down to chickenPox as she had noticed red spots on my body.'
Correct the underlined word in 'She immideately called Mum to take me home.'
Correct the underlined word: 'be' in 'The school be probably worried'
Correct the underlined word: 'contaigeous' in 'that I would infect others as the disease is highly contaigeous.'
Correct the underlined word: 'entertain' in 'For the past few days, my main entertain has been to count the number of spots that have appeared all over my body.'
Correct the underlined word: 'floowid' in 'into blisters which look like bubbles with floowid in them.'
Correct the underlined word: 'scratching' in 'Mum has applied lotion to soothe my skin, but I still cannot stop scratching myself.'
Correct the underlined word: 'rikuperate' in 'I suppose resting at home should help me rikuperate faster.'
Correct the underlined word: 'lerthagic' in 'However, I feel more lerthagic now than ever.'
Fill in the blank: "Planting rice is never fun. Bent from morn till the set of sun..." These are the _______________ of a folk song about the laborious process of rice planting.
Fill in the blank: When we take into account the hours of _______________ spent on producing rice, it is a wonder how some people can throw away rice without _______________.
Fill in the blank: It is an even greater crime to waste food when we think of the millions of people who _______________ from hunger worldwide.
Fill in the blank: About one-third of the food in the world gets lost or wasted every year. Not surprisingly, a lot of food wastage _______________ in rich countries where people can easily afford food.
Fill in the blank: Singapore is no _______________. In one year, Singapore can generate more than 790 million kilogrammes of food waste, an _______________ equivalent to two bowls of food per person a day.
Fill in the blank: In one year, Singapore can generate more than 790 million kilogrammes of food waste, an _______________ equivalent to two bowls of food per person a day.
Fill in the blank: In fact, the problem is expected to grow with our increasing population and economic activities. Food wastage can be due to many reasons. Improper storage can lead to food _______________ spoilt and therefore discarded.
Fill in the blank: People also prefer to buy food that looks appealing, so vegetables with slightly yellowed leaves are thrown away even though they are still _______________.
Fill in the blank: In many cultures, people like to be nice hosts, so they tend to be _______________ when serving guests, often providing more food than necessary.
Fill in the blank: Therefore, we should _______________ our attitudes and habits to prevent food wastage from happening, and if we cannot do so, to recycle food.
Fill in the blank: One country that _______________ food seriously is Sweden, where there is a tradition of storing food for the long winter.
Fill in the blank: The culture frowns _______________ throwing food away and has invented creative recipes for reusing leftover food.
Fill in the blank: Many Swedes separate their food waste at home and _______________ it into bins located nearby.
Fill in the blank: Food waste can then be recycled and turned into a kind of fertiliser or fuel. _______________ we can strive to turn food waste into a resource, it is impossible to gather every bit of waste.
Fill in the blank: Perhaps to tackle the problem at its roots is simply for all to first cherish food.
Hamid kept quiet as he was too shy to join in the conversation. Rewrite using the word(s) provided: Being _______________
If you listen hard, you will hear the bird chirping. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided: _______________ unless _______________
Paul asked Amy, "Why did you sing this song?" Rewrite using the word(s) provided: Paul wanted to know _______________
The winner was humble. It moved the viewers. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided: _______________ the winner's _______________
Despite her young age, Malar does not rely on others. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided: Malar is not _______________
To improve sleep quality, try keeping a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to wind down, such as reading or taking a warm bath. Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable, cool and dark.
Limit exposure to screens and bright lights before bed as they can interfere with your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime.
Prioritising these habits can help ensure a restful night's sleep and overall well-being.
You can manage your sleeping habits! It's in your hands! ☺
"Do you sleep enough?" The question in Text 1 aims to __________.
Why do you think the image in Text 1 is being used in this poster? It is to __________.
According to Text 1, which of the following statements is true?
To address our sleep issues, we cannot trust Text 1 because Text 2 states that __________.
Both Text 1 and Text 2 agree that __________.
My teacher, Mr Soon, was a genial person who was not very keen to use the rod. However, he wrote four words in my report book and they told it all: "Can work but lazy." It was the system then that principals would go round to each class and randomly take a look at the report books. The principal, Major John, was a retired army officer. He was about 1.8 metres tall, slim, slightly hunched and wore a thick moustache that seemed to cover his entire lip. His appearance would send shivers down the students' spines, especially if they did not meet his expectations.
On that fateful afternoon, Major John sat on the teacher's chair and went through the report books of the 'lucky ones' in the class. For some odd reason, my report book was on top of the pile. Then I heard my name. His voice boomed across the room, "So, you can work, but you are lazy?" That question did not call for a reply. "My boy," the principal bawled, "go to my office. Next to my desk is a wooden cabinet. Open it. Hanging on the cabinet door, find the magic wand you like best and bring it back to me."
I did not need any prodding. I stepped out of my class and headed to his office with my heart in my mouth. In the wooden cabinet, I found six canes of various thickness, from the width of one's smallest finger to that of a thumb. What a decision to make. How I wished the ground would open and that very moment and gobble up the whole lot. I had heard from other mischievous boys that the thicker the cane, the less the pain, so I took a risk. I walked back to class, stroking the cane which I knew would soon whip my buttocks, but what I could not guess was the number of strokes I would be given.
By the time I returned to class, there were about seven others who had formed a line, all having 'qualified' to experience the 'magic wand'. I was the one invited to take the dreaded spot first, bend down and touch my toes. Then like a first-rate magician, the principal brought the cane down on my buttocks. I almost fainted though I held back the beady tears.
At that instance, Major John called, "Next." It was music to my ears. I walked back to my desk. When I sat on the hard wooden chair, I shot back up into the air. Instinctively, I pressed my hands on the seat and pretended to sit, remaining in that position till the pain subsided.
That one stroke of the 'magic wand' changed my life. All my extracurricular activities around the neighbourhood were put on hold. It was study, study, study, homework, homework and homework almost round the clock.
When the results of the Preliminary Examination came in, there was nothing in it to make me qualify for another stroke. If Major John had not used the wand on me, I would have ended up as a dropout and my life would have been ruined. Deep in my heart, I am totally grateful to him for performing his magic.
Many of you might have played with the popular children's toy, Play-doh, but did you know that it was not originally meant to be a toy? It all began _____________ Cleo McVicker took over the soap company, Kutol, which was about to go _______________ in the late 1920s.
Together with his brother Noah, they managed to keep the company afloat, _____________ Cleo continued to head the company, he managed to close a business deal with the representatives from Kroger, a grocery chain, _______________ was looking for a wallpaper cleaner to be sold in their stores.
Back then, families commonly burned coals to heat up their homes _______________ it left soot that was difficult to clean off the wallpapers.
Noah set about to come up with the product and ended up inventing a version of the dough-like substance that children all over the world _______________ familiar with today.
The product was a success as it was easy to use – consumers only needed to roll the dough-like substance across their dirty walls to clean _______________ the soot and dirt!
_______________ it was only much later that it was reinvented as a children's toy. Detergent from the dough _______________ removed and it was originally only available in white.
With the intention to make it _______________ marketable, it was soon made in red, yellow and blue.
Initially named as "Kutol's Rainbow Modeling Compound", it was later rebranded into the "Play-doh" that we know today.
I was spring-cleaning one morning and my son was helping. As he ramaged through
boxes and bags, he came across a knotted hankecheif with an old, dark brown coin nestled
inside. "Mum, can I have this?" I took one look and was immediately transport to another
time. "You can play with all your coins, but not this one," I said slowly. "This one's special. I
will never see the woman who gave this to me again." As I fingered the coin gentile, a wave
of nostalgic swept over me. "This coin is worth much more than its moniterv value." My son
looked at me strangely and I explained. I went on a trip to Nigeria in 1991 and my wallet was pickpocketed on the very first
day. With not much cash left, I had to be careful with my spemt.
One day, an old woman beggar approached me and thrast her hand in my face. I snapped and vented my frustration on her, screaming at the top of my lungs that my money
had been stolen. The woman listened attentively and pondered through my words. Then her face
Fill in each blank with a suitable word. (46) We all want to get things quickly. We feel that the _________________ we get them, the better it is for us, because waiting makes us feel impatient. This _________________ often happens when we want others to do things for us. But if we do these things ourselves, we will find that delays are _________________. (47) When something great is achieved, we only see the success _________________ makes it special. We do not think about the many years or _________________ centuries of hard work that led to it. We forget the many failures and the patient effort put in before the _________________ of the great work. (48) Rome became a powerful empire, and its capital city was one of the most famous places in the ancient _________________. Even today, it is a well-known city. It is _________________ to have been built by Remus and Romulus. So many generations helped build the city that by the _________________ it became rich and powerful, people had forgotten who these brothers were. (49) This is not only true for Rome but _________________ for all of mankind's achievements. When we see a finished product, we may think it is amazing. However, a _________________ study of all parts of it shows us that there was a lot of patient effort _________________ it. Poetry or music may seem like it came from sudden inspiration, but a poet needs to observe life and a singer has to train his _________________. A painter and a sculptor also need to work hard on their art pieces. (50) When we look at the Taj Mahal, we may say it is a dream made of marble. But it was not _________________ in a day. It took twenty long years to build it, and thousands of workers were _________________ in its construction. (51) So, let's always put effort in everything we do, and never be too impatient when we are working towards our goals.
Peter is the only student in the class who is not going for the excursion. All ___________________________________________________________
Alex was considered an accomplice as he had helped to cover up for his friend. In ___________________________________________________________
"Don't worry," said Tommy, "I'll get the work done by tomorrow." Tommy told me ___________________________________________________________
The robotic wheelchairs are designed for the elderly folks. The elderly folks come from the welfare homes. ___________________________________________________ for whom _______________ ___________________________________________________________________
I was annoyed when my brother broke my phone. Much to ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________
A common marketing strategy is to emphasise the improved functions in new models, such as higher processing speeds and camera megapixels. Longer battery life is another frequently advertised feature. New models may have significantly larger batteries. However, as battery performance gradually decreases over time, a simple battery change may be considerably cheaper than purchasing expensive new models.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true?
The writer made the statement, "The Future in Your Hands", in Text 1 to emphasise that the phone __________.
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best fits the phone you expect to purchase?
"Take shots like a professional!" The picture supports this by giving the impression that the camera __________.
We cannot trust the way Text 1 promotes Nova's new model, the Sunburst, because Text 2 says __________.
Just beyond the bench was where Rose had first learnt to ride a bicycle when she was six. She could recall the soreness in her thighs as she pedalled, her father's steady voice urging her on and the sting of scraped knees after every fall. On a pivotal try, her father had held the back of her seat and promised not to let go. However, he lied. It was the only way Rose could discover her own balance. When she finally did, it opened the door to a new joy – extended rides with Lily. Together, they laughed, raced and zigzagged between the pillars of the shared space like seasoned riders in their own private arena.
Moments later, Rose and Lily walked on slowly. Near the lift lobby, Rose paused. "Do you remember – where we came here for your grandmother's funeral?" she asked softly. Lily nodded, "It was mine. You were the first to arrive. Your mum brought curry puffs for my family and your dad assisted in arranging the chairs." The evening had been quiet, except for the sound of muffled weeping from time to time. Many were laden with sadness. Yet, there were also moments of laughter, stories and a celebration of the blessed life Lily's grandmother had lived. Rose did not say much that day, but her presence had been Lily's anchor of support in a sea of grief.
When they reached the area near the mailboxes, Rose and Lily smiled as they remembered a wedding from when they were eleven. Their neighbours, Ahmad and Nora, had led the riot. That day, the void deck came alive with music and the smell of spicy, savoury dishes drifted all around them. Dressed in bright colours, the girls had danced ecstatically. With every twirl, joy bubbled up inside them. Best of all, the girls tasted every delectable dish they knew. These memories from the wedding were a snapshot of childhood happiness that was ingrained in their minds.
As they passed the noticeboard, a recent memory surfaced. Just a month ago, Rose and Lily had volunteered at the neighbourhood food donation drive that had been held at that very space. For hours, they had gathered and sorted a variety of food items donated by friendly residents. Although the tasks were laborious, the sense of purpose – how the food collected would eventually bless the less fortunate – had kept the girls going. Thinking about the difference they had made in the lives of the underprivileged, the girls beamed with pride.
"Rose, it's time to go," her mother called out gently. Hearing that, Lily took out a small sketchbook and handed it to Rose. Inside were drawings of the cherished moments they had shared – Rose's first bicycle, the kind face of Lily's grandmother, the wedding day feast and the donation booth. In the middle of the page was a drawing of a big red heart, a symbol of love the girls had for their shared memories. Touched by the meaningful gift, Rose teared. For Rose, the void deck was not just a space under their flats, but a place filled with laughter, friendship and memories from her childhood. She firmly believed that surroundings might change, but relationships would always remain. "Bye, Lily. I'll surely be back to visit," Rose promised.
Nestled within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve are renowned zoological parks such as Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise. Managed __________ Mandai Wildlife Group, these parks are home to more 20,000 animals across 1,000 species, of which some are endangered.
Nestled within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve are renowned zoological parks such as Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders and Bird Paradise. Managed by Mandai Wildlife Group, these parks are home to more 20,000 animals across 1,000 species, of which some are endangered. __________ the years, the wildlife parks have also become a key habitat __________ wildlife native to Singapore.
__________ the years, the wildlife parks have also become a key habitat for wildlife native to Singapore.
The varied landscapes have created living environments __________ are suitable for reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds.
The varied landscapes have created living environments that are suitable for reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds.
Singapore's fifth wildlife park, Rainforest Wild Asia, has opened to the public __________ March 2025. Filled with animal species and various adventure elements, visitors __________ look forward to trekking through forest trails scattered with fallen logs, boulders __________ streams, as well as elevated walkways.
Filled with animal species and various adventure elements, visitors __________ look forward to trekking through forest trails scattered with fallen logs, boulders __________ streams, as well as elevated walkways.
Visitors look forward to trekking through forest trails scattered with fallen logs, boulders __________ streams, as well as elevated walkways.
One of the park's design considerations __________ to include a variety of paths with different levels of difficulty. __________ guests can tailor their visits according to their preferences.
One of the park's design considerations is to include a variety of paths with different levels of difficulty. __________ guests can tailor their visits according to their preferences.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Sylvia was scrolling through social media on her mobile phone one night. Suddenly, she recieved an alert on her myResponder mobile application.
Someone in the vicinity had lost consciously and urgent help was needed.
Imidiaitly, Sylvia rushed out of her home in response to the unexpected orkerkanz.
Imidiaitly, Sylvia rushed out of her home in response to the unexpected orkerkanz. Upon reaching the location, she saw the victim, who rezambaIed the neighbourhood newspaper seller, lying motionlessly on the ground.
Upon reaching the location, she saw the victim, who rezambaIed the neighbourhood newspaper seller, lying motionlessly on the ground.
As Sylvia performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim, she seeking someone's help to fetch the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED).
A doctor from the nearby clinic then arrived and he took turns after Sylvia to perform CPR on the motionless man.
Minutes later, the man showed signs of life.
The crowd of curious bystanders are impressed by Sylvia and complimented her.
Shyly, Sylvia blushed in embarusmmant. Nonetheless, Sylvia was glad to have acted courage even though she was nervous.
Fill in the blank: Imagine having a super-smart assistant that can lend a ______________ when you need help with your homework, answer questions or even suggest books that ______________ your reading level and interests.
Fill in the blank: even suggest books that ______________ your reading level and interests.
Fill in the blank: AI can analyse students' ______________ and weaknesses, providing personalised exercises to help improve specific skills.
Fill in the blank: As a result, students can ______________ difficult topics more easily and learn at their own ______________.
Fill in the blank: With just a click, students can tap ______________ online resources, no matter where they are – truly breaking ______________ the barriers to education.
Fill in the blank: With just a click, students can tap into online resources, no matter where they are – truly breaking ______________ the barriers to education.
Fill in the blank: truly breaking ______________ the barriers to education.
Fill in the blank: On top of that, AI inspires creativity by pushing students to ______________ outside the box and take creative risks.
Fill in the blank: Whether it is bringing ideas to ______________ through digital art or composing music, students can express their talents in new ways.
Fill in the blank: AI writing assistants can also start the ball ______________ by offering prompts, correcting grammar and recommending words to enhance writing.
Fill in the blank: Still, there are ______________ sides to every coin.
Fill in the blank: AI is not as ______________ as it seems because there are instances where it might give wrong information.
Fill in the blank: ______________ too much on technology might make some students less motivated to think for ______________.
Fill in the blank: Too much screen time can also be ______________ to students' well-being, as it often results in reduced physical activity and weakens their ability to build real-life social skills.
Fill in the blank: Too much screen time can also be harmful to students' well-being, as it often results in reduced physical activity and weakens their ability to build real-life social skills.
Betty decided not to buy the new phone. She went home. Instead of __________________, she went home.
Jack ignored the severe consequences. Jack regretted it. __________________ of the consequences.
"Where did you go just now?" Father asked me. Father asked me __________________.
It was evident that Grandmother was upset. She was upset by the bad news. Grandmother was __________________ .
Ron enjoyed celebrating his birthday. He smiled widely. __________________ as he enjoyed his __________________ .
Claims about the health benefits of chocolate often lead consumers to believe they should eat chocolate regularly. Unfortunately, those claims largely stem from studies on pure cocoa, not the processed and sweetened forms of chocolate commonly found in retail stores. Marketing tactics likewise play a role in shaping consumer perception. Some promotions sell the idea that consuming more chocolate leads to greater health benefits. These messages can cloud consumers' judgement.
"Did you know chocolate is packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients?" Why did the author ask the question in Text 1?
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true about ChocoHealth's premium dark chocolate?
"… ChocoHealth snacks are everyone's favourite in the entire household!" The phrase in the poster support this statement by giving the impression that ChocoHealth's products are_____________.
Based on Text 1, how can you enjoy the promotions from ChocoHealth?
We cannot trust the way Text 1 portrays ChocoHealth's chocolate because Text 2 says that ______________.
"Why do you do all this, Grandpa? You should enjoy life in your old age!" Jared asked as they cleaned up. Grandpa wiped his hands and looked at him. "People remember how you make them feel, not how well you play your mobile game. In fact, I enjoy spending my time this way." Jared gave a small laugh. Between staring at screens and making someone smile, he now knew which one counted more.
Flying cockroaches in Singapore are a common yet unsettling sight for many. Their sudden appearance, especially in one's home, (26) __________ cause alarm since they are often unexpected.
These pests are often found in dark, humid areas like bathrooms and drainage systems. Despite maintaining a clean household, one may still encounter cockroaches as they navigate (27) __________ open windows or shared ventilation systems.
One of the most remarkable abilities of these cockroaches (28) __________ their resilience.
They can survive in extreme conditions and have adapted (29) __________ avoid many extermination methods.
Submerging them in water may seem like an effective solution but these insects can hold their breath for up to forty minutes, allowing them to escape even after being flushed down a drain. However, their survival is ultimately limited (30) __________ their inability to drink water, leading to eventual dehydration.
Despite common misconceptions, these cockroaches do not truly fly but rather glide using their wings to move (31) __________ surfaces.
This movement is often mistaken (32) __________ aggressive behaviour when the insect is simply attempting to flee (33) __________ perceived danger.
This movement is often mistaken (32) __________ aggressive behaviour when the insect is simply attempting to flee (33) __________ perceived danger.
Given their adaptability, infestations can be difficult to manage without professional intervention. While household remedies may offer temporary relief, engaging pest control services is often the most effective approach to ensuring a cockroach-free home, in (34) __________ may seem like an endless struggle to ward them (35) __________.
Given their adaptability, infestations can be difficult to manage without professional intervention. While household remedies may offer temporary relief, engaging pest control services is often the most effective approach to ensuring a cockroach-free home, in (34) __________ may seem like an endless struggle to ward them (35) __________.
The other day, I was looking around my room. My climbing shoes, gathering dust in the corner, [catching] my attention. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
Two years ago, I became [intrested] in bouldering, a type of rock climbing, after my friends introduced me to it. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
The [exileration] of reaching the top kept me engaged. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
However, after some time, I reached a standstill. [With] all my hard work, I could not progress past a certain level. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
I spent hours trying different climbing routes, [persevearing] without any progress. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
It was clear that the time I had invested [are] not enough to improve my skills. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
The excitement I once felt [begin] to fade. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
I found myself stuck, unable to move forward while others seemed to be making [kontinuous] progress. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
[Occasionaly], I would think back to when I first started and feel frustrated that I had not improved. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
I realised I had [becoming] too focused on mastering the activity rather than enjoying it for the experience. (Underlined word contains a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in the box.)
Fill in the blank: This (46) ______________ helped speed up transactions.
Fill in the blank: This makes it faster for pupils to purchase their meals as (47) ______________ to cash transactions, which require counting and giving change.
Fill in the blank: In addition, faster transactions give pupils more time to eat and socialise (48) ______________ also minimising congestion at stalls.
Fill in the blank: Canteen vendors also (49) ______________ from e-payments.
Fill in the blank: Since most meals are sold within the first 10 minutes of recess, digital transactions help them (50) ______________ more pupils efficiently.
Fill in the blank: For (51) ______________, a pupil might choose to add extra toppings or opt for a different type of bread.
Fill in the blank: Vendors can immediately input the pupils' unique meal choices and the total price is calculated instantly, removing the need (52) ______________ manual calculations, which would otherwise be time-consuming and prone to error.
Fill in the blank: The move towards e-payments is (53) ______________ of the POSB Smart Buddy programme, first launched in 2017 in 19 primary schools.
Fill in the blank: It then expanded in 2022 (54) ______________ of a partnership between the Ministry of Education (MOE) and POSB, aiming to reach all primary schools by 2025.
Fill in the blank: Many schools have already implemented the system with ongoing (55) ______________ to extend it further.
Fill in the blank: This integration allows them to track their transport and meal (56) ______________ through detailed transaction records.
Fill in the blank: However, there are challenges. Vendors may (57) ______________ delays in receiving payments, affecting their money (58) ______________ hand.
Fill in the blank: Vendors may (57) ______________ delays in receiving payments, affecting their money (58) ______________ hand.
Fill in the blank: Additionally, some pupils may overspend (59) ______________ in the week when their cards are topped up and have little left for the remaining days.
Fill in the blank: To address this (60) ______________, POSB is offering lessons on managing money to thousands of primary and pre-school pupils.
Mrs Ramu invited the musician to perform. His song became a hit. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the words provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentences. Fill in: _______________________ whose _______________________.
The famous chef has created a special dish for the event. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the words provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentences. Fill in: A special dish _______________________ _______________________.
"Did you already write your goals down?" Coach Lim asked his team. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the words provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentences. Fill in: Coach Lim asked his team _______________________ _______________________.
Ravi could not decide so his teacher scolded him. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the words provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentences. Fill in: _______________________ for his _______________________.
She worked hard to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the words provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the given sentences. Fill in: In the _______________________ _______________________.
Most shoppers said they chose home delivery because it is more convenient. Some websites even offer free or cheap delivery to your doorstep. Others said they did not see the locker option when shopping online. Hence, they had not tried it.
Even though locker usage is still low, companies and government agencies hope more shoppers will try it as they learn about the benefits. Using parcel lockers can help reduce traffic from delivery vehicles and lower our carbon footprint, which is better for the Earth. So, why not give parcel lockers a try?
According to the poster in Text 1, users of easyLockers must ________.
"Remember to secure the locker before you leave!". Why did the writer include this line in the poster in Text 1?
"Unlock the easy way to get your parcels." The entire picture in the middle of the poster supports this statement by giving the impression that easyLockers are __________.
Based on the information in both Text 1 and 2, why might parcel lockers be a better option?
Text 1 tells us the advantages of using parcel lockers. However, based on Text 2, we know that __________.
I could only shake my head in disbelief. When his mother arrived to pick him up, I told her about the incident and asked if a keyed lock might be a better option. She laughed. "We tried that, and he figured out how to pick every one we've purchased. That's why all our locks are up high, though he still finds ways to get to them." I was shocked, and asked if there was anything else he did that I should know about.
"Plenty of things," she said with a laugh. "For instance, my husband gave Scotty an old clock he could not fix, thinking it would keep him busy. Scotty spent the day tinkering, with pieces scattered everywhere. By evening, my husband was stunned to find the clock not only reassembled but working perfectly, though I was not surprised in the least. Scotty has always had a knack for figuring things out. So, good luck keeping him out of the cabinet and let me know if you figure out how."
But I never did. I stood there, torn between disbelief and admiration, realising that sometimes the most unexpected answers come from the smallest hands.
A Very Precocious Child by D. W. Howard
There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Spending time on your phone, tablet, or computer can be very enjoyable. _______(25)_______ it is important to remember that too much screen time can have negative effects. If you spend long hours looking _______(27)_______ a screen, it can make you feel tired, affect your sleep and even leave you feeling less energetic.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. (10 marks) The passage contains 10 underlined words/phrases numbered (36) through (43) where students must identify and correct spelling or grammatical errors: (36) - in a sense of excitement as we (37) - hands-on experience (38) - complex of the tasks (39) - manageble with the instructor's clear (40) - engaging my schoolmates (41) - opurtunity for us to practise (42) - Although struggling to find (43) - colleboration and
Even the quieter ones found their voice, and I could see their confidence growing. It was indeed a (44) fulfilled day as outdoor learning not only broadened our vocabulary but also built a stronger sense of (45) community among the students. Outdoor learning is definitely fun and meaningful
Fill in the blank: Singaporeans produce more of (46) ______________ own food and not
Fill in the blank: (47) ______________ too much on other countries.
Fill in the blank: As Singapore buys over 90% of its food (48) ______________ other places,
Fill in the blank: To combat (49) ______________, Singapore wants to grow 30% of the food we need by
Fill in the blank: Much support (50) ______________ been given by the government to the farmers.
Fill in the blank: The new farming area will have shared (51) ______________ like water and power infrastructure to help farms save money and use fewer resources.
Fill in the blank: However, to (52) ______________ that different kinds of plants and animals are protected, an environmental study is
Fill in the blank: (53) ______________ with the help of environmental experts.
Fill in the blank: The study looks (54) ______________ at the types of plants and animals
Fill in the blank: living in the area, including those (55) ______________ may be rare or endangered.
Fill in the blank: Special attention is given to native species that play an (56) ______________ role in the local ecosystem.
Measures such as (57) ______________ aside green spaces, creating buffer zones, and using eco-friendly farming methods will help
(58)______________ wildlife habitats. For example, trees that birds and insects need will be kept as much as (59) ______________
trees that birds and insects need will be kept as much as (59) ______________
With careful planning, the new Lim Chu Kang farming area can become a model for how nature and modern agriculture can work hand (60) ______________
The nurse said, "Mrs Lim, you missed your doctor's appointment last week." The nurse told Mrs Lim that _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
The judges will accept the artwork if it is properly framed. Unless ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Grace enjoys baking with her mother. What Grace ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
He saw the doctor. He felt much better. Having ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
The rescue team succeeded in their mission to save the stranded hiker from the mountain. The rescue team's mission __________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Why did the narrator think that the toy cabinet was inaccessible? [1m]
Fill in the following table to show the narrator's emotions before and within the first week of using the combination lock. [2m]
According to paragraph 3, which 7-word phrase shows that Scotty was very advanced in his language skills? [1m]
Based on lines 19-28, what did Scotty do that surprised the narrator? [2m]
I could only shake my head in disbelief. When his mother arrived to pick him up, I told her about the incident and asked if a keyed lock might be a better option. She laughed. "We tried that, and he figured out how to pick every one we've purchased. That's why all our locks are up high, though he still finds ways to get to them." I was shocked, and asked if there was anything else he did that I should know about.
"Plenty of things," she said with a laugh. "For instance, my husband gave Scotly an old clock he could not fix, thinking it would keep him busy. Scotly spent the day tinkering, with pieces scattered everywhere. By evening, my husband was stunned to find the clock not only reassembled but working perfectly, though I was not surprised in the least. Scotly has always had a knack for figuring things out. So, good luck keeping him out of the cabinet and let me know if you figure out how."
But I never did. I stood there, torn between disbelief and admiration, realising that sometimes the most unexpected answers come from the smallest hands.
A Very Precocious Child by D. V. Howard
To save the stranded hiker from the mountain was successful
The cabinet was high up and latched securely.
With the vocabulary of an English professor
Scotty meant that it was quite easy to figure out the combination of the lock
I think Scotty's mother was not surprised by the incident as she laughed when she heard it and said he still always find a way to open the lock at home, meaning it was common at home.
Scotty's mother thought the narrator had little to no chance of keeping Scotty out of the cabinet. To show it, she told the narrator good luck keeping him out and said if he figured out how, will let her know.
Amazed Scotty though young, could do things that even his father could not do.
Family time offers invaluable benefits: it strengthens emotional bonds, boosts confidence, and reinforces our sense of self-worth. For children, it cultivates a robust sense of identity helping them grow into confident and secure adults.
There are countless ways to enjoy quality family time. Indoors, a lively game night can fill the house with laughter and joy. Outdoors, a simple picnic at the park can create cherished memories while allowing us to appreciate nature.
As the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." When family bonds are strong, they form the heart of a thriving community. Together, we support and uplift one another. In this way, we grow stronger.
The image in Text 1 that supports "connect under the stars" is __________.
Based on Text 1, the movie that is shown is most probably __________.
Based on Text 1, which of the following is true about the event?
What is the main purpose of Text 1?
How does the content of Text 2 support the message of the poster in Text 1?
The early morning sun streamed through the high windows. Medals and trophies from years past lined the walls. Among them, proudly displayed in the center, was Mum's Olympic silver medal from Beijing 2008. I remembered how she used to let me wear it when I was little, telling me stories about her journey to the podium.
"One more time, girls!" she called out, demonstrating a simple cartwheel.
As she landed, she stumbled slightly and forced a smile. I saw how she was attempting to put less weight on her right ankle. The students did not notice it, but I did. It was the same ankle that had carried her through countless routines, but now seemed to be failing her.
My mind wandered back to when I was six, afraid to even do a forward roll. The gymnasium had seemed enormous then. Mum would spot my hands readily to catch me if I fell. When I had crashed during my first competition on the balance beam, she had been there at the edge of the mat, encouraging me to continue. The memory was still vivid – the hushed audience, and my trembling legs as I stood up again.
"Every great gymnast falls, Sophie," she had whispered then, "but only the best ones get back up."
The gymnasium's mirrors reflected the morning light, just as they had done all those years ago. I remembered watching her practise after hours, chalking up her hands and working on the balance beam. She would flip and twist through the air as if gravity did not exist, making the impossible look effortless.
Now, watching her massage her ankle between demonstrations, I understood why she had been doing more coaching and less demonstrating lately. Her body was not responding the way it used to. The doctor's words from last week echoed in my mind - "Bone injury isn't healing well" - but Mum had simply nodded and asked the doctor about modified exercises. That was her way of looking forward and finding solutions.
"Coach Chen," one of the younger students called out, her ponytail bouncing with excitement, "Can you show us the back handspring again?"
I saw Mum hesitate for just a moment, something she had never done before. A flash of pain crossed her face, so brief that only someone who knew her well would notice. Before she could respond, I stepped onto the mat.
"Let me show you how," I offered, moving to the center. As I performed the move, I channeled everything she had ever taught me - the control, the grace in every movement. From the shine in her eye, I saw her watching me, and for a moment, I was that six-year-old again, desperate to make her proud.
During the next exercise, when she asked for a volunteer to demonstrate a sequence, I raised my hand again.
Jellyfish can be found in oceans all around the world. ________ creatures have bell-shaped bodies and long tentacles that make them fascinating and mysterious.
Jellyfish do not have a brain, heart or bones, some species can be highly dangerous to humans. ________
A jellyfish sting happens when ________ tentacles make contact with the skin.
These tentacles contain tiny barbs that inject venom which may cause pain, swelling or ________ serious allergic reactions.
Box jellyfish, for example, are among the most venomous marine creatures and have been known to cause fatalities ________ extreme cases.
In Singapore, jellyfish sightings and stings are reported more frequently ________ the warmer months.
Lifeguards stationed ________ these beaches are trained to manage such situations calmly and quickly.
________ a person is stung, it is crucial not to scratch or rub the affected area as this could cause the venom to spread.
Medical experts advise that the sting should be rinsed with vinegar and ________ soaked in warm water to ease the pain.
________ their beauty, jellyfish should be observed from a safe distance. With the right precautions, a trip to the beach can still be safe and enjoyable.
Nowadays, modern entertainment revolves around screens and social media.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
My own childhood was shaped with simple, traditional games. These were moments of unfiltered joy, spent to the company of neighbours who gradually become lifelong friends.
My own childhood was shaped with simple, traditional games. These were moments of unfiltered joy, spent to the company of neighbours who gradually become lifelong friends.
Among the many games we played, five stones stood out for its desepeye simplicity. What began as a casual pastime quickly became a contest of skill and precision. I remember spending countless afternoons practising the art of tossing and catching those bean bags, determination to master every level.
I remember spending countless afternoons practising the art of tossing and catching those bean bags, determination to master every level.
Another game was zero point that rekwired agility, timing, and a fair amount of courage. As the elastic rope rose higher with each round, so did the stakes — and the laughter. Failure were met with good-natured teasing, and victory with loud cheers.
Failure were met with good-natured teasing, and victory with loud cheers.
In nianshift, those games did more than occupy our time. They nurtured resilience, cooperation, and a sense of community. These are the qualities that no digital game can ever truly replicate.
In nianshift, those games did more than occupy our time. They nurtured resilience, cooperation, and a sense of community. These are the qualities that no digital game can ever truly replicate.
Fill in the blank: As ordinary as it may seem, rice is one of the _____________ important food crops in the world.
Fill in the blank: Rice is believed to have been first _____________ in China over 9,000 years ago.
Fill in the blank: Since its cultivation, it has spread _____________ Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Fill in the blank: Today, it is grown in more than one hundred countries _____________ India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Fill in the blank: Rice plants are typically grown in wet, muddy fields called paddies, _____________ allow them to thrive.
Fill in the blank: There are many different _____________ of rice, but they generally fall into two categories — long grain and short grain.
Fill in the blank: Basmati rice from India and Jasmine rice from Thailand are long-grain types. They are _____________ for their fragrant aroma.
Fill in the blank: Rice has _____________ uses. In Asia, it is often steamed and served with meat or vegetables.
Fill in the blank: In Spain, rice is cooked _____________ seafood over a huge pan and in Japan, it is shaped into sushi.
Fill in the blank: Even in desserts, rice _____________ a key role in dishes like rice pudding or sweet glutinous rice cakes.
Fill in the blank: Brown rice is often considered _____________ than white rice as it has not been polished and is higher in minerals and fibers.
Fill in the blank: _____________, both are great sources of energy.
Fill in the blank: Rice is more than just food — it is a _____________ part of many cultures and traditions.
Fill in the blank: During _____________, special rice dishes are prepared to honour ancestors and celebrate harvests.
Fill in the blank: The next time you see a bowl of rice, remember that it is not _____________ a simple grain.
Alex was anxious about the surgery. He had difficulty sleeping. Due to his ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.
"What happened to you last night?" Emma asked her brother. Emma asked her brother ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.
The rugby finals were suddenly cancelled. It caught everyone by surprise. The sudden ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.
The chefs are preparing the food for tonight's wedding banquet. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ by the chefs.
Jill persevered and did very well for her examinations. ________________________________________________________________ because of __________________________________________________________.
Family time offers many benefits: it strengthens emotional bonds, boosts confidence, and reinforces our sense of self-worth. For children, it cultivates a robust sense of identity helping them grow into confident and secure adults.
There are countless ways to enjoy quality family time. Indoors, a lively game night can fill the house with laughter and joy. Outdoors, a simple picnic in the park can create cherished memories while allowing us to appreciate nature.
As the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." When family bonds are strong, they form the heart of a thriving community. Together, we support and uplift one another. In this way, we can grow stronger.
"...connect ... under the stars". The image in the poster in Text 1 supports this by depicting people __________.
Based on Text 1, which of the following is true about the event?
What is the main purpose of Text 1?
Based on Text 2, the talk that is taking place at the Community Club is most likely for __________.
How does the content of Text 2 support the message of the poster in Text 1?
Then Rui En's heart lurched. Eileen Tan — the most popular girl in class — appeared like a nightmare come true, weaving through the crowd with her phone held high, streaming live. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as she panned the camera across the slabs of meat. Rui En froze. A cold fear seeped into her bones. This was it — the moment her carefully hidden secret would unravel for the entire school to see. "Sue Yi," Rui En hissed, urging her arms to get Sue Yi's attention. But Sue Yi was busy with a customer, oblivious to the danger Rui En felt closing in.
To Rui En's horror, Eileen's eyes met hers. A smirk spread across Eileen's face as she strutted right up to Rui En. "Hey, Rui En," she sneered. "Want to do something fun? Dump that bin of rubbish on your sister. I'm live—everyone will see." Rui En's hands started to tremble. She looked at the bin filled with slimy scraps. Her mind raced. She knew what she wanted most: If I did this, maybe Eileen would finally think I'm cool enough to be her friend. Rui En grabbed the bin. It was heavier than she expected, the rotting smell stinging her eyes, making her legs wobbly.
Just then, Sue Yi turned, and Rui En's and her eyes locked. Sue Yi's usual calm expression changed instantly—from calm to betrayed. "Why are you letting her control you?" Sue Yi asked quietly. Sue Yi's words struck Rui En in the face as shame crashed over her. "What was I doing?" Rui En dropped the bin with a thud, tears burning in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Sue Yi," Rui En whispered. But Sue Yi turned away, devastated.
Suddenly, a shriek cut through the market. Eileen had slipped and fallen on the wet floor, crashing right into the bin Rui En had just dropped. Slime and scraps exploded across Eileen's white shirt. Her phone, still streaming, captured the humiliating moment as laughing emojis poured in from her viewers. Eileen's cheeks burned crimson red as she scrambled to her feet, desperately trying to wipe the mess from her clothes. Shock flickered across Sue Yi's face. Then as Rui En and Sue Yi looked at each other, Sue Yi's expression softened and melted into laughter. Rui En felt the tension in her chest eased: She realized how close she had come to losing the one person who truly cared about her.
As Rui En knelt to clean the mess, she found herself staring at a sheep's eyeball — round, glossy, unblinking. Rui En picked it up with trembling fingers, a strange calm settling over her. "Hey, Rui En," Sue Yi called softly. Rui En looked up to see her lifting her phone, eyes shining with warmth despite everything. "Maybe it's time we come clean. Show everyone at school what life in the wet market is really like. The real us."
"Smile," Sue Yi said. Rui En forced a shaky grin, a swirl of embarrassment and relief surging inside her. Yet beneath it all, something inside her had shifted.
Later that evening, Sue Yi posted the photo with the caption: EYE bring out the best in her! For the first time, Rui En felt the weight lift from her chest. She no longer cared what Eileen or anyone else thought. She had something far better — her family, and the courage to stand in her own skin.
She looked at the unblinking eyeball and typed: EYE think so too.
Adapted from "LIVE! At the Wet Market"
There are 10 blanks, numbered 28 to 35, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. Have you ever thought about how reading became such a big part of our lives? Reading _____________ been important for thousands of years, beginning as a way to record and share information using symbols in ancient civilisations. At first, only a few educated people _____________ understand these symbols. It was not _____________ the Phoenicians invented one of the first earliest alphabets – letters representing sounds – that reading began to transform. This made reading easier and more widespread, especially after the Greeks and Romans improved the alphabet, _____________ influenced many modern languages. For centuries, books were rare and expensive and could only be accessed _____________ wealthy or religious groups. However, everything changed _____________ the invention of the printing press – books were produced quickly and in large numbers, available to all. _____________ time, libraries and cheaper books made reading more accessible, encouraging many people to develop a love for it. Reading became part of everyday life, both _____________ pleasure and learning. Today, reading habits continue to evolve rapidly. _____________ many still enjoy printed books, digital formats like e-books and audiobooks have become common. The internet also encourages shorter, more frequent reading, especially _____________ social media platforms. Despite these changes, the value of reading remains strong. It helps us connect with new ideas, emotions and perspectives – something people will likely continue to treasure for generations.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
Fill in the blank (46): Dishes like chicken rice, laksa, roti prata and nasi lemak ______________ people from all backgrounds together, creating a strong ______________ of community and identity.
Fill in the blank (47): Hawker culture started in the 1800s ______________ immigrants brought their recipes and sold food on the streets.
Fill in the blank (48): ______________ after, hawker centres were built to provide cleaner and safer places to eat, becoming lively spaces ______________ people bond over affordable meals.
Fill in the blank (49): Today, our hawker culture ______________ multiple challenges.
Fill in the blank (50): The ______________ costs of ingredients, rent and labour make it harder for hawkers to keep prices affordable.
Fill in the blank (51): Many young people are also not ______________ in becoming hawkers because the work is demanding, so many older hawkers are retiring ______________ successors.
Fill in the blank (52): At the same time, modern technology and changing lifestyles also mean that hawkers need to ______________ to new ways of doing business.
Fill in the blank (53): To ______________ this iconic culture, hawkers must embrace modern developments ______________ as digital payments, social media and delivery services.
Fill in the blank (54): However, it is equally important to protect the traditions that make hawker food special – like the unique cooking skills passed ______________ through generations and the friendly, personal interactions hawkers have with customers.
Fill in the blank (55): The vibrant atmosphere and freshly cooked food at hawker centres add to the charm and cannot be replaced ______________ convenience alone.
Fill in the blank (56): Through striking a ______________ between tradition and progress, our hawker culture can stay alive and strong.
He did not throw the ball in time. The team missed the chance to score. Had _______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________.
Mrs Lee explained the new school rules clearly to everyone. Mrs Lee gave ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
The cat is very friendly. The children in the neighbourhood love playing with it. ________________________________________________________________ because of its _________________________________________________________________.
The scientists are analysing the data from the recent experiment. The data ________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
The teacher said to the students, "You must submit your homework tomorrow." The teacher told the students ______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
Based on the picture, why did Brian suggest watching the play? Write your answer in one or two sentences.
Do you think Rosie's idea of watching the play is a good one? Give two reasons to support your answer.
You are Rosie. Write an email to Mr Ong requesting him to bring your class to watch the play. Your email should include: • where and when the play will be held • what discount is offered for school groups • what comes with each ticket Your email should be about 80 to 100 words.
Claims about the health benefits of chocolate often lead consumers to believe they should eat chocolate regularly. Unfortunately, those claims largely result from studies on pure cocoa, not the processed and sweetened forms of chocolate commonly found in retail stores. Marketing tactics also influence consumer perception. Some promotions sell the idea that consuming more chocolate leads to greater health benefits. These messages can mislead consumers.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true?
The writer made the statement, "Chocolate: The Delicious Superfood", in Text 1 to _________.
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best fits the chocolate you expect to eat?
"Treat yourself without guilt!" The pictures support this by giving the impression that ChocoHealth's chocolate _________.
We cannot trust the way Text 1 portrays chocolate because Text 2 says _________.
"Thank you, Charlotte... or should I say, 'Chess Queen'?" she chuckled. Charlotte widened her eyes in recognition before breaking into a beaming smile.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 26 to 35, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE. The night was cold and wet. In the house, the curtains were drawn and the fire burned brightly. __________ (26) the outside, only a faint glow could be seen. An old man and his son __________ (27) unmoved by the incoming storm. Just then, the gate banged loudly, and heavy footsteps came __________ (28) to the door. The old man rose slowly from his seat and opened the door. It was a guest __________ (29) they had been expecting, a man called Frank. The old man motioned Frank to the extra chair. The trio sat __________ (30) the fire and chatted heartily. As __________ (31) conversation veered towards recent strange happenings, the visitor dug into his pocket and fished out a dried, little monkey's paw. It was believed that a spell had been cast upon it so that three different men would __________ (32) receive three wishes from it. Curious, the old man asked what the previous owner __________ (33) wished for. Frank replied that he did not know __________ (34) the man had died. For his part, Frank said the paw had brought him nothing but trouble. His tone was __________ (35) grave that a silence fell upon the group. Everyone was lost in his own thoughts, and no one spoke for a while.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. By 8 a.m., we were at the foot of the hill, ready to begin our climb. My younger brother, Ben, was impatient and sprinted ahead of us despite our parents [had told him]
The trail was steep and rocky, so we walked slowly to [avoid slip]
As we climbed higher, we were rewarded [for] a breathtaking view of the forest canopy.
Birds were heard [chirping merrily and] monkeys could be seen swinging from tree to tree.
However, the peace atmosphere was soon ruined by a group of hikers who were playing loud music while walking.
We stopped in our tracks to let the group walk past us, and my father took the [oportuneity] to remind us loudly to be considerate of others and to preserve the
tranquweelity of nature. The group of hikers seemed to have overheard what my father had said as the [disturb] from the blaring music was replaced by gentle chirps.
After about an hour of hiking, we reached the summit and took a snack break.
Just as we were laughing and chatting [anemately] about unimportant things, the sudden
apperance of dark clouds with strong winds signalled to us that a storm was brewing. So, we quickly gathered our belongings and began our descent.
Many people underestimate the value of a good night's sleep. __________ hectic
Sleep not __________ helps the body to heal but also allows the brain to process new information.
This is based on __________ that have shown that students who are __________ of sleep.
Well-rested tend to learn better in school than those who are __________.
Despite these benefits, many children still go to bed late. Using devices just before bedtime can be especially __________ to our sleep. The blue-light emitted from screens can __________ with the body's ability to produce melatonin—a
Chemical that helps our bodies to __________ asleep.
To sleep well, it's important to have a regular bedtime routine. This could include __________ off devices at least an hour before bed, reading a book, or taking a warm shower.
Parents can encourage good habits from an __________ age.
Experts recommend school-aged children get 9 to 11 hours of sleep every night. Lack of sleep can cause irritability, trouble focusing, and long-term health __________.
In some countries, schools start later in the morning to help students get __________ rest.
This change has led to better academic results and improved well-being. Sleep also __________ the immune system, so children who sleep well are
Less likely to fall ill. Doctors often advise patients to sleep more when recovering from sickness.
However, the __________ of sleep is as important as its quantity. A person may be in bed for eight hours __________ still feel tired if his sleep is frequently
Disrupted by noise, stress or discomfort. Having a calm sleeping environment helps. While many try to sleep more on weekends to make up __________ lost rest, this does not
Undo the negative impact of ongoing sleep loss. Consistency is key to developing healthy sleep habits.
"You should revise this topic regularly," the teacher told Peter. The teacher told Peter that_____
Both my parents were absent from my performance yesterday. Neither of_____
I like reading novels during my free time. _____ what I _____
John took part in the competition. His mother agreed to it. _____ with his mother's _____
Renee ruined Devi's drawings. Renee was envious. Out of _____
Advertisements intentionally focus on features such as faster processing speed or higher camera quality to create the impression that the new model is a major improvement. Longer battery life is another frequently advertised feature. New models may have significantly larger batteries or major hardware changes. However, as battery life gradually decreases over time, a simple battery change may be considerably cheaper than purchasing expensive new models.
The writer made the statement, "The Future in Your Hands", in Text 1 to emphasise that the Sunburst X10 is ________.
"Take shots like a professional" The picture supports this statement by giving the impression that the camera ________.
Based on Text 2, what does the writer suggest about the real improvements in new phone models?
What advice does the article in Text 2 give to consumers who are thinking about buying a new phone?
Which of the following statements based on Text 2 most clearly challenges the way Nova's new model is promoted in Text 1?
Under the evening sky, Gary was watering the plants in his garden. Suddenly, a sharp yowl pierced the air. Gary spun around and saw the tail lights of a motorcycle which was speeding down the deserted road. Near the kerb, Eva lay motionless, her fur ruffled, one paw curled awkwardly beneath her. Panic surged through him. She was still breathing but weak, her body trembling. 'Oh no! What should I do? Would I worsen her injury if I move her?' He hesitated for a moment before scooping her up in a towel, cradling her like fragile glass. His mother rushed to his side. "We'll take her to the vet now," she said firmly, already holding the car keys.
The drive to the vet felt like hours. Gary's mother placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "She'll be okay," she said. Inside the clinic, the sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, and then came the hardest part—waiting. How badly was Eva hurt? What would the vet say? Would she be able to 20 recover? The crawled by as the vet examined Eva thoroughly and administered the treatment. Finally, after an hour, the vet told them Eva's condition—a fractured paw, bruised body but no other broken bones. Her paw was bandaged. She would need to stay indoors for weeks to heal. On the way home, Gary's mother bought a cage. 25
Gary dedicated himself to her recovery. He placed the cage in his room and padded it with towels. Then, he placed Eva carefully into the cage. "Be good, Eva. You mustn't move too much so that your paw will recover faster," Gary said as he patted Eva and closed the cage door. Strangely, Eva did not protest. "Looks like Eva understands what you said," Gary's mother chuckled. For the next few days, Gary changed Eva's bandage daily and made sure Eva had a comfortable cage rest. Once her paw healed and the swelling subsided, Gary let Eva out of the cage. He noticed Eva's movement in his 30 room. Whenever Gary sat on the floor, Eva would curl up beside him and purr softly. She even rubbed her face against his arm or leg. Gary wondered why Eva did that. He checked online and discovered that Eva was showing him affection. "Mum! Eva loves me!" Gary ran to his mother and showed her what he had read. "Of course, she does. Don't you love her too? You've taken such good care of her." Gary's mother answered, giving Gary a pat on his back. "I'm proud of you!" Gary grinned broadly. 35
Uncle Tim and Aunty Daisy came back and thanked Gary and his mother. Uncle Tim announced, "We'll be moving to our new house in two weeks' time. We're already in our seventies and the smaller new house is easier to maintain. Now we have to drive five hours to visit our daughter. The new house is within walking distance from my daughter's home. We'll miss you. You're such good neighbours all these years." Tears welled up in Gary's eyes when he heard that and saw Aunty Daisy picking up Eva. He stifled his sobs and ran to his room. Gary's mother explained to her neighbours how Gary's relationship with Eva had changed over the month. Meanwhile, Eva was meowing loudly in Aunty Daisy's 40 arms.
On the night before Uncle Tim and Aunty Daisy moved to their new home, Gary's doorbell rang. Gary opened the door and received a surprise. Uncle Tim handed Gary a box with Eva inside. "Gary, we would like you to take care of Eva from now on. We know that she will be in good hands." Uncle 45 Tim said. "Don't you think one good turn deserves another?" Aunty Daisy added with a wink. Gary was at a loss for words as he clutched the box tightly. Gary's mother hugged Uncle Tim. As they turned to leave, Gary put down the box, ran to the elderly couple and gave them a bear hug. "I promise to take VERY good caro of Eva," Gary said with heartfelt gratitude. 50
Maria Hertogh's court case in Singapore received a lot of attention. _____________ over in the Netherlands, film crews covered the development of the case.
Her sad story was _____________ known by many.
Maria was separated from her birth parents, the Hertoghs, _____________ she was five years old due to circumstances of war.
After the war, _____________ her wishes, she was taken from Aminah Mohamed and sent to live with the Hertoghs in the Netherlands.
At the same time in other parts of the world, other children _____________ also taken away from families they loved.
Unlike Maria's case, there were no protests, riots, or news reports about _____________
_____________ children. People only got to hear about their tragic stories years later,
_____________ of which reminded us of the impact of separating children from their loved ones.
Today, we know that when there are conflicts — whether _____________ issues like race, religion, or other differences — it is often the children
_____________ suffer the most. We must remember these stories and prevent children from experiencing such suffering again.
It was the first day of Sarah's vacation. With enthooziasmm bubbling inside her, she planned her day — a visit to the art museum and a local café. Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
By midday, Sarah wandered around the museum, amazed by its intrakate exhibits with detailed carvings and tiny moving parts.
Noticing her interest, a guide offered her a compliment tour.
He explained, "This guided tour is free and no rehzevations are needed."
They then began uncovering the museum's hidden treshuires.
The guide started telling Sarah stories behind the exhibits which made each piece of artwork came alive.
Sarah felt a fervent fondness for the beautiful artworks as she listened close to the guide, amazed by the passion and effort the artists had put into each piece.
The guide shared how many of the artworks were created on scratch, often involving weeks or months of work.
It took a lot of patience and persistence to strength their skills and complete each masterpiece.
That evening, she relaxed in a cozy café, holding her warm coffee and watching the glowing sunset. A sense of acompleashmnet filled her.
Fill in the blank: Most people can only share stories about trekking based on what they have seen in books or movies. However, only a few people have actually experienced _____________ it is really like to hike through tall, snowy mountains and see the amazing views for _____________.
Fill in the blank: Trekking in the mountains is certainly a task that is not for everyone _____________ it can be dangerous and difficult.
Fill in the blank: To the faint-hearted, having to trek mountainous terrains and staying overnight in tents where one is _____________ to sudden changes in weather is considered an _____________.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word for sudden changes in weather being considered an _____________.
Fill in the blank: For those who appreciate it, it is a test of strength and being able to enjoy the beauty of nature along the way makes facing all the challenges _____________.
Fill in the blank: One of the greatest trekking expeditions of all was that of Tenzing Norgay's, a legendary mountaineering guide who made history _____________ bravely reaching the summit of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary.
Fill in the blank: This groundbreaking achievement made him famous all _____________ the world.
Fill in the blank: On one expedition, Tenzing and his team had to change their plans because the weather got worse, forcing them to find a new route.
Fill in the blank: Tenzing kept going _____________ the conditions getting harsher.
Fill in the blank: Along the way, he chanced _____________ a hidden part of the mountains with colourful wildflowers.
Fill in the blank: _____________ discovery revealed a part of the Himalayas so untouched that it had never been documented _____________.
Fill in the blank: Trekking helps one become more adaptable and allows one to _____________ resilient during challenging times.
Fill in the blank: When hikers are prepared for the challenges that lie _____________, the mountains actually offer a journey that is _____________ deeply rewarding and unforgettable.
Fill in the blank: The mountains actually offer a journey that is _____________.
Fill in the blank: Overcoming these challenges with determination can help one learn, grow and create lasting memories.
"I was reading a thrilling novel last night," Lily told her cousin. Lily told her cousin _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
If the coach had not encouraged us, we would have given up halfway. Without the coach's ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
The chef prepares delicious meals every evening. _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ by the chef.
They did not spread the rumour that Hugo was expelled. None of _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
The florist described in detail the floral arrangement at the banquet hall. The florist gave a ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
To improve sleep quality, try keeping a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to wind down, such as reading or taking a warm bath. Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable, cool and dark.
Limit exposure to screens and bright lights before bed as they can interfere with your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime.
Prioritising these habits can help ensure a restful night's sleep and overall well-being.
"DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH SLEEP?" Why did the writer ask the question in Text 1?
The image in the poster is used to show that those who do not get enough sleep will be __________.
According to Text 1, which of the following statements is true?
Who is the main target audience of the poster?
Both Text 1 and Text 2 emphasise that __________.
Refer to the passage below when you answer questions 56 to 75 in Booklet B.
At some point or another, perhaps during dinner at your neighborhood restaurant, you might have wondered how Asians could ever survive a meal without our delectable, umami-filled soy sauce. Who could blame you? Present in every Asian household, it is perhaps even more recognisable (26) __________ hot sauce itself
How is soy sauce made? Firstly, soy sauce is made (27) __________ combining cooked soybeans and cooked wheat grains, forming them into a paste.
Next, (28) __________ *Aspergillus oryzae or *Sojae moulds are added to begin fermentation.
The culture is added to (29)__________ salt solution and left to ferment further.
Finally, the mixture is (30)__________ pressed to produce the liquid condiment or sauce.
Commercial producers use (31) __________ ordinary vegetable protein in place of bacterial cultures to speed up the process, creating batches (32) __________ a few days.
Commercial producers use (31) __________ ordinary vegetable protein in place of bacterial cultures to speed up the process, creating batches (32) __________ a few days.
Traditional methods can take as long as six months. The longer the fermentation process, the deeper (33)__________ more complex flavours the soy sauce will have.
There are hundreds of varieties of soy sauce that (34) __________ available on the market today.
These varieties depend (35) __________ the ingredients used, the method used to create the sauce and the region in which it is made.
Expressing dissatisfaction might just be one of the surprising ways that connect us as human beings. A quick glance at the internet [underlined word: reveals] that many of us appear to be [box for answer (36)]
happiest [underlined word: while] we are annoyed—a curious but oddly unifying trait. Interestingly, [box for answer (37)]
consumer feedback [underlined word: have] remained consistent across millennia. Whether it is delayed [box for answer (38)]
delivery, damaged or [underlined word: insufficient] goods, pricing disagreements or a slow (or no) response [box for answer (39)]
to the supplier, these familiar concerns show that people have long cared deeply about [box for answer (40)]
getting what they paid for—something that also rankled with our [underlined word: ancestours]. [box for answer (41)]
The British Museum houses [underlined word: severul] such letters and proudly displays the oldest [box for answer (42)]
written customer [underlined word: complain]. Written on a clay tablet about 3,770 years ago by Nanni, [box for answer (43)]
which was a disgruntled trader, this ancient message offers a vivid glimpse into [box for answer (44)]
historical business interactions. In it, Nanni expressed his frustrations over a transaction, directing sharp words to the allegedly [underlined word: unscrepulous] copper merchant—a [box for answer (45)]
A common marketing strategy is to emphasise higher numbers in new models, such as higher processing speeds and camera megapixels. Longer battery life is another frequently advertised feature. New models may have significantly larger batteries or major hardware changes. However, as battery optimisation gradually decreases with time, a simple battery change may be considerably cheaper than purchasing expensive new models.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true?
The headline, "The Future in Your Hands", in Text 1, is meant to emphasise that the phone is __________.
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best fits the phone you expect to purchase?
"Take shots like a professional!" The picture supports this by giving the impression that the camera __________.
We cannot trust the way Text 1 promotes Nova's new model because Text 2 says __________.
Ming and Ali would spend time completing homework, playing games, and exploring their surroundings. They did everything together. One of their favourite pastimes was climbing Ming's jackfruit tree at his home. Ming taught Ali how to spot ripe jackfruit by the colour of the skin and its sweet smell. As he showed Ali how to make jackfruit chips, Ali's jaw dropped. Ming laughed at the sight and then paused momentarily, his eyes clouding over a scene playing in his mind. He smiled and said, "Pa taught me all these things."
Life in Kampung Silat was simple and muddy, perfect for spontaneous mud fights.
One day, as the boys were playing, Ming noticed a group of children gathering around something. Curious, he dropped his mud ball and walked over. Inside a small tin box were two spiders. "What's this?" Ming asked.
"Fighting spiders!" one of the boys whispered. Ming watched in amazement as the spiders circled each other like wrestlers. The match ended quickly, with the winner's owner grinning as the other boy handed him a few coins based on the sum they had agreed on before the match. Ming became fascinated. He started paying attention to how the winning spiders looked and behaved. He asked the boys many questions incessantly: What did they eat? How were they kept? He was learning how to spot champions. After a match, Ming turned to Ali and said, "Let's catch fighting spiders and sell them."
Ali was surprised with Ming's idea. Before he could speak, Ming remarked, "So we can earn pocket money and we can buy sweets and ice balls. Ma works so hard. I don't want to keep asking her for money." Inspired, the boys headed into a wooded area beside the nearby hospital in search of spiders. All looked around at the tall lalang grass and asked, "Where do we start?"
"I look for bunched-up leaves," Ming replied, pulling some from a wild bush. "That's where they hide." He gently pried apart the leaves. "Look! I found two!" He explained that male spiders with white faces and slim bodies were the best fighters. Delicately, he placed them into a small tin box lined with leaves. "Let's catch a few more," he said. "We can sell them for twenty cents each to the rich kids in the next neighbourhood."
Their plan worked. After school, they sold some of their prized catches. To celebrate, they bought a five-cent ice ball from the Indian uncle who sold them from a pushcart. They shared the sweet, condensed milk-soaked treat. Ming put aside the rest of his money for marbles and Ma. As the cool ice melted in his mouth, Ming smiled. The mosquito bites they had gotten from spider hunting were worth it.
As the sun set, Ming thought back to what Pa had said to him before passing. "Grow into someone who takes care of others." Ming had shown he was no longer just a boy playing games in the mud. He looked out for Ali like a real brother, found ways to ease Ma's burden, and shared what he had. A quiet pride stirred within him – he was living up to Pa's words.
The Flower Moon made its appearance in Singapore's sky on May 13. The event garnered widespread attention as many people went ____________ social media platforms to post photographs.
The Flower Moon is a term ____________ comes from Native American traditions, referring to the full moon in May.
It symbolises the time when flowers bloom, marking ____________ height of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Scientifically, this same full moon, also known ____________ a micro full moon, occurs
at the point where the Moon is farthest ____________ Earth.
Hence it appears slightly smaller and dimmer ____________ usual.
However, a supermoon, ____________ contrast, looks larger since the Moon ____________ closer to Earth.
[Continuing from blank 32] closer to Earth.
Despite this, the Flower Moon still lit up the night sky, impressing ____________ who saw it.
A number of viewers quickly uploaded ____________ photographs online to share the rare sight.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the box. Mandai Wildlife Reserve has already earned its stripes as a go-to spot for (36) [go-to]
Having been wowed by Bird Paradise two years ago, I set off (37) [wowed]
with my best walking shoes, feeling ezhillarated. (38) [ezhillarated]
Stepping in, it is clear that Rainforest Wild Asia offered the immersive, sensory, thrilling and very kompelling rainforest experience, (39) [kompelling]
unlike any other park we have seen in Singapore. Picture an expansive space with over 7000 trees, 36 animal species, winding trails, and a select of fun and memorable activities. (40) [select]
I tried many of the activities and found them irrisistibel. (41) [irrisistibel]
Another thing that immediately stands out is the park's versatility. Each of the (42) [stands]
eight zones featuring paths of varying levels of difficulty that allow everyone to explore the reserve at their prifered pace. (43) [prifered]
Choose your adventure: from a leisurely stroll and a more rugged hike on the wilder side. (44) [stroll]
There are akseseibel walkways available for strollers and wheelchair users too. (45) [akseseibel]
Fill in the blank: students are ______________ to social media as a popular tool for study.
Fill in the blank: Many students watch educational videos that ______________ difficult concepts online.
Fill in the blank: These videos are often ______________ to understand than thick textbooks, which can be confusing or hard to follow.
Fill in the blank: The interactive format keeps them interested in learning even ______________ a long day at school.
Fill in the blank: However, students must be ______________ when using social media as a learning platform.
Fill in the blank: Not everything online is trustworthy. Anyone can post content, ______________ it is true or not.
Fill in the blank: Some accounts may ______________ convincing but they may be misleading.
Fill in the blank: To ______________ being misled, students should always check the ______________ of the content.
Fill in the blank: Information from teachers, schools, or experts is usually more ______________ and safe to use.
Fill in the blank: By comparing information from different websites, students can ______________ they are learning facts instead of false or incomplete ideas.
Fill in the blank: Therefore, it is extremely ______________ for students to use social media responsibly.
Fill in the blank: When used wisely, social media encourages ______________ learning.
Fill in the blank: Students do not always have to rely on teachers or parents to provide all the information they need. They can also explore and learn at their own ______________ .
Fill in the blank: Used with care and purpose, social media can ______________ new doors to knowledge for young minds.
Fill in the blank: Its potential in education is limitless.
Diane hid behind the door so that the surprise would not be ruined. _____________ to avoid _____________.
No one could understand Liam because he spoke too fast. Liam spoke so _____________.
Mother sang a lullaby to the baby. A lullaby _____________.
"What do you plan to do after graduation?" Aunt Lucy said to Tim. Aunt Lucy asked Tim what _____________.
Gopal was excited. He received the good news. It was with _____________.
However, such advertising can cause many problems. In many situations, people may feel pressured to upgrade, even if their current phones still work well. This can create a 'throw-away' habit where people change their phones frequently and unnecessarily, thereby contributing to environmental problems.
Moreover, as the advertisements make the latest smartphones seem very attractive, many consumers like teenagers may feel pressured to own one. This increases peer pressure, causing those without such devices to feel left out.
Advertising companies often promote new phone models by highlighting faster processing speeds and higher camera megapixels. Longer battery life is another frequently advertised feature. While new models may have larger batteries or new hardware, these changes are not always necessary.
In many cases, the actual improvements between old and new models are small, while the price increase is large. It is worth considering whether the improvements in new models truly offer good value for money.
The title of the poster, "The Future is in Your Hands", in Text 1 is used to emphasise that the phone is ___.
"Take shots like a professional!" The picture in Text 1 supports this by giving the impression that the camera ___.
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best describes the phone you expect to purchase?
According to the article in Text 2, what is the main concern about smartphone advertisements?
We cannot trust the way Text 1 promotes Nova's new phone because Text 2 says ___.
One day, at recess, he noticed his classmate, Dan, sitting alone. Sam recognised that look - shoulders hunched, gaze fixed on untouched food, as if eating alone made the meal taste worse. Intuitively, Sam sat next to Dan and then asked him to join his group of friends. Dan hesitated but Sam gave him an inviting smile. That was all it took. Dan's shoulders eased and his face lifted as his conversation among the boys flowed.
Each day, Sam passed by a neighbourhood shop on his way to school. Mrs Raju, the owner, often struggled to carry the heavy boxes of groceries inside because of her weak knees. Rain or shine, Sam never hesitated to help lift them into the shop and sort the items out. "Such a kind boy," Mrs Raju would say, her eyes crinkling as she patted his back approvingly.
One afternoon, while Sam was rushing to his enrichment class, he noticed a little girl crying inconsolably at the playground. Her balloon had floated away. Despite knowing that he could be late for class, Sam walked quickly to a nearby shop. He used the last of his allowance to buy a new balloon. As Sam handed it to the little girl, she squealed in delight and ran back to her mother. Sam simply grinned. He thought such gestures were what anyone would do.
On the last day of school, Sam's form teacher asked the class to reflect on the most significant thing that had happened to them that year. He sat in deep thoughts when his friend, Jen, nudged him with a quizzed look. "You look stumped," she commented.
Sam sighed. "I am clueless. It's just that nothing special ever happens to me."
Jen shook her head. In all seriousness, Jen said softly but firmly, "I don't think so. You are the good that happens to others." Sam stared blankly at her.
"All those little things you do. You have changed people's lives, even if you don't see it. You make people's day better. Maybe that's better than random good things happening to you. It means so much more when they show you gratitude," Jen continued. For the first time, Sam looked back – not through his own eyes, but through the eyes of those he had helped. He remembered Mrs Raju smiling as she greeted her customers, her knees now aching less because of his help. He recalled Dan texting him a funny joke because he had a friend to talk to. It dawned on him that Jen was right and he was appreciative.
Sam finally realised that good things were indeed happening to him, just not in the way he had expected. Mrs Raju had once made his day by giving him some snacks after he helped her. The little girl would run to greet him joyfully each time they met at the playground. Dan's family also invited him to their family events.
It dawned on Sam that the acts of recognition could come in small ways. They were quiet in the warmth of a 'Thank you', a grateful smile, or the unnoticed but undeniable impact on someone.
Simply gazing ________ the greenery outdoors improves your mood.
It makes the problems you face feel small ________ the vast nature.
When outdoors, birds and their melodic songs ________ impossible to drown out too.
It has been scientifically proven that birdsong bolsters our mental health. Research has shown ________ when people listen to birdsong, they have a significantly better sense of mental well-being that lingers ________ hours.
Birdsong refreshes your mind; some studies have indicated that exposure to nature on a whole reduces activity in parts of the brain associated ________ stress and anxiety.
Being out in nature helps us to relax ________ peaceful surroundings calm our minds.
Being in nature not only delights your senses ________ also captures your attention.
Listening to birdsong is also a form of relaxation as it immerses us in ________ present moment.
The sights, smells and sounds of the outdoors are starkly delicate ________ compared to.
Flashing lights and blaring horns. Watching tree buds unravel, soaking in the smell after rain and hearing the gentle sounds of animals in nature make us feel alive.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.
About two weeks before my birthday, I fell and broke my wrist. I had choose to hold my birthday party at a skating rink but I was dissapointed when I realised that it was unable to skate at my own party.
We could not cancel the party at the rink as everything had been planned.
During the day of my party, I stood by the front door of the skating rink, greeting my friends. As one of my friends, Sarah, arrived, I immediatley noticed that she was limping.
Sarah told me that she had hurt her leg accident while going down the stairs.
I assumed that Sarah, just like me, be probably in pain.
For the entire time at the party, she akompanied me. Because of Sarah, my party was serc _______ more enjoyable than I had expected.
A few weeks later, I met Sarah's mother at a restraunt; I asked if Sarah's leg was better.
Her mother looked astonished and shake her head.
She told me that she had never injured her leg. That was when I realised that Sarah had made a gehkrfise and stayed beside me just to make me feel better.
Fill in the blank: It has been found to ______________ stress, thus enhancing overall happiness.
Fill in the blank: Mindfulness exercises include slowing down ______________ breathing and being calm.
Fill in the blank: ______________ we practise mindfulness, we train our minds to focus and think more clearly.
Fill in the blank: Although it sounds simple in theory, it can be ______________ to switch off our thoughts even for a few seconds without thinking about either work ______________ studies.
Fill in the blank: Mindfulness can ______________ both mental and physical health.
Fill in the blank: Research shows that ______________ mindfulness regularly can bring down our stress level and strengthen immunity.
Fill in the blank: For ______________, a few years ago, twelve boys were stuck in a cave in northern Thailand with their football coach.
Fill in the blank: They were finally rescued ______________ spending more than two weeks in darkness.
Fill in the blank: The coach had taught the boys ______________ to breathe, redirect their thoughts and keep calm.
Fill in the blank: This helped the boys stay mentally and physically strong ______________ their ordeal.
Fill in the blank: In ______________, mindfulness can boost our memory and concentration.
Fill in the blank: As such, some schools have started teaching students to do a five-minute mindful breathing exercise during recess every day.
Fill in the blank: At first, the students were not used ______________ the exercise.
Fill in the blank: Rushing through it would defeat the purpose. ______________, we need to anchor ourselves to the present moment.
Fill in the blank: Next, we must ______________ attention to our breathing and avoid being distracted by our surroundings.
John drew a picture of his dog. Then he framed it up. Having ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________.
Aziz told his teacher, "I wrote the composition yesterday." Aziz told his teacher ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________.
My brother does not like to play computer games. He likes to go outdoors. ____________________________________________ would rather ________ ____________________________________________.
Many people like speaking with him because he is sincere. Due to his ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________.
Joyce can go cycling if her mother approves. ____________________________________________, only with the ________________ ____________________________________________.
Do you know that healthy snacks can be delicious and easy to prepare? Last week, our school organised its annual Health Awareness Week, and students were filled with excitement! The week began with a Snack Box Challenge, where students brought colourful, healthy snacks from home, such as wholemeal sandwiches, fruit skewers, and yoghurt cups.
Students also participated in a Bento Art Workshop, where they created fun animal-shaped rice balls by themselves. Many students were surprised by how delicious healthy food could be.
The school canteen vendors joined in by offering new dishes that align with national nutrition guidelines. To make them tasty, the vendors added creative touches, such as adding crispy tofu to whole-grain noodles. They even replaced the sweetened sodas with naturally flavoured low-sugar fruit infusions. During recess, teachers noticed that even students who usually avoided healthy snacks polished off their plates!
A survey showed over 80% of students are now more willing to pack or eat more nutritious snacks!
"Choose healthy snacks for growing children." The image in Text 1 supports this statement as the children shown are looking _______.
According to the poster in Text 1, eating healthy snacks helps children to _______.
Based on Text 1, which of the following statements is not true?
"Do you know that healthy snacks can be delicious and easy to prepare?" Why did the writer ask the question in Text 2?
Which one of the following phrases from Text 2 does not show the application of the healthy eating tips given in Text 1?
Read this passage and answer questions 66 to 75.
Chimpanzees can help each other when injured. Scientists have found that chimpanzees not only treat their own wounds __________ they also provide 'first aid' to others.
This discovery suggests that chimps may recognise __________ another chimp is hurt and try to help.
A team of researchers came to this conclusion after reviewing years of previous studies __________ observing two groups of chimpanzees for months.
The researchers documented numerous cases where chimpanzees cared __________ their own injuries.
These methods can help remove dirt and prevent infections __________ chimp saliva and some plants contain healing chemicals.
Even __________ remarkable were seven examples of chimps helping others.
For instance, a young male chimp was seen licking a wound on another chimp's leg, and in one case, a male helped a female escape __________ a rope trap.
These acts were not limited __________ family members, showing how social care extends __________ family ties.
These acts were not limited __________ family members, showing how social care extends __________ family ties.
__________ behaviours are likely instinctive, but others appear to be learned. Scientists plan to continue studying these behaviours to better understand how chimps learn and care for each other.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Fitness trackers are wearable gadgets that help you understand how active and healthy you are. We measure things like how much you move, your heart rate, and how well you have sleeping.
This information helps you learn more about your daily habits and overall hee'lth.
One key feature of fitness trackers is tracking your steps. They use built-in sansers to count movement and ditect if you are walking, running or climbing stairs.
Many trackers also shine a light on your skin to check the rate in which your heart is beating.
You can view all this data on the device or in an app on your phone. For some people, starting out with new technology may feel a bit donnitina, but it becomes easier with use.
Fitness trackers let you set goals like walking 10,000 steps a day – a number making popular by a Japanese doctor in the 1980s.
These goals offer valused motivation to stay active and healthy.
Some trackers also monitor stress levels and sleep quality. Although fitness trackers are not perfect, they can help detect potenshielly serious health issues – some of which could turn favite if ignored.
They are like small coaches on your wrist, guiding you towards better habits every day.
They are like small coaches on your wrist, guiding you towards better habits every day.
(60)
understand yourself better. Try making stories part of your nightly routine – you might find that
they make your nights calmer and your days brighter.
We did not want to miss the show so we left the house early.
"Do you want to eat sushi tomorrow?" Mother asked Andrea. Mother asked Andrea if ___
Charlie ran out of the house. He did not lock the door. Without ___
The library will open earlier starting next Monday. With effect ___
Since he started working, I have hardly seen him. Seldom ___
From paragraph 1, state what the writer first observed which made him realise that they were moving. [1m]
Based on lines 4 – 11, why did the writer's family have to move again? [2m]
Why did the move feel heavier' (lines 9 – 10) when the writer had to make a fresh start?
From paragraph 3, pick out a four-word phrase that tells us that the writer had to begin learning to live somewhere new again. [1m]
From paragraph 4, how can we tell that Mama was positive despite the poor living conditions? [1m]
Complete the table below by identifying how the writer felt at specific points in the story and explaining why he felt that way. Use evidence from lines 15 – 26. [4m]
Look at the table below. What do the word in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [2m]
Explain clearly what Papa meant when he reminded the writer that work 'came first' (line 20) even though the writer wanted to go to school. [2m]
Based on lines 21 – 39, state whether each statement in the table below is 'True' or 'False', then give one reason why you think so.
Circle one word that best describes how the writer felt about moving at the start of the story. DO NOT CIRCLE MORE THAN ONE WORD.
What did the writer finally learn at the end of the story?
Family time offers invaluable benefits; it strengthens emotional bonds, boosts confidence, and reinforces our sense of self-worth. For children, it cultivates a robust sense of identity, helping them grow into confident and secure adults.
There are countless ways to enjoy quality family time. Indoors, a lively game night can fill the house with laughter and joy. Outdoors, a simple picnic in the park can create cherished memories while allowing us to admire nature.
As the saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." When family bonds are strong, they form the heart of a thriving community. Together, we support and uplift one another. In this way, we grow stronger.
According to the poster in Text 1, the movie __________.
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best fits the film that will be screened in the park?
"Many mysteries to unravel... Will he escape?" The image in the poster best supports this by giving the impression that the boy is __________.
"Ready for a magical night under the stars with your loved ones?" Why did the writer ask the question in Text 1?
Text 2 supports the message of the poster in Text 1 as it also __________.
"Where are you going, Gary?" Leon's voice stopped me. He was fiddling with the long frayed tail of his goat costume, looking as ridiculous as I felt, yet standing tall all the same. He gave a look – the kind that only best friends would, halfway between challenge and comfort. "It's okay to be nervous," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We all start somewhere. You've put in the blood, sweat and tears for this. You're not backing out now, are you? We're all in this together." His words hit me. The long rehearsals, the endless retakes, the body aches. Had I forgotten all those? I took a deep breath. Not for the costumes but the effort. Not for the pink rabbit but for the people who believed in me. I was not going to run away. Not this time.
Two days later at the full-dress rehearsal, my confidence cracked. The auditorium was buzzing with quiet chatter. My silly costume made every movement a chore; each hop felt unnatural, blown out of proportion. I shuffled out, my heart pounding like a drum. The spotlight hit the stage as if it were preparing to expose my secret. I began my scene. Then came the giggles. Small at first, then spreading like wildfire. My shoulders slumped when I stumbled over a line. Laughter. More laughter. The gnawing doubt clawed at me – was that failure? What a disaster! If there were a trapdoor, I would gladly vanished. Exiting the stage after my part, my oversized foot caught on a mess of wires. Like a puppet with its strings cut, I tripped and landed on my knees. Laughter exploded. Lying there, humiliation scorched my face. All of a sudden, something changed. I remembered Leon's words. "We all start somewhere." I knew I had to face my tears. Slowly, the nerves faded away.
Then came the opening night. The curtain rose to thunderous applause. My stomach churned with butterflies, but this time, I welcomed them. As I hopped into the spotlight, the audience erupted into laughter – not mockery, but delight. Every exaggerated movement, every silly twitch of my ears added to the joy. I was not being laughed at. Instead, my antics were making the guests laugh. Backstage, Leon flashed me a thumbs-up. The tears were irrational. I had made peace with them.
"See? You did it! You're a natural," he said when the final applause rang out. I smiled, the joy of the moment finally sinking in.
"Thanks for talking me out of leaving. It isn't so bad after all," I replied, tugging at the floppy ears. "This outfit still looks ridiculous." Leon grinned. In that pink fluff, I had learnt about courage and that the stage was not about perfection. It was about showing up, even when I was scared. My debut performance was a success.
Native __________ Singapore, the Tembusu Tree can grow up to 40 metres tall. Its most distinctive feature – a gently curled, low-hanging branch – reaches outward as if offering a reminder of its presence to __________ who walk past.
Also known affectionately as the 'Five-dollar Tree', this is the tree that graces the back of the note. Few would expect such __________ iconic image to be not only real but also __________ accessible to the public.
Few would expect such __________ iconic image to be not only real but also __________ accessible to the public.
The image is so ingrained in our everyday life that people often overlook the significance __________ the symbol.
This heritage tree is believed to have existed __________ the Botanic Gardens was officially founded in 1859.
Close to two centuries old, this tree __________ been admired by generations, some of whom return just to marvel at its resilience.
Close to two centuries old, this tree __________ been admired by generations, some of whom return just to marvel at its resilience.
__________ its thick, weathered trunk and an expansive canopy of branches, the tree represents the enduring spirit of a nation.
Standing unshaken by storms __________ remaining deeply grounded in its values, it never forsakes the roots that define it.
The Tembusu Tree is truly a symbol of what Singapore takes pride in – __________ anchored and forward-looking.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. Good morning! I am Daryl, your Head Prefect. I am thrilled to share with you a meaningful project that could really benefit from your invovement.
Collaborating with the Computer Club, the prefects will be organising a two-day computer literacy workshop for the elderly folks in our neighbourhood.
This initative is our first outreach effort to bridge the digital divide by the young and old generations.
Thus, we are inviting committed and emphatick student volunteers to guide the elderly participants.
It is easy for us to take such a skill set for granted because for someone who did not grow up with digital technology, those can be rather intimidating.
Do you know how lanely it can be when you can't connect to the digital world around us?
By sharing your knowledge and applics your skills, you'll not only empower our seniors, but also sharpen your comunication and coaching skills.
If you're ready to step up and give back, sign up at the booth just outside the General Office today.
We look forward to seen you at the workshop! Thank you.
Fill in the blank: Marcus, an enthusiastic toy ______________, often imagined a space
Fill in the blank: where visitors from all ______________ of life could rediscover the past, and rekindle childhood memories of playing with favourite figurines and stuffed toys.
Fill in the blank: His dream finally came true in 2007 when he successfully set up this museum, ______________ his personal collection from more than forty countries.
Fill in the blank: Offering a fascinating journey through time, the museum displays toys from the 1840s. Toys ______________ action figures, wind-up robots and miniature cars awe children and adults ______________.
Fill in the blank: These toys were carefully designed to move or make sounds when ______________ up with a key in the winding slot, showing the creativity of the toy designers.
Fill in the blank: ______________ of the highlights of the museum is the mechanical toy, which can be powered by winding a key, ______________ a button, or pushing a lever, ______________ of relying on batteries.
Fill in the blank (preceding 53): ______________ of the highlights of the museum is the mechanical toy, which can be powered by winding a key,
Fill in the blank: which can be powered by winding a key, ______________ a button, or pushing a lever, ______________ of relying on batteries.
Fill in the blank: "These toys were not mere ornaments. In fact, they were companions during our childhood days," said the museum owner, his ______________ carrying a note of nostalgia.
Fill in the blank: "These toys were not mere ornaments. In fact, they were companions during our childhood days," said the museum owner, his ______________ carrying a note of nostalgia.
Fill in the blank: This emotional connection to the past can foster feelings of elation and warmth, and at the same time offer a sense of continuity between generations. It is indeed amazing to note ______________ these toy characters were part of the children's playtime ______________.
Fill in the blank: It is indeed amazing to note ______________ these toy characters were part of the children's playtime ______________ technology took over.
Fill in the blank: Central to the museum's mission of learning and discovery, the place offers an educational experience which helps visitors ______________ to the past in an entertaining and informative way.
Fill in the blank: Central to the museum's mission of learning and discovery, the place offers an educational experience which helps visitors ______________ to the past in an entertaining and informative way.
Fill in the blank: Truly, the Museum of Toys is a magical place where toys come to ______________. Today, it continues to promote that belief.
Our relatives insisted on paying us a visit. It was raining heavily. No matter how _______________________________________________________________
The children do not like fried chicken wings. They like fruits and vegetables instead. The children prefer _______________________________________________________________
"What is your decision after hearing all the available options?" my mother asked me. My mother asked me _______________________________________________________________
The team members were sorry about not running faster during the final event. The team members wished that _______________________________________________________________
The lifts are maintained regularly to ensure that they function properly. The regular _______________________________________________________________
I was the second eldest. My siblings and I often ran about and when we got too boisterous, the whole house shook. "The house is going to collapse!" my mother would yell at us.
We seemed to live in perpetual darkness. The nearby trees formed a dense canopy. They blocked out much of the sunlight during the day. The nights were always a brooding, foreboding time. That was the 1950s and early 1960s, and we used kerosene lamps which gave only dim light. The gloom was made worse by the superstitious fears Mother passed on to us. Raised in a traditional Chinese family where ancestor worship was practised, we believed in ghosts and malevolent wandering spirits.
As little children, we were sometimes just afraid of the dark and Mother would ask in a voice tinged with fear, "Why are you so afraid? What do you see?" Although we saw nothing, her questions made us even more frightened. They aroused in us feelings of apprehension and phobia. To me, there was nothing more terrifying than the prospect of meeting a ghost.
Our friends, probably afraid of the dark, creepy appearance of the house, rarely came over to play. I once overheard one of my relatives telling her children that our house was haunted. This did not affect us one bit. We had fun playing Hide-And-Seek around the house. The walls were splendid for climbing -- the overlapping horizontal planks provided excellent toeholds. We scaled the walls to our "hideouts" to get away from the seeker.
By the time I was a teenager, my superstitious fears had been replaced by feelings of discontent and anger. I envied all my friends. They had nicer homes with proper plumbing. We did not even have a toilet! Instead, we used chamber pots. If friends dropped by unexpectedly before the chamber pots had been emptied, I would be overcome with shame. Although most of the time they were hidden away in the bedrooms, I was sure my friends could smell them. After school, I would walk home in a different direction, giving my friends the impression that I lived nearer their street where the houses were nicer.
When I was thirteen, I sprained my ankle at school and my principal, a Canadian named Mr Spark, drove me home. We arrived just in time to see my younger sister, Suk Kiat, at the stream. She was emptying a chamber pot. This last scene unfolded in painfully slow motion. I wished I was somewhere else at that moment.
Pick out two words from the first paragraph which describe the condition of the writer's house. (2m)
What caused the writer's house to be 'very hot in the day'? (1m)
Which two-word phrase in paragraph 3 tells you that the writer's mother was religious?
Give two reasons why the writer's house was in 'perpetual darkness'.
The writer encountered many experiences and emotions as a result of living in his childhood house. Complete the table below using information from paragraphs 5 and 6.
Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right.
Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so.
Based on lines 48 – 55, state one quality that best describes Mr Ho. Support your answer with information from the passage. (2m)
Which two of the following words best describe the writer in his younger days? Put tick (✓) in the box beside each of your answers. DO NOT TICK MORE THAN TWO BOXES. (2m)
Explain how the writer's view of his house changed after Mr Ho's visit. (2m)
When children are in a happy environment, they feel good about themselves. It helps them be brave when things get tough. It makes them stronger. Being positive helps children make friends and get along well with people in general. They learn to understand how others feel to work together with them.
Being positive makes children smart. It helps them ask questions and solve problems. They become good at figuring things out and learning new concepts and skills. When children are happy, they stay healthy too. It's like magic – being positive helps their bodies stay strong and they do well in school. They feel excited to learn and to try their best.
With positivity, children can achieve anything!
The camp in Text 1 is most suitable for children who __________.
Which of the following is true about the camp?
Which of the following phrases best describes what camp participants could become as portrayed by the image and contents in Text 1?
What is the main purpose of the camp?
Which key learning point in Text 1 is described in Text 2?
Kareem made a beeline for his dream bike once he stepped into the bike shop. As he walked down the aisle, he noticed some older models under a big red sign that read "Mega Clearance Sale". A shiver ran down his spine as the image of Shawn and his wrecked bike flashed before him. He did a quick mental calculation and the sum was right a Speedster X or two of the others.
"Hi," Kareem appeared at Shawn's door the next morning. "Want to ride together?"
Shawn fumed at the ridiculous question but before he could say anything, Kareem took a stride to the side, revealing two shiny identical bikes along the corridor. "What-... No, it couldn't be..." Shawn's eyes grew wide as saucers.
Mother who had witnessed the scene from the corridor walked up to Kareem and nudged him playfully, "Your name definitely suits you."
There are 10 blanks, numbered 26 to 35, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. The letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking. (10 marks) EACH WORD CAN BE USED ONLY ONCE Ah Meng, an orang-utan, arrived in Singapore at the tender age of seven. Smuggled from Indonesia, she was kept as _____(26)_____ illegal pet. She was later saved by a veterinarian_____(27)_____was taken to the Singapore Zoo. At the zoo, Ah Meng became hugely popular through the 'Breakfast with Orang-utan' programme, _____(28)_____allowed visitors to be photographed with Ah Meng while having _____(29)_____breakfast. She was so popular that even foreign celebrities queued to meet her. Among _____(30)_____were the actress Elizabeth Taylor and the singer Michael Jackson. Following her popularity, Ah Meng became the poster girl for Singapore's tourism industry. Her contribution towards raising the profile _____(31)_____ Singapore was recognised in 1992 when she received the 'Special Tourism Ambassador' award. Throughout her life, she _____(32)_____ featured in more than 30 documentary films _____(33)_____ many famous co-stars. These films helped to raise _____(34)_____awareness about the need for conservation. When Ah Meng passed on in 2008, many people turned _____(35)_____ to pay their final respects. In 2016, the Singapore Zoo announced that Ah Meng's granddaughter would take on her grandmother's name and succeed her as the zoo's icon.
I am passionate about reading. Although I have serveral hobbies such as
watching movies and hiking, reading books is my faverite pastime. There are
a few reasons why I love reading. The first reason is that books rejuvenate
me. Reading a book always transported me to faraway lands where I can let my
imagination soar. This brings me many joy.
The second reason is that reading makes my mind sharp. It is a known fact that reading widely has many advantages. The knowledge I gain for reading
enables me to know more about the world. I am also secretly pleased by the fact that whenever I utter a clever kote from a book, everyone around me
will be dumbfounded.
While most people find reading to be an upheel task, reading is a source
of enjoyment for me. I had made it a habit to read at least a chapter before my bedtime daily. Reading may be a chore for others, but definitely not for me!
Fill in the blank: Looking for a fun and engaging way to stay fit? Skating on wheels is a sport which attracts people of ______________ ages and backgrounds, from young children to the elderly.
Fill in the blank: It helps you stay active and keep your body ______________ shape.
Fill in the blank: Skating engages various muscle groups, ______________ those in the legs and core.
Fill in the blank: It is a great aerobic exercise that ______________ your heart pumping and boosts blood circulation.
Fill in the blank: Skating regularly can contribute to a healthier circulatory system, cutting down the ______________ of heart disease.
Fill in the blank: Skating also challenges your body awareness and stability by requiring you to maintain balance and coordination ______________ in motion.
Fill in the blank: It involves a range of motions ______________ bending, twisting, and flexing the joints, which promotes joint flexibility and mobility as you glide and manoeuvre on skates.
Fill in the blank: As a low-impact exercise, skating puts less stress on your joints ______________ running or jumping.
Fill in the blank: This makes it an ______________ exercise for individuals with joint pain, providing a workout without excessive joint strain.
Fill in the blank: Besides its physical advantages, skating is ______________ good for your mental health.
Fill in the blank: The concentration ______________ to maintain the continuous motion during skating helps clear your mind and promote relaxation.
Fill in the blank: Whether you are enjoying skating ______________ at a rink or outdoors on suitable pavements, remember to wear appropriate ______________ gear, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, to protect ______________ from injuries.
Fill in the blank: Whether you are enjoying skating at a rink or outdoors on suitable pavements, remember to wear appropriate ______________ gear, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, to protect ______________ from injuries.
Fill in the blank: Whether you are enjoying skating at a rink or outdoors on suitable pavements, remember to wear appropriate gear, such as helmets, knee pads and elbow pads, to protect ______________ from injuries.
Fill in the blank: Overall, skating offers an extensive ______________ of health benefits. So, take up skating if you have not tried this fun activity!
"Did you take our dog out for a walk?" Mrs Pang asked her husband. Mrs Pang asked _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
My cousins had not been to Chinatown. They lost their way. Not _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
I will call you. I am almost home. As soon as ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
Nothing was done by my brother to clean up our room. My brother ___________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
I was amazed that he ate the whole pizza. To my _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
Furthermore, how zoos utilises donations is hotly debated. Donations are often collected in the name of conservation. Apart from habitat conservation, it is also reasonable that a portion of the donations is used to pay the zoo's staff for they have a direct impact on taking care of the animals. However, some zoos may prioritise using their donations to build attractions just to bring in more visitors. Others might breed exotic animals like lions or tigers to draw crowds but neglect them in their old age.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true of the zoo?
"Keep us alive, Keep them alive." Why did the writer make this statement in Text 1?
According to Text 2, which of the following is not mentioned as a possible consequence of poor enclosure management in zoos? Some animals may
In Text 2, which of the following is a reason why a zoo's use of donations is debated?
Some people may hesitate to respond to the appeal for donations made in Text 1 because Text 2 says __________.
Alex's father, the sole breadwinner, was suffering from chronic pain. It had left him without a job for months. The family was going through a difficult time. As the eldest son, Alex was determined to put an end to their financial struggles. If he made it through to the team, it would turn the tables for his family. He would have a stable source of income while living his biggest dream of being a professional basketball player.
He hurried a waiting distance away from the indoor basketball court. His heart pounded as he hummed down the slippery street. The trial of a lifetime awaited him, and time was ticking away. Yet, life in had other plans in store for him. An elderly woman, trail and confused, stood precariously on the kerb of a busy junction. Cars honked and swerved around her, and panic flickered in her eyes. Alex shuddered to think what could happen to her if she was left alone. "With a reassuring smile, Alex approached her. The woman's eyes, clouded with anxiety, met Alex's. "I can't find the bus stop," she stammered. Alex knew every precious minute counted, yet he could not ignore her plea. "Don't worry. Let me help you," Alex is soothed. He took the woman's arm in his and guided her across the chaotic junction. The pair weathered slowly through a sea of impatient commuters to the bus stop. Time ticked away. Eventually, the elderly woman boarded her bus and found a seat, mouthing words of thanks to Alex as the bus pulled away. Although the trial awaited, Alex was glad to have chosen to answer a more urgent call for kindness.
Alex resumed his journey to the basketball court. Just then, a car hurled past a puddle, sending a torrent of dirty water splashing across his pair of shoes. He gasped, his heart sinking as the grime liquid soaked through his shoes and socks. For a moment, he felt a wave of despair wash over him due to this unexpected situation. However, he could not afford to wallow in self-pity. With no time to lose, he quickened his pace towards his destination.
Fifteen minutes after his scheduled time for the trial, Alex made it to the court. His heart sank even further at the sight of the other participants, who were putting on their best game. They were also visibly more presentable in their pristine jerseys and basketball shoes. Alex shook out like a sore thumb. Much as he knew that the chances were slim, he braced himself for the impossible. He would not give up just yet. He summoned his courage and approached the trial officials for a final chance at the tryout despite missing his slot. With trembling hands, Alex explained his situation, apologising profusely for his tardiness. Instead of turning him away, the officials listened with empathy. Their expressions softened as they heard his story. In a remarkable display of compassion, they acceded to his plea. Seizing the golden opportunity, Alex warmed up and took to the court, pushing the last that his shoes were all squishy out of his mind. His full concentration was on the game and how badly he wanted to prove himself worthy of the national team.
The first few tests were a series of drills. Alex cleared those with ease, having trained rigorously over countless hours of practices through the years. The match that was to take place was the true test for the participants. Besides attacking and defensive skills, being an effective team player was the key trait that officials were looking out for in players. To their delight, Alex communicated well with those who were on his team and created opportunities for his team to score. Seeing his energetic and spectacular play, the officials observing by the sidelines knew without a doubt that it was the result of countless hours of blood, sweat and tears put in.
After the trial, Alex made his way home. His father was resting, so Alex entered his bedroom quietly. He looked at the poster on his bedroom wall – Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable. Just then, his mobile phone rang. He received news that he had made it to the national basketball team. Alex was ecstatic and said, "I had setbacks today, but I didn't give up. I did it!"
Yip Yew Chong is a renowned Singaporean artist who brings our streets to life with his vibrant murals. _____________ of his murals narrates tales of Singapore's rich cultural heritage and history.
With his meticulous strokes, _____________ keen eye for detail, Yip transforms ordinary walls _____________ captivating storytelling canvases.
With his meticulous strokes, _____________ keen eye for detail, Yip transforms ordinary walls _____________ captivating storytelling canvases.
Yip's murals not only adorn the streets but also serve as his interpretations _____________ Singapore's past, present and future, _____________ depicting scenes of traditional trades like street hawkers and laundry ladies to showcasing iconic landmarks and everyday life.
Yip's murals not only adorn the streets but also serve as his interpretations _____________ Singapore's past, present and future, _____________ depicting scenes of traditional trades like street hawkers and laundry ladies to showcasing iconic landmarks and everyday life.
Yip's art encapsulates _____________ essence of Singaporean identity.
Beyond mere aesthetics, Yip's murals evoke _____________ sense of nostalgia and belonging among locals _____________ fascinating and delighting visitors from around the world.
Beyond mere aesthetics, Yip's murals evoke _____________ sense of nostalgia and belonging among locals _____________ fascinating and delighting visitors from around the world.
His dedication to preserving and sharing Singapore's cultural legacy _____________ art has earned him widespread acclaim and admiration.
Yip's murals serve as more than just visual treats, fostering a deeper connection _____________ people and their surroundings.
Kopi luwak, or civet coffee, is considered an exotic and expensive drink. A unique and intreqing beverage, it is brewed from coffee beans extracted from the faeces of the Asian palm civet, a small animal native of Southeast Asia.
the Asian palm civet, a small animal native of Southeast Asia.
The civets selectively eat ripe coffee cherries, digesting the fruity pulp while leaving the coffee beans intact. These then passes through the civet's digestive system
where supposedly enhances their flavour by reducing bitterness and acidity while
imparting a unique aromatic scent.
After being excreted, the beans are collected, thoroughly washed, and then roasted to perfection. Despite its unusual production method, kopi luwak enthusiasts
love its flavour. It is noticeably not bitter and has a complex flavour that is smooth,
earthy and sweet with the hint of chocolate. Due to the popularity of kopi luwak, several
plantation farms raise palm civets, sometimes in unfaverabei conditions. As such,
controversy surrounds the production of kopi luwak, with some producers confines civets in cramped cages. Despite this unethical practice, kopi luwak remains a popular beverage.
Fill in the blank: Adaptations are like nature's survival kit, equipped with tools and tricks that help plants and animals thrive in their environments. These specialised traits help organisms obtain food, avoid predators and __________ with changing conditions, ensuring their continued existence in the natural world.
Fill in the blank: __________ adaptations, organisms would certainly face a higher risk of extinction as they struggle to compete.
Fill in the blank: __________ resources.
Fill in the blank: Consider the humble moth, for __________. Its wings are adorned with patterns that __________ the eyes of larger predators to scare off would-be attackers and keep __________.
Fill in the blank: patterns that __________ the eyes of larger predators to scare off would-be attackers
Fill in the blank: safe from harm. If an insect looks like a leaf, it is not easily __________ by hungry birds.
Fill in the blank: not easily __________ by hungry birds. This explains why numerous insects __________ evolved to look like leaves over the last several thousand years.
Fill in the blank: __________ Another animal, the chameleon, has an incredible __________ to change its colour to match the surroundings.
Fill in the blank: Another animal, the chameleon, has an incredible __________ to change its colour to match the surroundings.
Fill in the blank: __________ on unsuspecting prey. In fact, certain prey species have bright-coloured or distinctive markings on their bodies to keep predators away.
Fill in the blank: Like animals, adaptations in plants are just as __________ for their survival in diverse environments.
Fill in the blank: Cacti adapt to survive in arid environments by storing water in their thick stems. __________ from their stems, their shallow but wide-reaching root systems __________ them to quickly absorb water from rain or dew.
Fill in the blank: root systems __________ them to quickly absorb water from rain or dew. The spines of the cacti also help them to __________ water loss.
Fill in the blank: The spines of the cacti also help them to __________ water loss. These features help them to survive in deserts.
Fill in the blank: As plants and animals adapt to their environment, they can protect __________ and ensure their continuity. Those that cannot will become extinct.
"Did you finish my cake last night?" my sister asked me. My sister asked me ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Tom clearly explained why he was late. His teacher did not believe him. Despite Tom's ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
You must produce your ticket at the entrance or you will be denied entry. _______________________________________________________________________ unless _____________________________________________________________________
The teacher has not posted the letters that the students wrote to their parents. The letters ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Tom's friend refused to forgive him even though Tom's apology was sincere. No matter how sincerely ______________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Giant pandas are the black and white bears that live in the bamboo forests of southwestern China. They are omnivores but eat mostly bamboo shoots and leaves - up to 12 kilograms a day. Rare and vulnerable, there are only about 1,300 surviving giant pandas in the wild. They are solitary animals, but communicate through various sounds, such as chirps, honks, bleats, and barks.
Conservation
Giant pandas are currently endangered. This is due to the excessive cutting down of trees, which has resulted in a massive loss of habitat. The rising levels of carbon dioxide and global warming are also contributing factors.
Imagine a future when giant pandas can only be found in picture books. We are responsible for the crisis of their extinction. Therefore, we are the only ones who can stop it. Let's do our part and take action now. There are organisations that can help you start this journey to create a better future for generations to come.
According to the advertisement in Text 1, which of the following is not true for the decreasing number of giant pandas?
"Imagine a world without giant pandas." What is the main reason for the writer to make this statement in Text 1?
Based on the advertisement in Text 1, which organisation works closely with Science Centre in this event?
According to Text 2, giant pandas "eat mostly bamboo shoots and leaves - up to 12 kilograms a day". The writer warns about the danger of __________________ that will affect the pandas' diet.
The heading in Text 1 supports Text 2 as __________________.
Matt drove by the main road to reach the cabins, only to see police officers blocking all the traffic at a junction. He turned around and headed for an alternative route. He was halfway up the winding path before his car gave up. He managed to borrow a van from a pharmacy. He drove up the mountain to join Brian, so they could fight this battle together. Both of them headed first to Brian's cluster of rental cabins. Brian wanted to make sure all his guests had left the cabins and he was glad that they had.
Then, Brian had to make a choice. It was either to save his cabins or rescue the people renting other cabins nearby. These people were tourists who did not know their way around the area.
The two friends travelled across the smoky mountain, knocking on the cabin doors to alert tourists about the emergency and then led them to safety. Brian hopped into a tourist's car and drove to the family down the mountain on roads enveloped in smoke and virtually impassable. "I know every nook and cranny of this mountain. Luckily, it came in handy," Brian said.
Matt followed him in his van, and when one family was a safe distance from the fire, Brian and Matt would take the van back up the mountain to look for another trapped person. They helped an elderly woman live across hot gravel to reach her car, and they found a man nearly unconscious in a burning cabin. Thanks to their unplanned ferry service, both of them evacuated fourteen people.
"I owe that guy my life," said Steve, who had lived on the mountain for many years. Steve's home was burnt to a crisp, but he survived after Brian had picked him up and driven him to the foot of the mountain.
On the way down the mountain with the last survivor, Brian and Matt got separated in the heavy smoke and flames. Matt drove the survivor's car and went to look for Brian. By then, the flames had licked the gravel road. Matt was forced to press a wet towel against his nose and mouth to prevent himself from suffocating.
He found Brian near the cabin they had just evacuated, gasping for breath. Matt helped him into his van and gave him a bottle of water to drink. Soon after, Brian regained his composure and managed to drive his own van. He followed Matt closely behind. With flames licking him on either side, Matt stepped on his car accelerator and slammed right through a tree lying across the road. Brian did the same and minutes later, they were off the mountain.
"The fire did not claim a single life on Shields Mountain. However, Brian's home was destroyed and he lost some of the cabins he owned to the fire. With so much to rebuild, he only had one gleam of hope to bring closure. "I wasn't worried about the property damage, especially when I saw those families trapped on the mountain," he said. "I just want to know that their lives are going to go on. It makes it all worthwhile," he said.
For many fishermen, catching a blue lobster is a rare occurrence. However, two Canadian fishermen celebrated capturing not one, __________ two of these bright blue lobsters off the coast of Nova Scotia recently.
Usually, lobsters caught near the Atlantic coast of North America are not very brightly-coloured. Hence, these two fishermen made the news when they caught two vivid blue lobsters __________ quick succession on the very same day. This is traditionally considered to be a sign of good fortune.
The probability of the creature having this colouring __________ widely regarded as being one in two million.
However, Dr David Spiegelhalter, a professor, is inclined to pour a bit of cold water on the story. Based __________ data collected, he estimates that about 200 million lobsters are caught in the North Atlantic every year.
On average, that equates to about 100 blue ones turning __________ in a year. "So for two lobsters to be caught three days apart, quite close to each other, does not seem at all surprising," says Dr Spiegelhalter.
Bright blue lobsters are so-coloured because of a genetic abnormality that causes them __________ to produce more of a certain protein than others. Thus, they stand __________
[Part of question 31 continued] Bright blue lobsters are so-coloured because of a genetic abnormality that causes them to produce more of a certain protein than others. Thus, they stand __________ from the rest of a catch.
"Anything bright blue would look very odd because the American lobster is usually a sort of green-brown," says Charlie Ellis, another researcher. He added that for most European fishermen, they would not be extremely surprised __________ catching a blue lobster.
This is because the lobsters in the European seas tend to be of a duller blue in colour, __________ the real sort of shimmering blue is relatively rare.
Thus, for a European fisherman, catching a blue lobster would not call for a great celebration.
When I was very young, due to my father's work, my family moved to Singapore.
It was a happy time. My father was doing well in his job. We lived comfortable with the occasional luxury such as enjoying British biscuits and other goodies.
My father bought toys for us too. Some of my toys was ordered from Robinsons, a famous department store, which occupied a big building in Raffles Place.
I had a rocking horse from there once, but I cut down its tail, thinking it would grow again but it was a big mistake.
When I was about six years old, I went to a nearby primary school run by a Tamil schoolmaster.
All I could remember about my lessons was the excitement of learning my ABC.
The whole school environment brought joy to my learning.
At home, we spoke only Tamil. In my father's office, he and his colleagues spoke English and I began to pick up some English at school.
One of the earliest events I should recall was going off to school in Singapore.
My father took me there by taxi, together with my sisters. My only recollect of the journey was my first sight of Newton Circus. In those days, it was just a roundabout.
Fill in each blank with a suitable word.
My friends cheered me up. I was disappointed with the results. Seeing my _________________ _________________
Mr Tan told Ali, "You left these storybooks in class yesterday." Mr Tan told _________________ _________________ _________________
The postman has delivered the packages on time despite the heavy rain. The packages _________________ _________________
The blind man found his way home. The student assisted him. _________________ _________________ with _________________
The basketball players just could not catch up with the other team. They tried very hard to score. No matter _________________ _________________
Some zoos house animals in enclosures, and the condition of animal enclosures is a major concern. Animals are kept in small, unnatural spaces in some zoos, leaving them bored and stressed. They often display disturbed behaviour that indicates mental health problems.
Furthermore, how zoos utilise donations is hotly debated. While many donate to help animals, not all funds go directly to improving the animals' wellbeing. Some zoos prioritise building attractions to attract more visitors instead of conserving habitats. Some zoos breed animals like lions or tigers to draw crowds, but these animals may face neglect or poor treatment in their old age.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is true of the zoo?
"Keep us alive. Keep them alive." Why did the writer make this statement in Text 1?
Based on the poster in Text 1, which of the following best describes the zoo you expect to visit?
"Collective action is needed to save more of them." The pictures support this by giving the impression that the animals are __________.
Some people may hesitate to respond to the appeal made in Text 1 because Text 2 says __________.
There are 10 blanks, numbered 26 to 35, in the passage below. From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to Q) in the blank. This letters (I) and (O) have been omitted to avoid confusion during marking.
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'bear Ryan,'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'How have you been? I hope everything's going well at your side!'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'I recently came across something quite faceineiting and thought I'd share it'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'know that in ancient Rome, breakfast wasn't part of the daily ruleteen?'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'typical had only one meal a day, usually at noon. They believed it was healthier for the digestive system, and eating in the morning was seen as unnessesary'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'Later on, during medieval times in Europe, religion inphlluensed how people ate.'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'Before Lent, a fasting period, people had to finish their meat, especially pork and bacon, which were commonly reared. This led to large meals in the morning to use up the food, which helped inspired the idea of the full English breakfast.'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'In Singapore, breakfast is quite different! It's a meal filled with vary and'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'creativity. You'll find everything from newtreesous meals like oats and fruit to'
Correct the spelling or grammatical error in: 'hearty favourites like nasi lemak and kaya toast. Everyone has different prefers.'
Fill in the blank: Writing is an important part of our daily lives. It is, __________, a difficult skill to learn and master.
Fill in the blank: By __________, a head start with some simple activities, parents can help their children develop good writing skills from an early age.
Fill in the blank: By doing __________, parents are actually contributing to their children's future success as students and as adults by teaching them to express __________.
Fill in the blank: As children get older, they will be expected to show more sophisticated writing skills and to complete more complex tasks in writing. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to write essays as __________ of their admissions application.
Fill in the blank: Every day, we need to write to complete various tasks, such as filling __________ a form or composing a letter.
Fill in the blank: These tasks require us to write __________ and organize information effectively.
Fill in the blank: Whether we are writing by __________ or on the computer, many assignments and examinations require us to write short answers or long essays as a way of assessing what we have __________.
Fill in the blank: Whether we are writing by __________ or on the computer, many assignments and examinations require us to write short answers or long essays as a way of assessing what we have __________.
Fill in the blank: Whether we are writing by __________ or on the computer, many assignments and examinations require us to write short answers or long essays as a way of assessing what we have __________.
Fill in the blank: In many kinds of jobs, employees are required to write on a daily __________. For example, they may be required to perform administrative duties, write research reports or newspaper articles.
Fill in the blank: Whatever the task is, their ability to do their job well may __________ on their writing skills.
Fill in the blank: Many job applicants must also __________ a letter of application when applying for a new job.
Fill in the blank: Writing is an important __________ of communication.
Fill in the blank: Letters and emails help us keep in __________ with others.
Fill in the blank: While writing can be hard to teach and learn, parental __________ can make a big difference.
Since 2015, Food for All has been tackling food insecurity, providing nutritious food support to children, low-income families, and the elderly. Last year, over $35 million worth of food were distributed to more than 85,000 beneficiaries. Being part of this effort is very meaningful, and it is heartwarming to witness families—parents and children alike—coming together to donate food. Mr Joseph Lee, who donated food with his son, shared that he wanted to use the opportunity to teach his son about the realities of food shortages faced by needy families in Singapore and the importance of being kind.
I hope everyone will come together like Mr Lee and his family, to contribute food items and support the mission. Even the smallest donation can spark kindness and inspire others to do the same, fostering a spirit of giving and making a meaningful impact in our community.
Based on Text 1, which of the following information about the donation drive is not true?
Why are pictures of food and a food wish list included in Text 1? They
What does the social media post extract tell us about the volunteer's experience? The volunteer ________.
The dash (—) in Text 2 is used to ________.
What is the common idea in both Text 1 and Text 2?
The colours of sunset faded to a purplish bruise over the horizon. Just as my eyes were getting used to the change in light, my father snapped on the torchlight. Everything except our boat vanished into the dark. Squinting to adjust to the glare, I watched as he peeled the lid off a container of fish bait. Adjusting an angle of the torchlight, my father reached into the container for a few pieces of fish bait and slid them along tiny fishhooks. Once the fishhooks were attached to the fishing lines, he scattered them across the water and slowly disappeared over the side of the boat. Then he extinguished the light and put one of the lines into my hand and said, "First, learn how the current feels."
I waited for my first catch and the wait drew on. The sound of my father's voice reached me, as did other sounds—the creaking of the boat, his footfall as he crossed from stern to bow and back. Looking down, the strange feeling that I felt earlier returned. More intense this time. The boat's movement became more pronounced, rocking back and forth with each passing wave. Though I tried to keep my eyes on the line, a subtle queasiness began building up inside me.
I fixed my eyes on the moon in an attempt to distract myself. The moon, huge and low, glared from a cloudless sky, making me more conscious about my boredom as the night progressed. To keep awake, I sipped hot milk from my father's thermos flask. Time and again, when I thought I had caught something, I drew the line up, only to find my bait still intact, as glitters. The unease in my stomach was slowly reaching my quiet. My head throbbed and my bottom became sore from the abrasion against the damp seat as the waves rocked the boat. We had been at sea for perhaps one or two hours, but I had begun to imagine being stuck in the stormy sea for days without a catch.
"Waiting is part and parcel of fishing," my father said, his hand closing over mine, "And concentrate. Try to feel the fish bite." I could only feel the line I was gripping and the callouses on his palm against the back of my hand.
Without warning, my father's line began twitching. As he was pulling in the line, our first catch leapt from the water straight towards me and lay writhing on the boat floor while he pinned it down with extracted a hook from its mouth. Suddenly, he was everywhere in the boat all at once. Several other hand-sized fish soon joined the first catch in quick succession, bleeding over ice slabs in the fish cooler bag. A coolness rose up into my mouth. Then the line between my fingers made a series of sharp, irregular jumps as opposed to the regular tug of the ocean currents I had felt earlier. My heart leapt as I sat upright. My father was right; it felt alive. I tried to haul in the line and held on to it with clammy hands, struggling not to lose my first potential catch. At the flick of the moment, it happened. Bending over the side of the boat, I threw up violently. My line grew slack just as suddenly. This time, a sinking sensation set in. Even before the hook emerged baitless and empty, I knew that the fish was gone.
I got better with practice, of course. I learnt to handle a line, eventually a rod and even Scamper. However, as I grew older, I accompanied my father on those trips less frequently as I soon became caught up with the demands of school, tests and examinations, and then later, relationships, job commitments and marriage. There were things about those nights out on the water—seasickness, the pungent smell of fish blood, the sore bottom—that I never missed. Nonetheless, those hours out in the precious memories would remain with me forever.
Have you ever wondered why diamonds are one of the most expensive crystals on earth? To understand why, one needs to delve deeper __________ how diamonds are formed.
Diamonds are formed deep __________ the crust of the earth, which is located more __________150 kilometres beneath our feet.
The question is how is it __________ diamonds can be mined from the earth's surface __________ the fact that they are formed deep below it?
Scientists discovered that diamonds __________ transported to the surface of the earth by sudden and powerful volcanic eruptions hundreds of millions of years ago.
__________ newly mined from the earth, diamonds look like cloudy rocks. They are made __________ carbon which is subjected to extreme heat and pressure before they bond together to form diamonds.
The mining of diamonds requires scientific techniques, significant resources and labour. These factors explain why diamonds are truly rare and precious. Today, modern technological advances __________ enabled scientists to grow diamonds artificially in laboratory conditions.
However, real diamonds continue to command a higher value than lab-created ones because of __________ rarity and scarcity.
As such, owning real diamonds can be seen as a symbol of wealth and prestige.
Foreign domestic workers have a crucial role to play in Singapore's society. With [blank box for answer]
an age population and declining birth rate, Singapore increasingly rely on these workers [blank box for answer]
to help with household chores. Since they play an important role in our society, they [blank box for answer]
are often treated as if they are invizthel. Their efforts and contributions are usually [blank box for answer]
overlooked and not apreshiated enough. [blank box for answer]
The lives of foreign domestic helpers was often fraught with difficulties. [blank box for answer]
Besides having to leave their families aside to work in a foreign country, they also [blank box for answer]
encounter language barriers. It is common for them to feel lonely and homesick. Hence, [blank box for answer]
providing ample oportunities for them to socialise and engage with one another helps [blank box for answer]
to alleviate their feelings of loneliness. Last year, the Manpower Ministry officially announced that it is compulsory for employers to give their domestic workers a rest day every month starting from 1 January 2023. This is one important step towards reconeizing these workers' contribution. [blank box for answer]
Fill in the blank: It is performed during auspicious occasions, __________ as the launch of new businesses and the opening of a new store
Fill in the blank: for it is believed to __________ in good fortune and drive away evil spirits
Fill in the blank: The lion dance is performed __________ the Chinese New Year period because of its __________
Fill in the blank: with Nian, a ferocious beast that was chased __________ by villagers
Fill in the blank: Different variations of the story of Nian provided some clues to the origins of the lion dance
Fill in the blank: __________ to one legend, on the eve of every Chinese New Year, an unknown aerial would destroy the crops and animals that __________ to the farmers of a village in China
Fill in the blank: Unable to __________ what beast it was, the villagers named it Nian, which means "year" in Chinese
Fill in the blank: To put a stop to the __________, the villagers made a model of Nian out of bamboo and paper
Fill in the blank: The model, __________ movements were manipulated by two men, 'pranced' around
Fill in the blank: Coupled with the deafening beating of pots and pans, Nian was driven away in fear
Fill in the blank: Based on __________ version of this legend, the villagers made a model of a lion __________ discovering that Nian was afraid of lions
Fill in the blank: This was accompanied __________ thundering explosions from firecrackers set off by the villagers
Fill in the blank: As a result of their actions, they __________ in driving Nian away
Fill in the blank: Since then, the lion dance is performed annually on Chinese New Year with musical __________ like drums, cymbals and gongs
Fill in the blank: Nowadays, the lion dance is performed not only during Chinese New Year, but also for opening ceremonies, the welcoming of dignitaries and other auspicious occasions
After eating a heavy meal for lunch, Joshua was too full to eat dessert. Rewrite using: Having ___________
Raju was selling muffins at the charity fair. Rewrite using: Muffins ___________
Tim was curious. He followed the mysterious black cat into the alley. Rewrite using: ___________ due to his ___________
Jason saw Nurin on a swing. He then heard loud squeals of laughter. Rewrite using: No sooner ___________
Emily was very pleased to receive the book prize award. Rewrite using: ___________ with great ___________
Batik was most commonly used for making clothing back in the old days. Most women in Indonesia made a living making batik. Batik making was exclusive work for women in the beginning. In the 17th century, the Dutch brought batik back to Europe. Batik then caught the attention of Western designers. Today, fashion designers all over the world use batik in their clothing designs. Interior designers also feature batik patterns in home decorations, from blankets to cushion covers to wallpaper.
Tina would like a discounted price for the workshop. What must she do?
"We eat, sleep and breathe batik". The writer use this line in Text 1 to show that he _______________.
In Text 1, children below 9 years old are discouraged from attending the workshop because _______________.
The visual in Text 1 gives the impression that batik can be _______________.
What is the main idea evident in both Texts 1 and 2?
This other members were soon panting on the floor. Mr Martin walked over to Jim with a chest protector and a mask. "See if these fit you. There is no real danger in this if you follow the rules ad not get too close to each other," he said before showing Jim how to lunge but Jim kept giggling. He could not get his arms and legs to work together correctly. Finally, Mr Martin whipped off his mask and spoke in an annoyed tone, "You are not interested! Why did you even come?"
Staring down at his shoes, Jim replied, "It's not tough like basketball or football. All you try to do is to touch each other with these fake swords you call foil. It's kind of silly." Mr Martin pondered for a second and called out to one of the members, "Let Jim do the glove exercise," he said. Donna removed the fencing glove from her hand and held it against the wall. She instructed Jim to lunge and pin the glove against the wall with the tip of the foil when she dropped it. "That's all?" Jim smirked, thinking it was an easy task.
Donna dropped the glove. Jim lunged and missed. The glove slid to the floor. The smiles on Jim's face faded. He tried again and again. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he exclaimed, "There has to be a trick to it!" but all Donna did was shake her head. "Let's see you do it then," Jim said. They changed position and it was Jim's turn to drop the glove. Donna, with precision, stabbed it. Jim's jaw dropped. Not wanting to admit defeat, Jim tried repeatedly and finally caught the glove.
At that moment, Paul walked over. "Let's try a little fencing. We'll fence along this line," Paul said pointing to the line on the floor. "Don't get too close or the foil will break and I will have to pay for it." They began and it quickly turned into a fierce competition.
"Stop, you are too close to each other!" Mr Martin shouted. The boys did not hear him. Jim lunged and his foil hit Paul's chest. The foil bent and snapped. As Jim fell forward, his only thought was to move his hand with the broken foil away from Paul. However, the broken end of the foil grazed one side of Paul's body before both of them collided. The two boys went down in a heap. Paul clutched his side, grimacing in pain.
Mr Martin removed Paul's mask and chest protector as everyone gathered in silence. Mr Martin examined the cut on Paul's body and was glad that it was not serious. Paul could barely move. Mr Martin, together with Jim, lifted Paul gently and led him to the nearby clinic.
At the clinic, as Mr Martin spoke to the receptionist, Jim felt tears well up in his eyes. Moments later, the doctor appeared and examined Paul. Worry soon turned to relief when the doctor explained that Paul was fine. Soon, everyone was back to the fencing school. There, Mr Martin asked Jim, "So do you still think that fencing is not tough?" Jim's face turned red.
High in the dense bamboo forests in southwestern China lives one of the world's cutest mammals - the giant panda. (26) __________ are considered a national treasure in China and adored by many people around the world.
They have a white face, neck and torso which are (27) __________ contrast to the, black fur that covers their limbs, tail, legs and shoulders.
(28) __________ thick and oily, their fur also acts as (29) __________ coat to keep them warm in the cool and moist bamboo forests.
(28) __________ thick and oily, their fur also acts as (29) __________ coat to keep them warm in the cool and moist bamboo forests.
Pandas eat almost nothing (30) __________ bamboo. In fact, they are obsessed with bamboo. Pandas' teeth are very broad and flat. The shape of the teeth helps them to crush the shoots, leaves and stems so (31) __________ they can digest the bamboo more easily.
Pandas eat almost nothing (30) __________ bamboo. In fact, they are obsessed with bamboo. Pandas' teeth are very broad and flat. The shape of the teeth helps them to crush the shoots, leaves and stems so (31) __________ they can digest the bamboo more easily.
Destruction of habitat and illegal hunting are two main reasons that the number of giant pandas (32) __________ dwindling. In addition, pandas are slow breeders and do not give birth to many cubs. Thankfully, scientists and conservationists are working to protect pandas and their homes (33) __________ creating sanctuaries, studying their behaviour and helping them reproduce.
Destruction of habitat and illegal hunting are two main reasons that the number of giant pandas (32) __________ dwindling. In addition, pandas are slow breeders and do not give birth to many cubs. Thankfully, scientists and conservationists are working to protect pandas and their homes (33) __________ creating sanctuaries, studying their behaviour and helping them reproduce.
As a result of (34) __________ efforts, the status of the giant panda has been changed from endangered to vulnerable (35) __________ 2021. This means that the animal is still threatened but faces a lesser risk of extinction than before.
As a result of (34) __________ efforts, the status of the giant panda has been changed from endangered to vulnerable (35) __________ 2021. This means that the animal is still threatened but faces a lesser risk of extinction than before.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. (10 marks) I was playing golf with my friends on a Friday afternoon. We had almost reached the end of the game when the downpour starts and we ran quickly for shelter.
We were standing under the shelter and while waiting, we started rowdy joking and teasing one another. It was then that we noticed that the air had a strange and awkward smell to it.
We were standing under the shelter and while waiting, we started rowdy joking and teasing one another. It was then that we noticed that the air had a strange and awkward smell to it.
In that moment, a lightning bolt hit. When it happened, there were red flashing lights.
Then, there were the loudest noise I had ever heard. I was completly frozen.
At the same time, my body was feeling burning hot too. It was as though I had been shinned between two huge trucks.
My limbs were heavy, and every part of my body was at pain.
The pain was both dull and sharp. It was like a sevear headache with the sensation of millions of needles piercing my antyre body.
The pain was both dull and sharp. It was like a sevear headache with the sensation of millions of needles piercing my antyre body.
The lightning bolt had strike a tree next to the shelter and bounced off to us.
Fill in the blank: He _____________ the lift to the top floor of his condominium block and collects recycling bags laid out for him at the various doorstops.
Fill in the blank: Once he has four bags in hand and can no _____________ pick up anymore, he throws them into a bin which his father wheels behind him.
Fill in the blank: Bowen is only six years old but already making a big _____________ on the environment.
Fill in the blank: He completes his _____________ of bags and newspaper stacks an hour later.
Fill in the blank: These items _____________ ready for breakfast and pre-school.
Fill in the blank: Then picked up by a waste collection company.
Fill in the blank: "I _____________ to find it difficult to wake up, but what I am doing is good for the earth and I have already made it a habit now," Bowen shared in a recent interview.
Fill in the blank: Bowen decided to start the recycling service after _____________ a documentary in June.
Fill in the blank: He was disturbed to find out that polar bears are losing _____________ homes when ice caps melt because of the excessive use _____________ fossil fuels.
Fill in the blank: He spent a day crafting letters to send to the housing management, asking for their _____________ to take his neighbours' recyclable trash downstairs.
Fill in the blank: The management board gave his _____________ light and many households _____________ up for his service after he went around to distribute flyers and seek support.
Fill in the blank (continuation): The management board gave his _____________ light and many households.
Fill in the blank: Many households _____________ up for his service after he went around to distribute flyers and seek support.
Fill in the blank: After three months, his idea attracted the _____________ of other children in the condominium.
Fill in the blank: The children then _____________ their own collection service in the other blocks.
Ahmad goes to the library every week. His cousins go to the library every week too.
"Don't forget to bring the present to the party tomorrow," Mother reminded me.
Lucas broke his mother's vase. He felt guilty.
The children are responsible for keeping the classroom clean.
When we saw the delicious food at the stall, we made a beeline for it.
Interviewer: Hi, James. Please share with us how you got involved in Project HomeWorks.
James: It started back in secondary school when I volunteered with like-minded friends. The experience really opened my eyes to show me that there are actually people in Singapore who genuinely need help in decluttering their homes, and that youths like us can truly make a difference. Through it all, I learnt many practical skills, including basic housekeeping!
Interviewer: Wow, that's impressive! Was there anything that surprised you while volunteering?
James: I didn't realise so many people like to hoard unnecessary items. When there's no more space in the house, they continue piling up their belongings along the corridors. These end up not only being an eyesore but also pose as a fire hazard.
Interviewer: What drives you to continue volunteering?
James: Revamping a home — seeing it go from dirty and cluttered to something fresh and liveable — is incredibly fulfilling. It's not just about the walls or furniture. It's about the dignity, safety, and sometimes even mental well-being of the tenants. Working together, we get things done more quickly. When we repaint walls or bring in clean furniture, the homeowners' spirits lift. For us volunteers, it's a reminder that simple acts of service can have a significant impact.
According to the poster in Text 1, which of the following is not true?
"Did you know that 300 million tennis balls are thrown away each year?" Why did the writer ask the question in Text 1?
"Give old tennis balls a new life!" The images in Text 1 support this sentence by showing that the products made with old tennis balls are _______________.
According to Text 2, which of the following does not explain why James finds volunteering with 'Project HomeWorks' fulfilling?
Text 2 supports Text 1 about the significant impact of small actions because it states that _______________.
Fill in the blank: Do you know that eating before and after exercise is important? Eating the right food helps your body stay strong and recover well. It is best to eat a meal at least two hours __________ a workout.
Fill in the blank: If __________ is not possible, a light snack about 60 minutes before exercising is good.
Fill in the blank: Good food choices include whole grains, fruits, yogurt and nuts. __________ contain carbohydrates and proteins, which give energy and help muscles stay strong.
Fill in the blank: After exercising, the body also needs food to recover and regain energy. A mix of protein and carbohydrates __________ the best.
Fill in the blank: Protein helps repair muscles __________ carbohydrates replace lost energy.
Fill in the blank: Eating within 30 __________ 60 minutes after exercise helps the body get the most benefits.
Fill in the blank: Good food to eat are eggs, lean meat, rice and smoothies. Everyone's body reacts differently to food, so it is good to try and see __________ works best.
Fill in the blank: You __________ also ensure that you drink enough water as it helps the body function properly.
Fill in the blank: Not drinking enough water can cause dizziness and fatigue. Staying hydrated helps the body perform better __________ workouts and recover faster after that.
Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. It was a broozy Saturday afternoon, perfect for flying kites. Amir and Ben, best friends from
they were five, had built a giant red kite together. At first, the boys were pride of how magnificent
their kite looked. However, just as they reached the field, they had an arguement over who should fly it first.
"It was my idea!" Amir shouted.
Their voices grew so loud that a group of children nearby stared at them, making Ben feel amberased. Finally, Ben walked away, leaving Amir to fly the kite alone. As Amir watched it soar, a strong gust suddenly pulled hard at the string. This caused the kite to crash into a tree and it tore.
The fun afternoon was rooined.
Later that evening, Amir sat alone, thinking. He realised friendship was with far greater importance than being right.
The next day, Amir knocked on Ben's door with tape, string and an apoloise. Together,
they repaired the kite. As they worked, a mischievious grin spread across Ben's face. "Next time,
I'm flying it first!" he joked, bursting into pils of laughter. "Not a chance!" Amir replied.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. John is one of the most popular YouTubers in the world. He began making YouTube videos ________ he was just 13 years old.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Initially, he did not have good video-making equipment. However, ________ not achieving much success, he kept going because he loved creating content.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. John worked tirelessly ________ his content creation. He spent hours studying how YouTube worked and watched his own videos repeatedly to learn what he could do better.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Sometimes, he even ________ all-nighters, editing his videos. He failed many times but ________ on.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Over time, more people started noticing his videos. ________ on.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Now, John has over 300 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. He became ________ for doing bizarre challenges and giving away attractive prizes.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. He uses the ________ he earns to help others and make his next videos even better.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Although he is successful, John faced health problems like stress and Crohn's disease, which ________ gave him stomach pain.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. It was hard for him, ________, there was a lot of pressure to keep making amazing videos.
Fill in the blank with a suitable word. Hence, he formed a strong team to help him ________ with the demands of his work.
Past year papers cover the full exam — browse by subject below.