TIPS BAHASA INGGERIS SPM 2013 BAHAGIAN 1 SPM SECTION C : LITERATURE COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF PAST YEARS QUESTIONS YEAR TYPE OF QUESTIONS QUESTIONS 2005 Process and Procedure The steps an ice sculpture is produced and the tools used for sculpting. 2006 Cause and Effect (Problem and Solution) The hardships faced by villagers after the floods and landslides and the assistance obtained after the tragedy. 2007 Process and Procedure The steps to plant a young tree. 2008 Process and Procedure The steps on how a leopard attacked the writer and what was done to help himself. 2009 Process and Procedure The steps taken by Malik to help his wife to return to her job and the problems he faced in doing so. 2010 Cause and Effect The ways people can show acts of kindness and the benefits gained from acts of kindness. 2011 Process and Procedure The ways writer showed her love and care for the hummingbird. Based on analysis of past years questions, process and procedure is the most popular type of questions for Section C (Reading and Comprehension). TIPS FOR READING AND COMPREHENSION • The questions are usually set in sequence order, usually from the easiest to the most challenging questions. For the easy questions, candidates could easily locate the answers in the text by matching the key words in the questions and the text. • To make the questions even easier, the numbers of paragraphs where the answers could be found were also given as to guide candidates where to get the answers. • There would usually be five main questions given and one or two other sub questions for each main question. • For questions 26 – 29 : The beginning of the questions usually would be very user-friendly as they just require the candidates to locate the answers from the passage. The answers would be very direct and it would be easier for them to locate the answer. The famous wh-question which is always used is ‘what’. Sometimes, ‘which’, ‘when’ and ‘who’ are also used but very seldom. This type of question usually only tests the candidates’ understanding and knowledge of the text. As the questions progress, they would be more difficult and wh-questions like ‘why’ and ‘how’ are used as they demand the candidates to think more critically whereby they have to give their answers logically, so that those answers can be accepted. A very famous question would also be on the vocabulary question which is always meant to be difficult but candidates would have guessed for the meaning of the words based on the number of low frequency word in the paragraph. Some of the questions asked also require the candidates to guess the answers based on the key words given, whereby the answers are usually placed after the key words. However, candidates need to guess intelligently. Some questions would ask for the reference words like ‘he’, ‘they’ or ‘it’ and candidates need to guess these pronouns refer to what or whom. The answer for this type of question usually is given before the pronoun mentioned. Sometimes there would be too much information given that it would lead to some inaccurate answers from weaker students who failed to comprehend the question. Thus, students really have to read and comprehend the passage as well as identify the key words in order to be able to get the correct answers. The answers usually can be taken from the text but candidates must select the answers (in phrases or sentences) intelligently. Candidates are advised not to paraphrase their answers for being feared of changing the meaning of words. If meaning has changed after the candidates try to paraphrase, they will be penalized, means that no marks will be awarded. Nevertheless, it is permissible if students still want to paraphrase their answers but be careful not to change the meaning. When answering the questions by taking a phrases or a sentence from the passage, students cannot copy the whole sentence/s, including copying the irrelevant part (that is not the answer) or else marks will not be awarded. Instead, students must answer and select the permissible phrase and sentence only. When answering the question too, students are not supposed to commit error like over lifting the pronouns ‘I’ or ‘my’. By over lifting the pronouns ‘I’ or ‘my’, the answer is considered wrong even if the students managed to copy the correct part of the answer. Students would not be awarded any marks for the over lifting of the pronoun ‘I’ or ‘my’. Make sure students are aware of the difference between word, phrase and sentence as it is vital in answering some of the comprehension questions. If the question asked for ‘evidence’, students can quote any phrase or sentence from the text, and students cannot paraphrase the answers. If the question asked for a piece of evidence, then just give one phrase or one short sentence, but if two pieces of evidence, then give two phrases. • For question 30 : The last question usually elicits personal response from the candidates. This type of question is good in the sense that it makes candidates think logically and rationally before coming up with the answers. Students need to be careful as there are two types of this question. The first type usually asks for use of own words, in which students usually give their own opinion or personal response based on the understanding of the passage (but do not take ideas or examples in the text). However, another type of question is when the question asked students to answer based on the text but then students cannot copy the answer directly, instead they are required to paraphrase the answers in the text using own words. If students take the answers completely from the text without any paraphrasing, no marks will be awarded. SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDENTS 1. Read the text and questions at least twice. 2. Learn to look for clues and use contextual clues. 3. Understand the fundamental needs of the Wh-questions. 4. Look for answers in the given paragraphs. Select intelligently phrases or sentences. 5. Understand key words in the questions. 6. Change the pronouns accordingly when lifting answers. 7. Attempt all the questions. 8. Give straightforward and precise answers. 9. Give logical opinion. 10. Be adept at using a wide range of vocabulary. 11. Expose oneself to the use of figurative language. 12. Expose oneself to the key words such as ‘word’, ‘phrase’ and ‘sentence’ which are vital in answering some comprehension questions. 13. Make it a habit to look up the meaning of difficult words encountered when reading during the teaching and lesson period. A good dictionary is a must. 14. Do more comprehension exercises by reading various types of comprehension passages / reading materials other than those in text/revision books, such as newspaper articles and magazines. TIPS FOR SUMMARY 1. Read the instructions given carefully. 2. Read the summary question/s carefully. 3. Just summarize from the lines given. 4. Mark the particular paragraphs that are supposed to be summarized like drawing a box or square on the particular summarized section. 5. There will usually be three or four points in each paragraph. 6. Identify the main ideas based on the summary question/s asked. 7. Read every sentence carefully and ask yourself whether it answers the summary question/s. If it does, underline the main phrase/sentence but if it does not, ignore it and move to the next line. Do so until the last line mentioned. 8. Do not forget to include the 10 words given. 9. Just write up to 130 words as any points after the permissible number of words given, the points will not be identified as relevant. 10. Give more than 10 points to be on the safe side (Usually there are more than 10 points – maximum can go up to 14 points). 11. Change the pronouns accordingly when lifting answers. 12. Write the summary points in sequence order. 13. Be extra careful when rephrasing or using own words (most students lose mark for changing meaning of words). 14. Organize specific information coherently. 15. Paraphrase concisely and use Standard English accurately (gain marks for Language: 5 Marks) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR FLUTE by smktamansutera 1 Which lines in stanza 1 tell you that the flautist plays the flute beautifully? “Uncovered by ………….depth of my heart” 2 In the second stanza, what does the word deserted mean? Empty / abandoned / neglected / vacant 3 In the second stanza, why are the rice fields deserted? The farmers have left the fields for the city / better income jobs away from the village. 4 In your own words, explain the meaning of the last stanza. The persona is feeling anxious because there are political and economical problems in her city and she feels the world is changing for the worst. 5 From stanza 1, what does the persona want to hear? The flautist’s song / flute music. / The flautist playing his flute. 6 In stanza 2, what does the word here refer to? The city / town / persona’s place 7 In stanza 3, why does the persona feel guilty for thinking about her beloved? She feels guilty because at present people around her are suffering. 8 Suggest two things you would do to stop the world from bleeding. Spread the message of peace, tolerance and living in harmony Learn to appreciate what life has offered and be happy with it. 9 How is the rice field? Sick / unhealthy / infertile / neglected 10 State two activities that ‘I’ consider luxuries. i. Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays ii. Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers 11 Why do you the persona’s conscience is disturbed? Give reasons for your answer. Thinking of the flautist while feeling worried about the troubled with the situation around her. 12 What musical instrument is the poet’s friend playing? A flute 13 Describe the village. It is empty has people have left for the city. 14 Who feels guilty? The persona 15 While here it has become a luxury! To spend time watching the rain Why do you think the persona says it is a luxury to spend time watching rain? Give reasons for your answer. Life in the city is so busy that one has no time for simple pleasures and there are other problems to worry about. 16 Why does the persona ask if the flute player is still playing his flute? She does not know if he is still in the village enjoying his favourite pastime. 17 How does she feel about his music? Nostalgic / desirous / wishful 18 Write down the line which shows that the persona thinks highly of his music. To the depth of my heart 19 In your own words, i. What kind of a person do you think is the flute player? Passionate / Obsessed / An introvert / A sequester ii. Have you been involved in a similar passion over any interest or hobby? Provide explanation. 20 Identify two words used to describe the village. Quiet and deserted 21 What has happened to the village? It is deserted as the people have left for better jobs. 22 In stanza 2, what does the words here refers to? The city / town / persona’s place 23 In your own words, i. What do you of the things the persona consider luxuries? Rain, sunset (evening rays) / dew / fragrance of flowers ii. What would you enjoy doing for pleasure? 24 Why does the poet feel guilty? To be longing for the flautist’s song 25 What musical instrument does the poet’s love play? Flute 26 How is the situation in the village? Quite bad as it is empty because the villagers have left the village for better jobs and conditions. 27 Why do think the poet is surprised that the flautist is still playing his flute? Give reasons for your answer. She thinks that he is undisturbed with the turmoil in the nation and the world. 28 Why is the village so quiet and deserted? The villagers have left the village for better jobs and conditions. 29 Which phrase in stanza 1 implies how much the music affected the poet? To the depth of my heart 30 What does the poet mean by using the words concealed and uncovered to describe the music? It means that the melody is in the bamboo and will only be heard when the flautist plays the flute. 31 What could the poem be about? It is about upholding values, accepting changes in life and appreciating simple pleasures of life. 32 Describe ONE emotion the poet is feeling in the first stanza. Guilty / nostalgic 33 What does the phrase, slim hollow of the bamboo refer to? The flute 34 Describe a significant memory that you have. Explain briefly why it is significant to you. ___________________________________________________________________________________ 35 Based on stanza 2, where do you think the persona is? In the city 36 Based on stanza 2, what is the contrast between the persona’s place and the flautist’s? The flautist’s place is empty and deserted whereas the persona’s place is undergoing a turmoil [ political and economical crisis]. 37 Based on stanza 2, in the first line, what do you think the persona is feeling? A sense of doubt / unsure / puzzled 38 Based on stanza 1, which line reveals the intensity of the persona’s feelings? To be longing for your song 39 Based on stanza1, how does the persona feel about the flautist? Longing / pining/yearning/passionate / love 40 Based on stanza 1, which line (s) reveal (s) that the persona is struggling with her feelings? Where there is hardly time for our love 41 Based on stanza 1, describe the persona’s mood. Sombre / solemn / Sad 42 What is so distinctive about the melody from the flute? It touches the depth of her heart 43 Why is the rice field described as sick? It has been neglected so it is no longer productive and fertile. 44 What is the meaning of the metaphor ‘slaughtered mercilessly’? People are no longer tolerant of each other and people are being killed cruelly. 45 What kind of feeling is expressed by the persona in the poem? A sense of sadness, hopelessness, despair and misery 46 Why does the persona feel guilty? To be longing for the flautist’s song. 47 Why is the persona’s conscience disturbed? She is worried about the present situation in her nation which is facing a crisis. 48 In your opinion, does the persona feel depressed about this world? Give your reasons. Yes,.. 49 Based on stanza 2, how would you describe the person who seems to be very interested in his flute? Idle / unaffected by the crisis / carefree / in his own world 50 Write the two words that relate to how a flute is played? Breath and fingers____________________________________________________________ 51 What do you think the persona feels about the other person’s obsession with playing the flute? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer. 52 What is the main theme in the stanza above? Upholding values, appreciating simple pleasures of life, accepting changes in life 53 Write two words that are related to the condition of the village. Quiet and deserted 54 Where do you think the persona is? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer. In the city because …. 55 Who is playing the flute? The flautist in the village / The persona’s love 56 Why does the persona feel guilty? To be longing for the flautist’s song 57 Where does the melody originate from? The bamboo / The slim hollow of the bamboo 58 Which two lines best describe how a flute is played? Uncovered by the breath of an artist & composed by his fingers 59 Which word would you use to describe the persona’s village? Name one. Quiet / deserted 60 What does the persona mean by ‘the sick rice field’? The paddy fields are neglected so they are barren and unproductive. 61 What are the evening rays referred to? Sunset 62 Write two activities that are considered a luxury by the persona. Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers 63 Why is the person still thinking of her beloved? She has feelings for him. / She still loves him. 64 Write two problems faced by the persona as mentioned in the stanza above. Her brothers are unemployed and desperate / Her people are disunited by politics / Her friend is slaughtered mercilessly 65 What is the tone used? Give a reason for your answer. Sad / Hopelessness / Despair / Anxious 66 Where do you think the persona is likely to be? In the city / town 67 Where is the flautist playing his flute? In the village 68 What does the flute represent? Tradition 69 Why is the phrase, ‘Are you still playing your flute?, repeated three times in the poem? Using your own words, give reasons to support your answer. To reinforce the emotion (wondering/puzzled) behind the question and create a dramatic effect 70 In stanza 1, what poetic device does the first line above refer to? Rhetorical question 71 In stanza 1, what does line 2 tell us about the relationship between the persona and the flautist? They loved each other when they were together. 72 What is the persona guilty about? To be longing for the flautist’s song. 73 The poet used certain words to indicate where the melody is: i. What are these words? Concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo ii. Do you think they are suitable? Why? Yes, because the flute is played by blowing into hollow of the bamboo and melody is created by the fingers. 74 In stanza 1, why does the persona feel guilty listening to music of the flautist? She is very busy and also her nation is undergoing a crisis. 75 Why is enjoying the fragrance of flowers regarded as a luxury by the persona in stanza 2? In the city, one can be very busy in the rat race that they have no time to even appreciate the flowers growing around them. 76 Give one problem the nation is undergoing. Political crisis / Economical crisis / Disharmony 77 Explain in your own words why the persona feels her world is too old and bleeding. The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be replenished. 78 What do you think the ‘flute’ represents? Tradition 79 What do you think the phrase, ‘the world is too old and bleeding’ represents? The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be replenished. 80 Suggest a reason why the persona cannot forget the music from the flute? The music must have been beautiful and special that it has embedded in her heart. 81 Do you think the persona has made the right decision in leaving the village? Give a reason. Yes, …… No, ……. 82 What is it like in the village? Quiet and empty 83 What does the word sick imply about the rice field? Barren / Unproductive / Infertile / Neglected 84 What are the luxuries mentioned by the poet? State two of them. Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening rays Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers 85 Do you like to live in the village? Give reasons to your answer. Yes,… No, ….. 86 In the last stanza, what is the persona’s feeling when she remembers the flautist? Guilty / Remorseful / 87 Why is there disunity among the citizens of the country? They lack tolerance and understanding. 88 What happened to the persona’s friend? Killed cruelly 89 What do you think the last line of the stanza mean? The world is changing for the worst. The Curse by Lee Su Ann- SPM sample questions and answers 2 Practice 1 Based on one novel above, discuss one of the themes in the story. Provide evidence from the text to support your answer The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The theme that I would like to discuss here is gender stereotyping . In the novel, gender stereotyping is presented through how females should behave. This can be seen especially through Azreen. For example, Azreen’s school friends start to give suspicious eyes towards her when she behaves unlady-like or tomboyish. She plays hockey with the boys and even “laughs like a bunch of hyenas” with them. To them, as a woman, Azreen is not expected to be tomboyish and hangs too closely with boys. In conclusion, Azreen’s unlady-like behaviors have created sense of discomfort among the people around her. This is an example of how gender stereotyping is presented in the novel. Practice 2 Write about a character that you find most interesting. Support your answer with evidence from the novel. The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The character that I find most interesting in the novel is the old lady. The old lady is an educated woman as she has knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illnesses. Her house is always neat and situated by the hillside. She is a caring and concerned woman as she takes Azreen in and gives her food and shelter whenever she has fights and problems. She is also a resourceful person and she is a good cook. Her recipes and secret ingredients are very much sought after. In conclusion, the old lady is the most interesting character in the novel. She is an educated woman, neat person, kind-hearted and a good cook too. Practice 3 Write about a character that you dislike in the novel. Support your answer with evidence from the novel The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The character that I dislike in the novel is Puan Normala. I dislike Puan Normala because she is a rumour monger. She is the one that spread the rumour about Madhuri and how she died. Puan Normala is also superstitious. She blames the old lady’s visit to Ashraf’s house as the reason for the continuous rain. Furthermore, she is also a mean and malicious person. For example, she provokes Mohd Ashraf to confront the old lady by accusing the old lady as the reason why Ashraf’s grandmother’s health is getting worse. Because of that, Ashraf burns down the old lady’s house in anger, and causes the old lady to die in the fire. As conclusion, the character that I dislike most in the novel is Puan Normala because she is a rumour monger, mean and malicious and also a superstitious woman. Practice 4 Write about a moral value you have learnt in the story. Support your answer with evidence from the novel The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. A moral value that I have leant in the story is bravery. This value is shown by Azreen. First, even as a young girl she takes challenges and tries to prove to her friends that the Old Lady is not an evil witch. When she is yelled at for entering the Old Lady’s house and destroying her vegetable garden, Azreen bravely defends herself. In fact, she returns the next day and repairs the trampled garden. Her action wins the Old Lady’s heart. The second evidence is when Azreen bravely takes the blame for Mohd Asraf in the bull incident. She demonstrates courage. The same bull later injures her mother’s leg causing her to paralyze. She was blamed and scolded by her father as well as the villagers. She bravely endures that and never tells anyone of what really happened. The third event that displays her bravery is when she tries to tackle the angry people who are about to attack the the Old Lady. When the Old Lady’s house is in fire, Azreen tries to rescue the Old Lady but at the end she has to be rescued by her father. When the Old Lady dies in the tragic fire, she confronts Mohd Asraf like a wildcat. Finally, towards the end of the story, she finds out the secret that her father has been keeping. She confronts her father about Madhuri’s murder until he is forced to confess about the truth. As conclusion, bravery is the moral value that I have learnt through Azreen. For me, Azreen is very brave to confront people whom she knows have done wrong to others. At the same time she is very brave when defending herself and the people she loves.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:47:49 +0000
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