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Taken from http://blog.grammarly.com/post/36108547882

My Role Model

My role model is my sister. Her name is Joy and she is thirty-years old. She is working as a lecturer in a local university. She is very small and petite. She has beautiful black hair and the prettiest smile I have ever seen. She is also very cheerful and it is no wonder that she got the nickname of Joy. She is almost 10 years my senior and she has made a great impact on my life.

She was diagnosed with cancer of the breast at age 25. When my family and I heard the news, we were in shock and distress. I was devastated. I felt as if my sister was going to die. I cried and cried. I only stopped when she smilingly asked me why I was crying.

“I am scared that I am going to lose you!” I cried with fear. She said calmly, ”Hey, you silly goose. I am not going to die. I am just having a cancer. It is not life threatening. It is something that can be treated. And if I had to get cancer, then I am glad it is breast cancer because I can easily go for a mastectomy and get on with life. So, what’s your problem?”

I stared at her and then started thinking. How come she never cried? How come she never whined and complained? How come she continued to bring joy to everybody’s lives? Where did she get her strength from? What was wrong with me? Why was I crying like life has ended?

It was a very traumatic time for all of us. She went through radiation, chemotherapy and the saddest time of our lives was when she lost all her hair! Her beautiful black hair simply dropped onto her pillow as she slept. I collected all her hair and I still keep it in a bag! I just can’t throw it away.

But, she taught all of us lessons in strength and patience. She taught us to laugh in the face of pain, hurt and fear. She simply would not stay down. She bounced right back!

Even the doctors were amazed at her recovery and ability to cope with the situation. My sister Joy made all of us aware of all the fragility of life and showed that we had to be thankful for every minute that we had.

We became one of the families who laughed and celebrated a lot. We would find any occasion to give thanks to just be alive because after all life is a gift.

Today, she is a cancer survivor and is a counsellor to other cancer patients. I am totally in awe of her. From her, I learnt to live life fully, happily and contentedly.

(458 words)

Adapted from Tutor Utusan Malaysia Wednesday 6 August 2008

The Cliff

    

    One day, a despondent young man who was bankrupt decided to end his life. He felt his life was miserable, having failed in all his undertakings. He wanted to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff that was a two-hour bus ride from his house.

    The cliff was a famous tourist spot. It overlooked a lush green valley and offered a wonderful view of the sea beyond. Sometimes, if you are lucky, the reflection of the sun creates a beautiful rainbow in the blue sky.

    After a hearty breakfast, the young man took the first bus that left for the cliff. It was 7.30 am and the bus was quite empty. After a few stops though, the bus became crowded with people on their way to work.

    A middle-aged man in a security officer’s uniform sat next to the young man and started a conversation. He said after a big yawn, “Didn’t get enough sleep last night. The cost of living is getting very high. I have to work two jobs to support my family and mind you, my wife is also working. Only the rich can enjoy their life. It’s getting tougher every day – what a world.”

    The young man thought in his heart, “Yes, and that’s why I am leaving it.”

    The middle-aged man got off at the next stop. By now the bus was nearly empty again, and thirty minutes away from the last stop at the cliff top, an old man got onto the bus and sat in front of the young man. It was drizzling then.

    He was untidy-looking, his hair unkempt, his shirt faded and stained and it looked as if he had not bathed in days. Turning to the young man he said, “I guess you are going to the cliff too.” The young man nodded coldly, remaining silent. The old man continued, “I’ve waited nearly a year to come to the cliff. My children left me after they got married and of course after getting their inheritance since all the properties willed to them by their mother.”

    “I was imprisoned in a posh old folks’ home. After some time, my children decided that I was becoming too expensive for them, so they dumped me in a state-run old folks’ home. I decided then to leave the place. I worked as a gardener and did odd jobs.”

    The old man then asked, “Where are you coming from?”. The young man said, “About 50km from here.” The old man said, “I have actually come from 250km away and had to take a few buses to get here. I skipped some meals to save enough cash to come here.”

    The old man continued,” I remember when I was small, my parents used to take me to the cliff to see the views. It was a wonderful sight. The cool blue sky matched by the lush green valley below. Sometimes the blue sky was dotted by spots of wild birds. I could see the sparkling reflection of the sunlight on the sea. It was heavenly”.

    Unperturbed by the young man’s scowl and silence, the old man went on. He said, “I haven’t felt proper sunshine in years. Our cities are choked with smog and the sky is polluted by haze. Thank God I made it here today. I just want to see the view from the cliff so that I know it’s worth living here on this great planet no matter what we go through.”

    The old man then asked,” Are you working at the tourist kiosk there?”. The young man paused for a moment and answered, “No, I’m going there for the same reason you are.”

    The rain had stopped by then. The sun was shining again. As the bus drew to a stop by the cliff top, the bus driver called out, “Hey, you guys are lucky. There is a double rainbow today!”

(649 words)

Adapted from: Leonard Selva Gurunathan  Heart & Soul Starmag Sunday 30 March 2008

Greek God Injury Report

Making A Difference

As much as I love inspirational quotes and stories, I never imagined that someday, I would figure in one of them. But life is full of surprises, so here’s my story.

The day started just like any other and I waited patiently for the sun to go down so I could go for a dip. At 7.15pm, I looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunset. It was my cue to head downstairs.

As I approached the pool, I noticed a young lady getting out from the other end. Well, it’s going to be me swimming alone that night, I thought to myself.

I geared up and got into the pool gently. Once I had gotten used to the temperature of the water, I noticed the same person had returned and begun swimming. I could not keep my eyes off her.

She swam lap after lap without stopping. Feeling a little let down by my own speed, I pushed myself a little harder at the start of each lap, pausing occasionally to enjoy the view around me.

After seven years of living in the same condo, most people would have gotten tired of the same, although amazing, view from my pool. But I never fail to gloat about it – it’s the main attraction for anyone who visits.

I had planned on doing 20 laps. After the 18^th lap, I stopped to take a rest. It was then that the young lady came up and started thanking me profusely.

At first I did not quite understand her. She then explained that she had given up her passion for swimming some years ago. But that evening, after a long day at work, she decided that she would get back into the pool.

However, she was only two laps through when everyone else in the water started to get up and head home. She felt uneasy swimming alone and wanted to do the same. That was when she saw me approaching and decided to continue with her laps as she now had company. My presence in the pool that night had also inspired her to swim again, she added.

Her words caught me by surprise and all that I could mutter was, “You’re welcome,” while flashing a wide smile.

As we both swam to the other end of the pool, she whispered, “See ya,” before getting out. As I completed my last two laps, I started thinking about what had just happened.

How could my presence make such a difference in someone else’s life? After all, I did not offer her any assistance; I was simply going about my own business.

Then it struck me that in most of the stories I had heard or read, the characters were unaware of the effect they would have on someone else’s life. It just happened.

Thinking back on that experience still gives me goose bumps: what if I had been lazy and decided to go for my swim the next day instead? I would have killed your passion, young lady. Surely I would not be guilty, as I was unaware of the situation. But now, I know the impact of my presence on you.

So, the next time anyone thinks of herself as unworthy of making a difference, think again. I am proof of that.

(550 words)

Adapted from: Caren Alyssha Philip Heart & Soul Star2 Sunday 27 May 2012

Nautical Expressions

(To show/fly a) false flag

To pretend to be something you are not

Cars are identified by their license plates; ships use flags. In the old days, pirates would check out the nationality of their quarry, run up either the same flag or one of a trusted ally, get in nice and close, and then launch their attack.

Example:  Our CEO got caught in false flag operation. He thought she was an investment banker but she was actually working for one of our rivals.

To take the wind out of someone’s sails

To depress someone. To bring someone down.

A sailing ship can only travel when the wind fills its sails. The sight of a sailing ship suddenly coming to a stop, its sails dangling uselessly, inspired this idiom. A captain may use his ship to block the wind, thereby forcing a rival to come to a halt.

Example: Discovering we all have MBAs really took the wind out of Jeff’s sails.

To run a tight ship

To be very organised and efficient.

In the old days, ship captains may or may not have been efficient but they were certainly cruel. One of the many legal punishments was keelhauling, where sailors were tied up, thrown overboard and dragged underwater from one side of the ship to the other so that they will be scarred or even killed by the sharp barnacles on the keel or bottom.

Example: Jack runs a tight ship so we should cut our overheads drastically.

To sail close to the wind

To do something dangerous. Also to do something that is within the rules – but only just!

A sail boat can only move if the wind fills its sails. Therefore, if you sail directly into the wind, the air will slide past your sails rather than fill them, and you will come to a stop. You may even be blown backwards!

Example: Sue-Anne enjoys sailing close to the wind but her mum is worried she'll land herself in trouble one day.

Adapted from: Ellen Whyte Logomania Star2 Tuesday 4 Spetember 2012

How is the theme love shown in the novel you have read?

I have read the novel ‘Catch Us If You Can’ written by CatherineMacPhail. It is an interesting novel.  One of the main messages the author highlights is that love is important in a family and we should be willing to forgive our family for their wrongdoings.

Firstly, love between a grandparent and a grandchild. 

Granda loves Rory. To him, Rory is his son. Rory and Granda share an amazing family love for each other, Their love is deep and pure. Granda has been taking care of Rory ever since Rory’s mother passed away and his father walked out of their life. Granda sees to the needs of Rory in schooling and goes to see the class teacher whenever being called such as Parents’ Night. Rory also loves his grandfather. Rory will do anything to care for Granda and make him happy. He readily sacrifices his love for football and to be on the school football team so that he has time to care for Granda. Their love surpasses most level people are capable of family love. This is because of the unique situation the boy and his grandfather are in. Because of this love, they are willing to run away in order not to be separated. They shun the safety of the children’s home (Castle Street) and old folks home (Rachnadar).

Next, love between friends.

Here Rory loves and is loved by his friends such as Tyrone and Darren. Darren gives the key of his mom’s caravan to Rory in the Great Escape. Tyrone along with his parents, Ruby and Sammy, help Granda and Rory in their journey because he could empathise with Rory and his Granda. These people believe that Rory and his grandfather are doing the right thing to stay together and they do not expect to be paid for helping Rory and Granda.

Then, Tyrone’s family too portrays family love.

They are a loving and close-knit family. Sammy is the head of the family and a good provider. Ruby sees to the family’s everyday needs. Tyrone tells Rory that he will never part from his parents. It is his fear too that one day he will be taken away from them by the authorities. Like Rory, he will never allow this to happen.

Lastly, we also see the love shown by the public   .

Their journey is a struggle to stay free. Strangers help them all the way, giving them shelter and making safe plans for them. Rab, the petrol station owner,  gives shelter to the runaways knowing that they are in trouble. He and his girlfriend, Annie helps Granda and Rory cross the Borders to enter England and seeks Annie’s cousin’s help.  Norma and her daughter, Nicola, allow Rory and Granda to stay overnight at their house in Lake District.

As a conclusion, the theme love is shown between the main character, Rory and the people surrounding him that is his grandfather, his best friend and new friends like Tyrone and his family, and strangers like Rab and friends.

It is true that ‘love does not count’ and ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.

In my opinion, family relationships should be nurtured and not taken for granted as family happiness and stability depend on this positive attitude.

Adapted from : Modul Pecutan Akhir SPM JPN Kelantan 2012)

English, The Language of Opportunities

If you meet a fellow Malaysian and he doesn’t understand English, chances are you’ll be conversing in Bahasa Melayu. Young or old, rich or poor, city or ‘kampung’ folk, all of us have at least basic knowledge of our national language.

Our parents spoke Bahasa Melayu. Our neighbours would yell, ‘Hujan mari!’, or maybe ‘Hujan mali!’, and we always knew what it meant: drop everything and take in the clothes. In school, we greeted our class teacher with a loud ‘Selamat pagi, Cikgu!’ regardless whether he or she was a Malay, Chinese, Indian, or any other race.

From schools to universities to offices to retirement homes, our beloved language holds a special place in our hearts. We sang ‘Negaraku’ together, cheered for the Malaysian Tigers, laughed and cried in front of the television watching P Ramlee or a Yasmin Ahmad commercial or one of the more current films. And even when we speak in English or Cantonese or Tamil, we still use Bahasa Melayu to some degree.

Its grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation are unlike any in the world. That’s why you teach it to your children and encourage them to do the same to theirs. Having said that, do not stop them from learning English as well.

Over 1.8 billion people speak and understand English. That’s one fourth of the world’s population. Just think about the places your children could explore, people they will meet, stories they will hear.

English is the common language in almost every endeavour, from science to air traffic control to diplomacy. It is spoken at some of the best universities, during job interviews and in hospitals everywhere. 80% of the world’s electronically-stored information is in English. It is also the dominant language of the Internet.

Scholars and researchers are already calling it the world’s first truly global language. Like football, English belongs to everybody and nobody at the same time. More non-native speakers of the language (that’s us) are shaping and remaking it every day, creating new words or giving new meanings to old ones.

Sir Richard Branson famously compared opportunities to buses: ‘There is always another one coming.’ Quite true. Except that by having command of both Bahasa Melayu and English, your child won’t have to wait for the transport. Instead, the bus will be waiting for him. And who knows how far he’ll go?

(401 words)

Adapted from: English For More Opportunities Star2 Sunday 2 September 2012

Nature - Questions

What are the 4 seasons mentioned in the poem?

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

What are the 2 colours mentioned in the poem?

Yellow, Green

Name the parts of the poem that are related to the sense of sound

The sound of rain beating down hard on the rooftops like bullets on the roofs

The swish of water in the gullies

The sound of bees

Name 2 types of plants or crops mentioned in the poem

Sugar cane/Guango trees/Mango/Logwood/Buttercups

Name 2 different types of days mentioned in the poem

Sunny days/Rainy days/Windy days/Days when there are storms/Days when the leaves fall from the mango and the logwood blossom

How do you think the persona feels about the natural beauty of his country?

He is proud, joyful and exultant 

Adapted from : STAR-NIE 19 September 2012

Nature

This poem reflects the persona’s pride in his country’s natural beauty. It celebrates the natural beauty of Jamaica in a joyous and exultant mood. The many aspects of Jamaican nature are beautifully described.

Despite not having the seasonal changes of winter, spring, summer and autumn, Jamaica has its own cycle of changes. This is vividly described in the different days that Jamaica experiences; bright hot sunny days to rainy days when the earth lies fallow until it bursts with activity and beauty again.

We are shown images of tropical rainstorms and strong winds that threaten to uproot trees as well as the scorching heat from the sun that shines down on green cane fields

We are taken to the next change of season when leaves fade and fall off from trees, only to have our senses waken once again when the logwood blossoms and the bushes come alive with the sound of buzzing bees and the smell of honey.

The final, almost breath-taking, image is of the earth being paved with yellow stars.

Adapted from : STAR-NIE 19 September 2012

He Had Such Quiet Eyes - Questions

In the first stanza, what other words can you use to replace the word ‘quiet’ in the phrase ‘quiet eyes’ without changing the intended meaning?

Deceptive/Dishonest/Pretending/Devious/Misleading/False

What do these lines mean?

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest eyes

Danger lurked beneath the seemingly calm and sincere demeanour of the boy/man

She’d be free from the ‘hows and the whys’. Write 2 possible questions that could have been asked by the girl.

How could I have been so trusting?

Why did he leave me?

How could he have done this to me?

Why was I so blind?

What do you think the line ‘Be sure that nice really means nice’ from the poem means?

Being friendly and cordial with a man is fine as long as there are no hidden motives or expectations on his part for casual, physical intimacy.

Adapted from : STAR-NIE, 19 September 2012

He Had Such Quiet Eyes

The poem describes how a girl is deceived by the appearance of a seemingly sincere man. She eventually succumbs to his desires for physical intimacy. She does this despite warnings and advice from others about the possible dangers and consequences of being too trusting and naive.

She regrets later when she realises how she has been taken in by his false expressions of yearning for her. The poem ends with advice given to women; fleeting heartbreaks when relationships fall apart are better options in comparison to the folly of naivety.

Adapted from : STAR-NIE, 19 September 2012

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

In the first stanza, the persona feels guilt in longing for the song of the flautist. The persona continues to pen about a conscience that is disturbed, in the third stanza.

What do you think is the reason behind the persona’s feelings of guilt and a disturbed conscience?

The reason she feels guilty in the first stanza could be because it is she who has distanced herself from her beloved. She therefore feels that she should not be longing for the melody of the flute nor the flautist himself. In the third stanza, her conscience is possibly troubled because her thoughts keep returning to the flautist despite the knowledge that there are more pressing and urgent matters that demand her attention.

The last line of the poem states: This world is too old and bleeding

This line makes reference to a world that seems ‘wounded’ and depleted. It has aged and lost its prime and freshness. There is only heartache and trouble now. In the lines before this, the persona also mentions violence, unemployment and political disunity.

Adapted from: STAR-NIE 19 September 2012

Modern Day Frog Prince

“Helen dear, why is there a frog on the chair next to you?” the king, who had just sat down for the midday meal, asked his beautiful daughter.

With downcast eyes, the princess shifted uncomfortably in her seat and kept quiet. The little batrachian creature with shiny eyes and a green mottled coat explained, “This morning, the princess lost her golden ball when it rolled into the pond, dimpled its surface and disappeared completely.

Diving into a pond to recover things is my strong point, and I was delighted when the princess gave me her word of honour that I could live with her if I retrieved the plaything for her. But she reneged on her promise, Your Majesty. She said to me, “ Buzz off – I have other fish to fry.”

“Is that true?” the king asked the princess. She nodded and said, “ I wouldn’t be seen dead with a frog.” Placing an arthritic arm over her shoulder, the king said, “Promises should never be broken.”

With a grim expression, the princess invited the frog to jump onto the table. “What’s this in the golden bowl?” the frog asked, as glutinous saliva dribbled from his mouth. “Vegetable soup,” said the king. “For an amphibian, it could be an acquired taste.”

As the frog slurped his food, making swishing sounds like water purling between rocks, the princess said to her father, “ For crying out loud, our tablemate doesn’t care that it is bad manners to break your bread or roll in your soup!”

After lunch, the princess reluctantly invited her guest to her room. When he hopped onto her bed, she couldn’t control herself anymore. Gritting her teeth, she picked him up and deposited him on the floor. And the frog turned into a wispy cloud of smoke, which instantly metamorphosed into a handsome prince dressed in his best bib and tucker!

The princess smiled in relief when the prince told her that a wicked witch had cast a spell on him that could only be broken by the touch of a princess. Her brow corrugating, she asked, “Will you turn into a frog again?” “ Definitely not!” said the prince. “What is more, I intend to ask a beautiful princess to marry me!”

One’s strong point – something at which one excels

word of honour – a sincere promise

buzz off – go away

have other/bigger fish to fry – to have more important matters to attend to

wouldn’t be seen dead – would have nothing to do with; strongly dislike

acquired taste – something one learns to like over time

for crying out loud – an exclamation of irritation or exasperation

one’s best bib and tucker – one’s finest clothes

what’s more – also/furthermore

(459 words)

Adapted from: Idiomania Star2 Tuesday 28 August 2012

Ways To Improve English

Dimitar Berbatov, the handsome Bulgarian football player worked on improving his English by watching the Godfather films again and again, especially Godfather III.

We are told that there are four skills to be developed in the teaching of a language: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Let me try and suggest certain ways in which we can improve our understanding and command of the language.

Reading

Read books whose subjects interest you, and try if possible to get some advice on whether the books you have chosen are written well. Also, choose books whose language provides some challenge to you, but not too much, because that might discourage you. If there are 10 or more words on every page that you don’t know the meaning of, find a simpler book.

Sometimes you may hear of a good classic English novel, like Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, and you can’t find it in a bookshop. There is also no library near you. You can go to the  Project Gutenberg  website. Here you can find lots and lots of good books. You can read them online or print them, all for free. But if you have some money to spare, you are encouraged to donate any sum you like to the project. The books have been made available by people who have lovingly typed every word in so that these treasures can be read by everyone.

Dictionaries

Reading alone is not enough, of course. I really do think that Malaysians have to develop the dictionary habit. I have observed how reluctant so many Malaysians are to look up a word in a dictionary to find out its exact meaning or meanings.

This is such a pity because never before we had so many free dictionaries available, on the Internet. So please take advantage of that. Some of them even pronounce the words for you if you click on the right icons.

Writing

How about improving your writing? If you have no tutor or a friend to help you, just write a diary. You don’t need to write every day. But whenever you feel happy or upset or angry about something, try to write how you feel in your diary.

Never mind if it is somewhat ungrammatical at first: you will get better as you read more and write more. And if you feel upset or angry, writing it all down may actually help you feel less upset or angry.

Speaking

Speaking may be the skill that is hardest to improve. Having a friend who is proficient in English would be helpful. If you don’t have such a friend, try getting a tutor, if you can afford it.

If you have neither friend of that description, nor cash to pay for a tutor, don’t despair. If you listen to the language often enough, you can try to speak it on your own. Try reading aloud in the privacy of your home or room. It can be enjoyable. Finally, what about grammar? The BBC website has a grammar section and you can also try to get a grammar book from a big bookshop. Browse around and find one that you think is at your level and also affordable.

(536 words)

Adapted from: Fadzilah Amin Mind Our English Star2 Tuesday 28 August 2012

Stress

Stress is not an alien term to anyone. As teenagers, we often put up with stress on a daily basis. I remembered how my mum used to tell me without hesitating to repeat it over and over again: “Those days, we could not even afford a hand phone. Even if we did, they would not fit into our pockets. You are so lucky nowadays.”

I do not give two hoots about my mother’s rants as much as the next teenager, but what she said does apply. Being born into a fortunate era has made most of us more vulnerable and easily threatened by obstacles.

Just think about it, every little thing in our daily lives appears stressful to us. Woke up 30 minutes late on a Chemistry quiz day? Stress. Got to school and realised you did not study section 3.5 on page 154? Stress. Could not find a single 2B pencil in your bag during the PMR objective test? Stress. Had a public fight with your girlfriend in the hall right after your test without knowing what you were fighting about afterwards? STRESS,

It is simply too easy to trigger that little stress button at the back of our minds. It all builds up to form stressors, and stressors, of course, cause stress that encourages people to act out in unfavourable ways.

The first step to overcome stress is to learn more about it. Things would be more manageable when we realise what we are actually dealing with.  Prioritising and time management helps as well , as it helps us determine what is most important, and what we should avoid fussing over.

For example, realising that the Chemistry quiz tomorrow is vital to your studies will steer you towards making the right decision to turn down the outing to town with your friends. By doing so, you’d have ample time to go through section 3.5 on page 154 at least three times, wake up 30 minutes earlier on the test day and packed extra 2B pencils, all nicely sharpened; finish your test 10 minutes earlier and not bump into your girlfriend in the hall. What seemed to be a strenuous and hectic day would simply turn stress-free without us having to completely reconstruct our lives.

Stress is born in the brain and it wounds the brain. Therefore, another effective option to combat stress is to stay positive. You may be thinking, “easier said than done”. I agree. But by mentally convincing ourselves that there are some things that we cannot control, we can minimise potential heartache when it comes to dealing with dissatisfying outcomes.

We have to also understand that stress isn’t always the enemy. Positive stress helps us strive, and can act as motivation. But as we all know, too much of a good thing gives an opposite effect. We should never let stress conquer our minds or be the excuse to bring out the worst in us.

As entrepreneur and lifestyle author Bill Phillips said, ‘stress should be a powerful driving force, not an obstacle”. Don’t let stress dominate you; be its master instead. Have a happy stress-free life!

(522 words)

Writer: Carmen Khor, Sunway University

Adapted from : R.AGE Star 2 Friday 14 September 2012

Word Power 1

WORD POWER 1

Crambazzled (adjective)

- prematurely aged by drinking

Origin : Yorkshire slang. 19^th century English.

Example:  Keith Richards looked crambazzled after a lifetime of rock ‘n’ roll.

Ostrobogulous (adjective)

-bizarre

Origin : Unknown

Example : Her whimsical book contained many ostrobogulous drawings.

Fornale (verb)

- spend money before you’ve earned it

Origin: 15^th century English

Example: When the ship docked, the sailors fornaled two days before payday.

Cagg (noun)

- vow not to get drunk

Origin: Military slang. 19^th century English

Example:

Macrology (noun)

- tedious and empty talk

Origin: Greek macros (long) and logos (word)

Example: The party was rich in macrology.

Accidie (noun)

-apathy

Origin: Latin accidia (listlessness)

Example: His accidie deepened as he waited on Platform 8.

 Quidnunc (noun)

- someone desperate to know what’s going on

Origin: Latin quid nunc (what now?)

Example:

Dudgeon (noun)

- resentful anger

Origin: Old English (the wood used to make dagger hilts)

Example: He stormed off the American Idol set in high dudgeon.

Deipnosophist (noun)

- brilliant dining companion

Origin: Greek deipnon (dinner) and sophos (wise)

Example: The deipnosophist made up for the salmon mousse.

Cachinnate (verb)

- laugh loudly

Origin: Latin chachinnare (laugh loudly)

Example:

Dundrearies (noun)

- long side-whiskers

Origin: Victorian English(Lord Dundreary in the 1858 play our American Cousin)

Example:

Godwottery (noun)

- pretentious use of old language

Origin: 19^th century English exclamation, ‘God wot!’

Example: Stephen Fry likes to mock godwottery on television.

Philtrum (noun)

- groove below the nose

Origin: Latin philtrum

Example: There was a thin moustache nestling on his philtrum.

Smidsy (noun)

- a motorbike accident

Origin: 20^th century acronym (Sorry Mate, I Didn’t See You)\

Example: The greasy road surface led to a boom in smidsies.

Brendice (noun)

- cup used to drink to another’s health

Origin: 17^th century English

Example: We raised a brendice to absent friends.

 Taken from : Reader's Digest April 2011

                

Horses

1. To get off/on your high horse (also to climb off/on your high horse)

                To stop/put on a superior or arrogant manner

                Seated high up on a horse, you automatically have to look down to talk to people who are walking. Whether you mean it or not, those looking up can easily assume you are talking down to them in a rather snooty manner.

                Another factor is that horses have always been expensive and therefore the province of the rich – a group not universally noted for their humility.

Example: I wish that politician would get off his high horse and deal with real people and real problems.

2. To change horses (in) mid-stream

                To change your ideas, focus in the middle of a project, race or other venture.

               

                The appealing image of trying to swap horses without getting soaked has undoubtedly kept this phrase in the public eye.

Example: The company is stuck with this software because it’s too tough to change horses in midstream.

3. To flog a dead horse

                To try and revive interest in a subject that nobody cares about OR to talk about something that has been discussed at great deal.

                Imagine in your mind this horrible image of beating a dead horse in order to make it work.

Example: Whether you like it or not, Kim has been promoted. So stop flogging a dead horse, will you?

4. To be on your hobby horse

                To talk about a favourite subject – usually one that bores everyone else because you’ve talked about it too much!

Example: Warn Syed not to mention car race or we’ll have Grandpa on his hobby horse again.

5. Horses for courses

                Something you say to mean that what is easy for some, is difficult for others.

                Trainers test a horse for its stamina, speed and other attributes and then decide what sort of races they think the horse will do well at. Many people also believe that certain horses do better at particular tracks.

Example: You can’t switch from accounts to customer service because our CEO believes in horses for courses.

6. To pony up

                To pay. Usually used in the sense of paying an outstanding bill or debt.

                This expression is linked to the late 1790s where a pony was slang for 25 guineas, an English gold coin.

Example: It’s George’s turn to pony up for this round.

7. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

                It is unwise to be ungrateful for a gift. Also a warning that it is rude to evaluate a gift.

                Based on the fact that equestrians can tell how old (and therefore how valuable) a horse is by looking at its teeth.

Example: When Salina got a whopping great Hari Raya bonus she didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and suggest they have overpaid her.

 Adapted from: Mind Our English, Star2, Wednesday 27 July 2011

Essay Writing Competition (20 June-31 October 2012)

Write on one of the titles below:
Essay:
Esei:
Category A (13 – 17 years old)
Kategori A (13-17 tahun)

Choose one of the following titles:
Pilih salah satu daripada tajuk-tajuk berikut:

What being a responsible Malaysian citizen means to me
Pandangan saya berkenaan ertinya menjadi rakyat Malaysia yang bertanggungjawab.
How can Malaysian schools promote responsible citizenship?
Bagaimanakah caranya sekolah-sekolah di Malaysia boleh menggalakkan kerakyatan bertanggungjawab?
Category B (18 – 25 years old)
Kategori B (18-25 tahun)

Choose one of the following titles:
Pilih salah satu daripada tajuk-tajuk berikut:

How has the Internet changed or affected citizen engagement and empowerment in Malaysia?
Bagaimanakah Internet telah mengubah atau memberi kesan kepada keterlibatan dan pemerkasaan rakyat di Malaysia?
It has been said that the era of Government-Knows-Best is over. What do you think are the implications of this?
Telah dikatakan bahawa era “Government-Knows-Best” telah berlalu. Apakah implikasi-implikasi pernyataan tersebut?

Blogpost:
Blogpost:

Category A (13 – 17 years old)
Kategori A (13-17 tahun)

Write an open letter addressed to your friends and schoolmates on the role they can play as young citizens and what they can do – now – to shape a better future for Malaysia.
Tuliskan sepucuk surat terbuka yang ditujukan kepada kawan-kawan dan rakan-rakan sekolah berkenaan peranan yang boleh mereka mainkan sebagai warganegara muda dan apa yang boleh mereka lakukan – sekarang – bagi membentuk masa hadapan Malaysia yang lebih cemerlang.

Category B (18 – 25 years old)
Kategori B (18-25 tahun)

If you were given the funding and resources to set up a new youth-based civil society action group to influence public policy on a pressing issue affecting youth, what organisation would you set up and which cause would it champion?
Jika anda diberikan dana dan sumber-sumber untuk menubuhkan sebuah kumpulan bertindak belia masyarakat sivil yang baru, bagi mempengaruhi dasar awam yang menyentuh isu-isu mendesak berkaitan belia, organisasi apakah akan anda tubuhkan dan tujuan apakah yang akan ia perjuangkan?

http://www.perdana.org.my/essaycompetition/to-participate/terms-conditions/

This competition is open to Malaysian citizens only.
The competition is open to all Malaysians between the ages 13 to 25 as of 31 December 2012.
Malaysian students studying abroad may enter but their institutions are not eligible for any of the institution prizes.
Submissions will be accepted until 31 October 2012.
Each participant may submit more than one entry, but each winning Participant will be entitled to only one (1) prize. The prize will be awarded to a winning Participant for the Participant’s highest-scoring Competition Entry.
Submissions can be made online or via e-mail, in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
Each participant must fill in a submission form to accompany each entry on the Essay website.
Essays are accepted in the .doc, .docx or .pdf format.
All submissions will be blind reviewed. References to specific individuals, firms, or schools, which might reveal the author’s identity, are discouraged. It is not allowed to indicate your name anywhere on your work.Quotes and references must be clearly marked throughout the essay and properly cited.
All submissions must be original. No previously published material will be accepted. Any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification. Please note that all essays will be screened with specialised software to verify plagiarism.

The contest is open to all young Malaysians, students and non-students, aged between 13 and 25, as of 31 October 2012.
Employees of Perdana Leadership Foundation (“PLF”), MAYBANK FOUNDATION and MPH and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in the competition.



Please note: Malaysian students studying abroad may enter the competition but their institutions are not eligible for any of the institution prizes. Non-student participants will also not be eligible for any of the institution prizes.

Titles for Narrative Writing

Write a story that ends with:
...If only I had listened to his/her advice

Write a story ending with:
...We had never laughed so much in our lives.

Write a story ending with:
...If only I had been more careful, that wouldn’t have happened.

Write a story beginning with:
I was nervous when the door opened...

Write a story ending with:
...We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways

Write a story beginning with:
It had been raining all day...

Write a story ending with:
...I shall never forget this day for the rest of my life.

Write a story beginning with:
I could not believe my eyes...

Write a story beginning with:
The lights suddenly went out...

Write a story ending with:
...She is a different person now and it shows.

Write a story ending with:
...They looked at each other and smiled.

Write a story beginning with:
I wish he would give me a second chance...

Write a story ending with:
...Finally I have achieved my greatest triumph

Write a story beginning with:
I didn’t know what happiness what until...

Write a story ending with:
...I realised that every word she said was true

Write a story ending with:
...I learnt my lesson.

Write a story beginning with:
The crowd had not dwindled...

Write a story ending with:
...We wished we could have stayed there a few days more

Write a story beginning with:
It was Sunday morning...

Write a story beginning with:
In my haste, I disregarded everything else...

Write a story ending with:
...We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly that day

Write a story beginning with:
It was a dark and stormy night...

Write a story beginning with:
It was a bitter cold morning...

Write a story beginning with:
I did not expect this to happen...

Write a story beginning with:
When I opened my eyes, I realised that...

Write a story beginning with:
I could tell that my friend was excited...

Write a story beginning with:
I approached the young man with a smile...

Write a story ending with:
...I wished that I had never said those words

Write a story beginning with:
Our last day on the island was...

Write a story beginning with:
There were screams all around me...

Write a story beginning with:
My heart was beating very fast when I...

Write a story beginning with:
As I walked along the beach, I saw something shiny...

Write a story ending with:
...I miss my family

Write a story ending with:
...The incident had made me wiser

Write a story beginning with:
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

'I did not know what happiness was until...'

I didn’t know what happiness was until the unfortunate mishap. I have never been disappointed by the beauty of mother nature. It has taught me a lot about appreciating God’s gifts.

The story began on a bright Friday morning. I packed my bags and was ready to take on the adventure of camping in the jungle. At first, I was reluctant to go but after being cajoled by my persistent friends, I finally gave in. It was a trip for sheer relaxation and nature learning. All six of us – Ainul, Dayang, Farah, Suhaila, Yus and I finally agreed to meet up at the school’s bus stop before embarking on our journey into the virgin forest.

As I was half way walking towards the school, it suddenly started raining. I hastened my steps to the school’s bus stand. Luckily for me, it started pouring when I arrived near the school. Only then, I realized that I was 10 minutes late for the meeting.

“Where have you been? We promised to be here at exactly 11 a.m.,” Ainul barked out.

“Sorry, I had to run some errands for my mom and there was a storm out there,” I explained. “Anyway, we’re all here. So, let’s not waste anymore time. Let’s go,” I quickly added so that Ainul would not dwell on the subject.

Thankfully, the rain lasted for five minutes only. We hopped onto a bus heading towards Indah Park. I was not sure if we were ready for a steep and winding climb up the hill in this wet condition. We arrived at the hillside alas and began to hike up about a mile of the Gagak trail.

It was a harsh climb as we were carrying heavy 10 kilo bag packs complete with sleeping bags, canned food and bottles of mineral water. I was the only one bringing the tent as the others did not possess one. Along the climb we stopped to rest for at least three times. At one place, we encountered a huge snake hissing at us from a bush about 10 metres away. We were lucky not to be bitten by it. We caught glimpse of the beautiful hornbills, bluebirds and a Rufous Collared Kingfisher. After approximately forty minutes of walking, we finally arrived at our destination, in the middle of an open forest quite near to the breathtaking Indah Waterfall.

“Now, let’s start pitching the tent,” Yus ordered. We loyally obeyed her command as we were the ones who chose her to be the group leader, being the oldest among us. It was already noon and we took out cans of sardines and loaves of bread for lunch before doing more exciting activities of discovering nature. Yus and Suhaila went to fetch some water, Farah and Ainul prepared the meal, Dayang laid out a mat for us to enjoy the moment of leisure in the forest. I was instructed to search for firewoods.

“Don’t go too far out,” Yus reminded.

Happily I went on my way gathering as many branches and twigs as I came across on my path. “This should be enough for at least two days,” I thought to myself as I had collected a bundle of them. As I turned around, I suddenly tripped over a branch and fell down flat on my leg. “Ouch! My ankle,” I moaned. I could not lift myself up as the pain on my twisted ankle was excruciating. I did not realize I was too far away from the tent. Moreover, I left my mobile with Yus. “How can I ask for help?” I wonder. At moment like this, all I could think of was my teacher’s advice. ‘If you are lost in the forest, you need to sit quietly at that particular spot until someone finds you. This will ease the searching work’. I did exactly that. Sit and wait.

Staring at the sky, it had grown darker. The dark grey cloud was pregnant with rain. I prayed hard that someone in my group would notice that I was missing.

Tick…tick…tick. The sound of water dropping onto the leaves. I gathered all my strength, lifted my hips and tried to move to a big tree nearby. Before I could even blink my eyes, the rain started pouring cats and dogs. I sat myself under the huge tree, holding the bundle of firewood to my chest. All kinds of thoughts came to my mind.

“I shouldn’t have come. There have been too many obstacles. It’s afternoon and it does not look like it,” I whined. Did I make the wrong decision? I questioned myself.

I must have dozed off. When I opened my eyes, the thick lianas hanging and gripping onto the hundred- foot-tall trees greeted me. I could hear the sound of the creatures of the forest. Insects chirping, the geckos in the hide calling. It was strangely soothing. I felt at peace as the symphony continued to play in my ears.

“Sheeda! Where are you?” Ainul’s call came piercing into my ears.

“Hey! I’m over here,” I shouted back in relief. I saw my friends running towards me. I told them what had happened. Dayang and Suhaila kindly helped me up while Ainul and Yus got into the motion of snapping pictures of the nature.

In the end, we spent the three-day break enjoying the beauty of mother nature. I realized that I had made the right decision.

By: Nursheeda (Form 5S1, 2010)
Taken from: http://smkmbi.blogspot.com/2011/02/continuous-writing-sample-narrative.html

'I did not know what happiness was until...'

I did not know what happiness was until my aunt’s caring words sank into me on my graduation day. There she was sitting on the front pew, looking at me with loving eyes, proudly as I stood on the stage giving a speech. She was my angel. She protected me and cared for me since the demise of my parents.

As an orphan, it was not easy for me to get acquainted to strangers. I had built a wall over the years to protect myself from being hurt. The fatal incident of a robbery left me broken and shattered. I could vividly remember the bloody tragedy. After my tuition class on Friday night, I came home in my friend’s car. When I arrived, I felt strange as mom and dad did not lock the door and left the gate wide open. Quietly and suspiciously, I walked into the house sensing something terrible might have happened. In front of the doorstep, to my horror were my parents and twin brothers sprawling right across the carpet. I was paralyzed with fear. Blood was oozing. Mom and dad were lying on their stomachs holding each other’s hands. My twin brothers were heavily injured with slashes of knife cuts on their heads and back.

“Wh-what’s going on?” I asked with a quivering voice. “Mom, dad, Habil, Qabil …please wake up,” I pleaded but they were motionless. It was a very horrifying scene. I found myself screaming and howling hysterically. My neighbours who came to help. The ambulance and police arrived within minutes but they were too late. I was so shaken that I could not stop crying. Not even the paramedic could calm me down. I was escorted to the hospital. Somehow, they managed to contact my aunt. Her hug and consoling words relaxed me a little. I was given a sedative jab and I fell asleep instantaneously. When I woke up, she was right there by my bedside. I felt safe and secured in her presence.

The police came to interview me. My aunt was with me all the while. I was kept away from the press and television for weeks for fear of my recurring hysteria. The doctor-in-charge put me in a psychiatric ward for half a year, under close observation to help me cope with the terribly haunting tragedy.

After six months in the psychiatry unit, I was finally discharged and reported as being in a stable condition. I went back to the house where the killing took place. It was a very emotional experience. Tears kept rolling down my eyes. I could not stop it. However, I was quiet and not hysterical anymore. My aunt was there holding my hands and rubbing my back, giving me all the moral support and love she could. I packed my belongings, took the family pictures hanging on the wall and put them in my bag. I was put under my aunt’s custody.

My parents and siblings were brutally killed in a home robbery. The prime suspects were two middled aged man. My parents were shot whereas my twin brothers were stabbed to death. It was reported that about RM20,000.00 worth of money and jewellery were stolen. They were finally arrested, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite that, the life of my loved ones could not be returned.

“Hawa you must let go off the past. Don’t keep that hatred in your heart. Do not disappoint your late parents. You have a bright future ahead of you. Stay focused in your studies, pass with flying colours and live your life to the fullest. Realize your dreams of joining a forensic team. Make your parents and siblings proud of you. It’s not the end of the world. I’m still here for you,” she advised and encouraged me.

“…but I can’t forget them. Why me? Why my family?” I asked knowing that there was no answer to that.

“Who said that you must forget them? God loves them and that is why He took them in His care. You should be grateful that He still wants you to live their legacy, to care for the unfortunate. They would be sad if you keep wasting your youth away,” she rationalized with me and gave me a big hug to comfort me and take my doubts away.

Fortunately, her caring words and actions awakened me. I picked myself up from feeling worthless and hopeless. I was only fifteen then. However I strived hard and I succeeded.

Today, I am celebrating freedom. Freedom from the bondage of anger and hatred. And I am celebrating this new joy, this new me with my loving aunt. Without her support, I would not have made it.

By: Ainul (Form 5S1, 2010)
Taken from: http://smkmbi.blogspot.com/2011/02/continuous-writing-sample-narrative.html

“... En. Nizam was grateful he had such good neighbours.”

Not even in his wildest dream did En. Nizam think he would lose so much in such a short time. It had been a trying period. When he got word that his father was on his death bed, En. Nizam’s family rushed to his hometown. Even before the funeral rites were over, he received a call from his immediate neighbour that his house was partly destroyed by fire and that the cause of the fire was believed to be arson.
Members of En. Nizam’s immediate family and his relatives were in state of disarray. First, it was the death of an elder member of a family, then this misfortune. Although En. Nizam was worried, deep in his heart he knew that he had very good neighbours, friends who would stand by him in good times and bad.
Sure enough, the minute he set foot in the compound of his house, he knew he was right. His neighbours, Mr. Subra and En. Majid, were there taking a close watch on the house. He learnt from them that the neighbours had been taking turns to keep an all-day vigil on the house. He thanked them from the bottom of his heart.
After inspecting the damage caused by the fire, En. Majid handed donations collected by the residents living in the area. His neighbours had passed the hat around and the donations came up to a significant amount. Although, the donations was still short of the amount required to repair the damages, en. Nazim was grateful.
The next day, En. Nazim was even more overwhelmed by the care and concern shown by his neighbours. They were there to extend their condolences and to show their support. Donations came pouring in. The women folk were busy preparing all the meals for the family.
With the help of his neighbours, En. Nizam got a building contractor to repair the damaged sections of the house. The repair and renovations took almost a week to complete. When the house was ready, the neighbour turned up in full force to congratulate him.
Tears welled up in E. Nizam’s eyes. He was at a loss for words. En. Nizam was grateful he had such good neighbours.

(367 words)
Taken from : http://englishforallsmkbenut.blogspot.com/p/spm-sample-of-essays-continuous-writing.html