School homework

Homework is a bitter pill to many a student. Schools, as a rule set home-tasks. They are given to make the student work at home. It serves another purpose also. It is to help the student to revise what has been done in the class. All schools set home work for students, some more and some less. However, bitter it may be, there must be some home-task given. Education and mastery of knowledge is a matter of skill. There are subjects to learn a skill and others just to acquire knowledge. Both these groups require drill and repetition. the teacher, to some extent, drills the student in the class. But in the classroom each individual student cannot expert the same amount of drill as each one may require. so the student will have to do that at home. Homework need not necessarily be repeating what has been done in the class. It may be more study. The student goes through references and acquires more and better knowledge. The world of knowledge is so wide that the class study cannot bring everything into the grasp of the student. So the student must take up some initiative of his own. This may be one of the purposes of homework. The school also must see that the student is not overburdened on one day and left free on other days. the teachers must see to it that the homework is distributed throughout the week. Still there are subjects like mathematics in the lower classes which require daily attention. There are others which can be attended to during the week end, for example, map making, drawing diagrams and so on. Simply because there is difficulty for some students, the homework cannot be abolished. If some students find it inconvenient to do their homework, the school must come to their rescue. They must provide some facilities in school, so that the pupils can conveniently attend to their homework. Boys do not like homework because some of them are too playful to do them. In such cases, the teachers must come willingly forward to help such boys, who need encouragement. It is not a question of abolishing the homework. It is a question of making it sweet and workable to the student. The teachers in good faith must solve this problem.

The importance of good diet

In addition to regular exercise, a healthy well balanced diet is essential for good health. Life or rather the quality of life you have is dependent on having good health. A well balanced diet would contain the three main groups of food as well as important vitamins and minerals. The first group of carbohydrates are found in foods such as bread, potatoes and rice. They are essentially energy giving foods which power the muscles and other tissues in our body. The next class of food is the proteins which form the solid part in all living cells. They are commonly found in milk, met and fish, and are necessary for the body to build new cells and repair old damaged ones. For this very reason growing children require a greater intake of the different kinds of proteins as compared to adults. Lastly we have fats which are also energyliving foods but do not give it up as quickly as carbohydrates because their molecular

structure is designed to render them ideal as storage foods. As children are much more active than adults they use up more energy for their size and therefore require more energy giving foods such as carbohydrates. To this end fats are unsuitable. Moreover too much of a fatty food intake at an early age may lead to a problem with obesity in later life. In adults fatty deposits on the walls of the blood vessels in the form of cholesterol may lead to all kinds of heart ailments. In addition to the foods above the body also needs small quantities of protective substances called vitamins and minerals. They are normally present in a sensible diet. For example vitamins A and D are found in some fatty foods. Vitamin D is important along with the mineral calcium, found in milk, for the formation of bones. Vitamin B is found in the husks of wheat or rice ad vitamin C in fresh fruits such as oranges and lemons. Important minerals such as potassium, zinc and iron are present in traces n most foods too. Therefore it is obvious that a well balanced diet would include all the necessary ingredients necessary for growth and good health.

A daring robbery
It was 10 o'clock in the night. I was late from my office and was standing at the bus-stop to catch the bus. There was a coffee shop nearby. It was the only shop in the neighborhood. There used to be late guests in that shop. For I could see that the owner was not in a mood to close the shop. Then I saw two fells enter the shop. Their appearance looked suspicious. They went in and ordered for their cup of coffee. While they were sipping their cups, I could see them talking. Then I saw both of them move towards the counter where the shop owner was sitting. From the manner he talked to them, I knew they were thugs. After a few minutes, I could hear hot exchange of words. I could also see that the shop owner was self-possessed. While an altercation was going on, one of the two guests whipped up a knife and threatened to stab the shop owner. The other fellow put his hands into the drawer and took what all cash he could take. I was in a dilemma; I could neither go for rescue nor shout because that would be futile. the shop owner was raising hell of noise and even at the risk of his life, would not allow the ruffians to bolt away with the cash. Luckily for him, the long awaited bus came there. Seeing the bus the ruffians left the place and ran away. Before the shop keeper could recover and cry for help, the ruffians were gone. As already the bus was late people did not bother to go for the ruffians. I boarded the bus with a heavy heart because, I failed in my duty to save the shop keeper.

The uses and abuses of television

Gone are the days of 'old fashioned' entertainment. Television is an important invention of

this century. Its great effect upon society is remarkable. It is to be found in any large city in the world. Television contributes a lot for the benefit of mankind. It is one of the great educators. Ordinary people, would have known little about foreign countries, engineering feats, science and medicine without television. In some countries apart from the program for the general public, 'school' television program has been introduced. Television provides good entertainment. We can see musical shows, movies and news events about the world on a small screen. It provides great excitement and creates an interest in various arts. A piano recital, an orchestra, a grand ball and a clandestine love affair are some items to provide occasional merriment. To the old people and the sick, television is a companion. The no longer feel loneliness; television entertains them and makes them happy. Space men today are making enormous strides in the space race. Television has its use in this field also. Photographs of space flights can now be relayed to the earth by satellite and to the television screen. Unfortunately, there is harmful effect if people spend too much time in 'viewing'. Children are likely to neglect their studies. If television has too strong a hold, even elderly people are likely to neglect some of their important work. When too much time is given on programs of vice and crime there is a disastrous effect in the young. But if this medium is used properly it can become an advantage and no a disadvantage to mankind. Then only it will gain the wide appreciation it deserves.

The value of discipline

What has gone into making a parade a grand success ? What has gone into making life a real success ? What has gone into attaining greatness to great nations of the world ? Discipline. Discipline means the training of the mind so as to make it accept willingly the control rules or orders. In many ways it is the most valuable lesson to learn. It is only through discipline that living becomes smooth and peaceful. Law of a country is nothing more than community discipline. People who keep to the law accept the discipline of the state. For one's moral life, discipline is necessary. Self indulgence is a natural temptation. Our senses crave for easy satisfaction. Don't give way to this craving. we must keep our passions under control. Discipline features in every stage of a child's development. A child is taught discipline from its birth so that it will not turn into a savage. At school we must submit to the discipline of the teacher. A school boy is given instructions in various subjects. He is trained in different ways to make him fit for adult life. To his

repeated annoyance, he is subject to constant control. Discipline is equally necessary in our intellectual life. It is also necessary in our spiritual life. Life will have its trials and disappointments and it is discipline which will enable a person to remain cool and sensible amidst the stresses of life. Should a person fall, it is discipline which will set him on his feet again. Remember, discipline is not slavery. It has a higher object in view. True discipline lies in a conscious subordination of self to the achievement of some higher purpose. when we are inclined to rebel against discipline, we should remember, "He alone can command who knows how to obey".

Advertisement : True or Misleading

Advertisement is one of the human institutions highly developed nowadays. To some extent nature itself advertises her ware; for instance, he color and smell of flowers is nothing but advertisement to attract the attention of insects and birds and the promise of honey is the gift. Advertisement is one of the media to draw the attention of the public and to inform them regarding a particular product. This may be called the psychology of persuasion and a way of converting people to a way of life or thinking. For example, a new drink may be introduced. It is not enough if the product is good but the public must be made to realize its existence. So the manufacturer adopts subtle ways of advertising. There must be appeal to visual and aural senses. Since advertisement has become very important and its methods are many, it has been professionalized and it is a trade today. In fact advertising agencies do good business. Since they employ specialists like artists and script writers, the advertiser can have expert service at a price. There are hundreds of ways of advertising. Generally they may have visual, audio and audiovisual appeal. Leaflets and brochures are produced colorfully describing a product. Free samples are lavishly given. Even for established products they give free samples now and then so that new customers may be found for the product. Calendars are quite common and from very plain ones to pictorials are there. Some of the calendars are really so fine that they are being preserved. So calendar manufacturing during the season is a big business and there are people who hunt after calendars. Perhaps one of the most popular media of advertisement is the newspaper. Since newspaper reaches a very wider public, advertisement in the paper is a common feature. Some products are being advertised throughout the year and advertisements are the major source of income for the newspaper. Here the pictures and the script play a very important part. Nowadays small gifts like key chains, purses, table ware and so on are used to advertise various products. An advertisement cannot be useless. After it ahs achieved its purpose the general public may think it is useless. when an advertiser uses a lot of paper for printing his advertisement, the common man may question the wisdom behind it. If you go on throwing some mud on the wall, some is sure to stick; so too with the advertisement. the advertisement acts as a middleman in the trade bringing the prospective buyer and the product man nearer. with the

complexity of the market and with dozens of products competing, advertisement is one of the ways of winning the market. Of course there are advertisements which are really misleading. Some medicines that are advertised claim to be panacea for all bodily ills. But very few could claim that honor. Some of the consumer products are not of that quality as claimed by the advertisement. take for instance, some tooth pastes. They claim to give all protection to the teeth but they prove the other way. In America this subtle way of persuading the public has been questioned when a number of products advertised could not stand the test of proof. We can conclude in spite of its limitations, advertisement is an institution that has come to stay.

A sincere friend
He had a humble beginning. His parents were ordinary people and his father was looking after the family lands. Of course once in a way he used to lend money. But he was very careful to whom he lent and was very strict in getting back the money. Those were the days when there were no banks, and cooperation was an unheard of word in that area. So the father with prudence and hard work built up sizable funds which the son inherited in the natural course. Unlike the father, the son was far more shrewd and enterprising. With the money he entered the cotton market and became a cotton broker to a mill owned by an European. This relationship of the broker and the mill owner continued for long and after some years the European felt that he could not continue for long in an alien country. There was national consciousness emerging. Workers became antagonistic and the day to day management was in peril and the European's life was in danger. So he felt it was wise to dispose of the mill and go away. The time was propitious for it because the mill was a going concern and nobody questioned about its profitability. The European mill owner thought of his friend, the cotton broker as a prospective buyer. For one thing he had money and secondly he was a shrewd business man. So, when the mill owner broached the subject to his cotton man, the later wanted time to decide. But the mill owner had already made up his mind to sell the mills and so he was willing make concessions. The cotton broker shrewd as he was bargained for a good price and got the mill by paying only half the price, but promised to pay the other half in small installments. The broker turned mill owner and put his heart and soul into the business and built it up. Everything was going on very well; he opened many more mills. The more he earned the more ambitious he became. He began to play with his accounts and he became a suspect in the eyes of the authorities. They were only waiting to catch him and the snare spread widely. So one evening the learnt that the authorities were going to raid his office. He was sure that he could be caught red handed and knew he would be put behind the bars. There was only one way. His friend in a village could save him. So he took some important books with him and left for his friends' village. On the way he stopped his car and sent it back. He kept the bundle of accounts with him. Then he traveled by a bus to his friend's village. the friend was very much surprised but when he heard the story of his mill magnate to bury the books in a garden and the mill owner was given the shelter needed.

Of course the mill was raided by the authorities. Nothing incriminating could be found. The enquiry did not help them to know where the mill owner had gone. In the meantime the friend used to go to the mills and through some confidential servants saw that the mill functioned properly. After a few weeks the case was withdrawn. the mill owner made his appearance again. As luck would have it there was a boom in the yarn market and the miller earned enormous amount of money. In his turn, he did not forget his friend who gave him shelter so he continued to help him faithfully till his last days. So a help done in time is greater than the word, as the saying goes.

The role of a teacher in moulding the character of pupils

Teaching has been described as a noble profession. In the modern context a teacher's role has now taken on a more challenging and demanding aspect. They are now more than ever entrusted with the task of moulding their charges into productive members of society. To a large extent this involves the very character of the student. School going children, in the early stages are still in the process of physical and mental development. Teachers represent role models for them to follow especially given today's hectic pace of life. It is not unusual to find that working parents of children have limited contact with their children through the week. It is often the teacher who fills this vacuum as the authority figure, friend and advisor. Children spend the better half o the day at school during normal lessons as well as being engaged in extra-curricular activities on other projects after classes. Often tuition or school sports and activities also occupy their weekends. Owing to the great deal of time spent by the child in the school environment, the level of inter-personal relationship between the pupil and teacher is improved. The pupil will come to expect more from his or her teacher in terms of involvement and commitment. The teacher would be in a unique position to influence and guide his student. If the teacher performs his role well the student will come to realize the importance of the positive traits and values being imparted to him. Learning by example is one of the most effective forms of learning. To meet the new challenges posed by the role of teachers, the individual must be dedicated and committed to teaching as a profession. Teachers must also be trained not only on methods or techniques of how to impart knowledge but also on how to deal with students on a more personal level. Teachers who are also counselors in their schools are also formally trained in this aspect of student relations and play an important part in ensuring that the school becomes a conducive environment for the intellectual as well as the psychological development of the child.

My science teacher
I have come across many teachers and I have brushed shoulders with some of them. Some I like, some I avoid and some I adore. But no teacher is so much loved by all as Mr. Lee, my Science teacher. Somehow I took a fancy for him from the very first day he took classes for me. Mr. Lee moves freely with his students but he has got a way of attracting students towards

him. He has a winning smile and would nod if he sees his students and if time permits would enquire about them Somehow he is interested in the welfare of his students. If a pupil is a footballer, he talks football to him. If one is a smart boy, he talks about studies. In fact I used to wonder how a small head as his could carry all the knew. As a teacher he is exacting. No one can escape his eagle eye in the classroom or in the laboratory. If he sees that things are done properly he is not bossy. For instance, he would insist on everything in its place and every work on time. In writing the records he won't relax the rules. Work is work and it must be done properly and well. In this he himself is an example. He is always prompt in correcting the work sheets and records. To some extent he is fastidious in these things. He has a personal approach in these matters and he will call for each student, point out the mistakes and make him correct them. It is a pleasure to sit in his class for he will explain his lessons with a lot wit and humor. One could easily see how widely he has read for he could quote from the classics to the daily newspaper stories. Nothing of interest can escape him. Under his treatment even the dullest lesson would become interesting. Though he would indulge in jokes, he is not a joker and would never go in for cheap jokes. As a teacher he has never been vindictive. If he punishes it is not to would but to heal. If he feels that a student has taken it too much to his heart, he would have a private talk with him and would convince him that he deserved the punishment. His love for the subject and teaching is so apparent that nobody is offended at his punishment. By nature, he is one who would easily forgive and forget. every student is a nice fellow to him. He is an amazingly wonderful man of knowledge. He can easily talk on any subject with an expertise, whether it be health, sports, astrology or politics of the day. He keeps himself upto-date and his motto is once a scholar, always a scholar. He used to say, rightly too, that one's education does not stop with the school or the college. But for all this he is not a pedant and he is easily approachable. So many pupils used to meet him to get his advice which he would frankly give. Since Mr. lee is such a good combination of high qualities and all those desirable things in a teacher, no wonder I look upon him as my favorite teacher, there are other students too who hold him in great admiration.

The value of forest

Forests with a quite repose, an air of placid calm and a pleasing natural scenery, since time immemorial, played an important part in the life of mankind. What do we learn about the African huts of the primitive days ? Wood has been the basic material used by them. Let us go as far back to the Merrie England' of the sixteenth century. Its beautiful black and white houses depended on wooden structures. Even in the modern age when steel plays an important part in the formation of the sky-scrapers, wood still forms an intrinsic part of the smaller modern buildings. Soft woods and hard woods are used for various purposes. Frames and doors are usually

made of soft woods. Hard woods are used for furniture. Furthermore, wood has played large part in transport. The primitive man used wood for making wheels for horse carts which enabled him to move from place to place,; others were dependent on wood for making boats. We can also see how great is the need of timber in the making of paper. The logs of soft wood are first turned into wood pulp. This undergoes certain chemical processes. Paper is the end project. Nor are the uses of them in other fields less pleasing. Some forests provide useful oils, turpentine from the pine, palm oil from the palm and olive oil from the olive tree. Forests play an important part in the prevention of soil erosion. Addition of huming and vegetable matter by forests, preserves the soil from degeneration. They also attract rain clouds. Forests shelter wild animals and small insects. Climbing shrubs and creepers are protected by them. They provide men with beautiful scenery. One's eyes are charmed with the soothing luxury of colors, with the soft appeal of endless greenery.

My perfect home
At first when I though of a house, I conceived that it must be neither too far nor too near a town. If it is too far, one may feel lonely and then there is the question of transport to and from a place I choose. It is an elevated land enabling easy drainage and the soil is hard enough. The site is spacious allowing ground for the house and a decent garden. even from the beginning I wanted that my house must have an elegant and chaste look. The house is a four -- room mansion with a well furnished kitchen and, of course with modern bathroom facilities. The living rooms are planned with comfortable seating in view. The furniture has been chosen with great car. The walls have been painted with soft colors to match the curtains. Each room is fitted with a loudspeaker so that one can enjoy the radio program from bed. The drawing room is elegantly furnished with sofas and chairs and a table in the center. The wall shelves are used to stack books. There is a niche for the television and the room is spacious for a small group to watch the programmers comfortably. All the rooms are air conditioned. The kitchen is a beauty by itself. It is fitted with electric grills and things could be stacked neatly in specially designed cabinets. it is provided with modern gadgets for grinding or cutting. In front of the house is an artificial pool with a fountain singing all the time for the sun, stars and the moon. One or two fish troughs kept in the portico add to the beauty of the place. There is a garage on one side of the house. In the backyard there are a few fruit bearing trees. Near the boundary fence of the house there are some coconut trees. In front of the house are certain bushes of crotons and flower plants. The well kept lawn with luscious green grass is very pleasing to the eye. There is also a small playground for children with a swing and a see-

saw. Purposely I avoided putting up high storeys because in my case space was not a problem.

Cooking
In fact there is nothing deliberate when I learnt to cook. Really it came quite by accident as it happens in many cases. For example, one learns to swim when he suddenly finds himself in deep water and he has the first lesson in swimming. Of course it is a case of "necessity is the mother of invention" One day I had to make tea. That was the first time when I went into the kitchen. I have seen people making my tea and above all I have always enjoyed my cup of tea. But there is a vast difference between making tea and enjoying your cup of tea. Then once our Scout troop was camping away from the town and we were in a wood. That day we cooked food for ourselves. Our Scout master encouraged us to prepare our food. Our patrol was in charge of cooking. So naturally I had an active part to play. That day we cooked rice and prepared some curry was not so nice. Still we took it in the right spirit of a Scout. Thereafter I took courage to prowl into the kitchen helping mother in the various activities. At first of course mother would not allow just to help her washing, peeling, slicing and so on In all her kindness she would show how things should be done. Slowly she showed me how to dress food, what ingredients and in what quantity they should be used and to what extent the item must be heated or boiled and so on. Now that mother has grown confident that I could do well in the kitchen. Now and then she leaves me in full charge of the kitchen wherever she has guests or other work to attend to. No wonder I am taking lessons on kitchen art now.

A Burglary
Wendy hailed from Ipoh. When she was promoted to assistant branch manager and transferred to a branch in Johore Bahru, she had to find a place of her own. After some canvassing for an affordable place, she found one on the second floor of a rented walk-up apartment in Tebrau. the four-storey building was quite old and there was only one apartment on each floor. One day, when she returned from work, she found the door to her apartment slightly ajar. Sensing that something was wrong, she gently pushed the door inward. The sight that greeted her made her gasp in horror. The apartment was in a a mess. The couch and coffee table had been overturned. the glass door of the display cabinet was broken and everything was strewn all over the floor. She realized that her apartment had been burgled. The, a sudden thought came to her which made her heart thump with fear. What if the burglars were still in her apartment, in her bedroom ? She pulled the door again and left it

slightly ajar. Then, she ran down the stairs as quietly as she could. Once on the ground floor, she used her cellular phone to call the police. The police arrived in less than ten minutes. There were four policemen and they accompanied Wendy to her apartment. The police told Wendy to stay outside the flat while the four policemen, with drawn arms, centered the apartment. They carefully searched the apartment for the burglars but it was obvious that the culprits have left long ago. The police then sent for the crime technicians. The technicians spent more than hour looking for clues and dusting for fingerprint. Then, the police asked her to make a careful inventory of her things and to report the stolen items and to give her statement. Many weeks passed but the burglars were never caught and Wendy gave up hope of ever recovering her stolen valuables. Still, she continued to stay at the same place, but she had taken better security measures and even installed burglar alarm to safeguard her property.

A Fire
James was cycling down a narrow street one evening when he saw thick black smoke billowing upwards into the sky some distance away. Though the fire was not visible from where James was, he knew that there must be a raging fire to cause such thick clouds of smoke. He continued to cycle down the street and before long, he came to the source of fire. An old three-storey wooden shophouse was ablaze. Two large fire trucks were already there and the firemen were trying to put the fire out with their special fire-fighting equipment. But it seemed that the fire was wining the battle. The fire blazed even fiercely in other parts of the building when the fire in one portion looked about to be extinguished. There were also cries and wails from women and men. These were probably the tenants or owners of the building. There were loud sobs and soft weeping by many. Others displayed a variety of emotions. Some were sad, some were angry and yet some other simply looked indifferent. James could also see that there were also some casualties. There were three ambulances and James could see that the paramedics were busy transporting the injured onto stretchers and into the ambulances. The police had also cordoned off the hazardous area and curious onlookers were kept at a safe distance. From where James was, he could feel the intense heat emitted by the inferno. In another hour, the fire was finally contained but the shophouse was reduced to a smouldering ruin. The firemen packed their equipment and left the scene. the three ambulances had also sped off to the hospital with the casualties. Only the police were left. James took one final look at the burnt wreck and shook his head sadly before cycling off.

A Farewell Party
We learnt that our form teacher, Mr. Yeo, was about to be transferred to another school in a week. All the pupils adored Mr. Yeo as he was a very good and dedicated teacher. He never shouted at us and was very patient with the slower pupils. Our class decided to hold a farewell party for this model teacher. But we needed to have the permission of the school's principal first. Zoe was given the task of writing to the principal for permission to hold the party as her handwriting was the neatest and her language skills were excellent. After the letter was written, all the pupils in the class signed the letter and a delegation of six pupils, myself included, went to the principal's office. The principal was mildly curious when he saw the six of us in his office. We gave him the letter of petition and after reading it in silence, he frowned. He said that the request was very irregular but after the six of us beseeched him in earnest, he relented and gave us the permission. He allowed us to hold the party during the last period of the following Friday, which would be Mr. Yeo's last day of teaching in our school. The whole class was excited after getting the permission. We gathered together after school and planned for the party. After some debate and discussion we finally agreed on the things we needed to do. On the last period of school on the following Friday, our class monitor, Abdul Ghani, approached Mr. Yeo just as he was about to begin the next lesson. "Sir, we have obtained permission from the principal to treat you to a simple farewell party." Some of the pupils then brought out the drinks and food that have been prepared by their parents. We have left it hidden in a corner so that Mr. Yeo would not see it as we wanted to surprise him. And surprise him we did! For an instant, he was speechless and his eyes took on a misty look. Then, he was back to his normal self again. He acquiesced to the treat and my classmate, Sujata, brought a paper plate of fried noodles and a cup of lemonade for Mr. Yeo. Everyone cheered and clapped as he took his first spoonful of fried noodles. After the meal, Mr. Yeo gave an impromptu farewell speech. He spoke for fifteen minutes, thanking the class for taking the trouble to hold the party and for being such caring pupils. His speech was also peppered with sound advice for us. Just before the school bell rang to signal the end of the school day, I was given the honour of presenting our farewell gift to Mr. Yeo. We knew him to be a great fan of mystery and detective novels and so we had bought for him the "Complete Sherlock Holmes" which contained all the stories and novelettes written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When he unwrapped the gift, we saw two large beads of tears rolling down his cheeks. He was very deeply moved. Then, the school bell rang and each pupil shook hands with Mr. Yeo for one last time before heading for home.

A Lesson Learnt
Kenny learnt to ride a bicycle when he was nine years old. His father had bought a bicycle for his ninth birthday and his elder brother coached him to ride. After the usual falls and bruises, he finally mastered the skill of riding the bicycle in a few days. Since then, Kenny loved to cycle around the neighborhood in the evenings. At first, his parents did not allow him to ride on the roads but as he grew older and more mature, his parents relented and allowed him on the roads and even acquiesced to his cycling to school some two kilometers away. At school, Kenny's enthusiasm for cycling rubbed on to his close friends. Many of them pestered their parents to buy bicycles for them and soon, one by one, all his friends owned bicycles. The boys would come to school on their bicycles and after school, they would go for a three-kilometer ride. One day, Kenny was in town where there was an exhibition of bicycle stunts. Champion riders and stunt performers showed a variety of skills on the bicycle. They could do 'wheelies', jump over ropes on their bicycles and `fly' through the air with the aid of a sloping platform. Kenny witnessed this exhibition in awe and was duly impressed by the performance. When he reached home, he could not contain himself and wanted to try out some of the tricks he had witnessed. He mounted his bicycle and rode to a vacant plot of land where he could practice. He tried to do the 'wheelie' and after some time, he found that he could do it. Kenny thought that he had mastered the skill and happily made his way home. Just a short distance away from his house, Kenny decided to do the 'wheelie' on the road. As he pulled the handlebars to lift up the front of his bicycle, he lost his balance and fell sideways, colliding with a motorcycle traveling on the lane beside him. The motorcycle also lost control and both Kenny and the motorcyclist ended up sprawled on the road. The motorcyclist was not seriously hurt but Kenny was bleeding from his head and the skin on his arms and legs were scraped. Luckily, the motorcyclist had a mobile phone and he quickly called an ambulance. Kenny was rushed to the hospital where he was treated and warded. There were lacerations on his head, body, arms and legs. He had also fractured his left wrist. Kenny spent two weeks in hospital and took more than two months to fully recover. Kenny had learnt a valuable lesson on that day. The road is not a place for stunts. He still enjoys riding his bicycle but he has realized that stunts are only for trained professionals.

Home Hygiene
Pests and insects like the houseflies, ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches and lizards are a nuisance to health and comfort in the home. Though many people use generous amounts of

insecticides in its many forms - sprays, coils, nets, etc it seems that it has little or no effect on these creatures. The only way to ensure that our homes are pest-free is to make our surroundings as non-conducive as possible for their breeding and presence. Mosquitoes are parasites which live on the blood of man and other animals and they are also carriers of deadly diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. So, we should never leave any water stagnant for a long period of time. We have to ensure that water does not collect in any area surrounding our homes and make it possible for mosquitoes to breed. Likewise, drains and pipes should be cleaned regularly. Spiders like to spin cobwebs in dark corners inside and outside the house. Therefore, it is wise to clean these corners once in a while so that these infrequented corners do not become homes for spiders and other creepy crawlies. Houseflies breed in rubbish. Many people leave their rubbish in open garbage bins which attracts flies. The flies will then swarm over to the kitchen and infect the food left open in plates and pans. The best way to keep flies away is to keep food covered at all times. Rubbish should be disposed in plastic bags tied securely with a knot before putting it into the garbage bin. The garbage bin should also be always covered. Ants and cockroaches search for bits of food lying about in the house. Cockroaches also thrive in filth and dirt. Therefore, ensure that the house, and especially the kitchen, is swept and cleaned everyday so that no particles of food are left on the floor. All eating and cooking utensils should be kept in pest-proof containers. Drawers and cabinets should also be checked periodically to ensure that ants and cockroaches are not breeding within them. Therefore, to ensure that our homes are pest-free, we have to adopt cleanliness and hygiene as our way of life

A Visit to the Dentist

I had a terrible toothache that night. I took a couple of Panadol tablets but they were of little use as the relief was short-lived and the pain returned with greater intensity. I tried rinsing and gurgling with Listerine but that was no help either. I could not sleep a wink that night as the toothache also caused the left side of my face and head to throb with pain. When morning came, I took a very quick shower and made for the dentist. There were a couple of patients before me and I had to wait my turn. I registered at the counter and took a seat near the dental surgery. I took a magazine and flipped its pages but trying to read was out of the question. The words simply did not register. All I felt was the excruciating pain. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on the soft music being played over the speakers hoping that it would distract me from the pain I felt. But the pain obstinately remained. Almost an hour later, my name was called. I stood up and walked slowly into the surgery. I noticed the reclining chair fitted with all the usual dental equipment: the dental drill, the syringes, the dental pliers and a host of other gadgets whose names I do not even know. The dentist asked me what was wrong and I told him of my toothache. He then indicated the reclining chair and asked me to be seated.

"Open your mouth wide and relax," the dentist ordered. I did as was told and he peered into my mouth with the aid of a small mirror on the end of a stick. After the examination, he shook his head and told me that the tooth cannot be saved and had to be extracted. The dentist then filled a hypodermic syringe with a colorless liquid. He told me that it was Novocaine, a local anaesthetic, and he would be injecting it into my gums to numb the area where the extraction would be done. Shortly, I felt the prick of the needle and then in seconds, my toothache was gone and I felt the numbness in my gums. The dentist was very skilful and soon he had painlessly extracted my tooth and put a wad of cotton on the wound. I got up from the chair and thanked the doctor as best as I could for my gums were still numb and there was a wad of cotton in my mouth. I left the surgery and paid the fees at the counter. Then, feeling much better than when I had stepped into the clinic, I walked towards home.

My Favorite Author
One of my favorite authors is Michael Crichton. He has written several best-selling novels such as "Jurassic Park" and its sequel "The Lost World", "The Andromeda Strain", "Eaters of the Dead" and "Rising Sun". He is also the creator of the award-winning television series "E.R." Michael Crichton is a wonderful storyteller. He spins his tales with true-to-life characters and his intricately woven plots are realistic. It is obvious that Michael Crichton does a good deal of research for all his science fiction novels are based on known scientific facts and sound theories. He does not invent unbelievable fantasies, like some others whom I do not want to name, to attract readers. For example, in "Jurassic Park", Michael Crichton painstakingly portrays the means which the dinosaurs were cloned. The scientists first look for preserved blood-sucking insects from the Mesozoic Era trapped in ambers, that is, the hard translucent fossilized resin originating from extinct coniferous trees. Next, they look for traces of dinosaur blood in these insects. The tiny amounts that they extract from the insects are then used to clone the dinosaurs. One can discern that Michael Crichton's knowledge of palaeontology and medical science is truly astounding when they read his two dinosaur novels. In "The Andromeda Strain", Crichton tells the tale of a deadly micro-organism brought to Earth by a satellite. The bacteria kills people in seconds by clotting their blood solid. Again, his immense scientific knowledge comes into play when he writes this novel about how five scientists race against time to find a solution to nullify the effects of the 'Andromeda Strain'. This was his first book written in 1969 and after more than thirty years, it is still in print and remains in great demand by readers all over the world. Many of Michael Crichton's novels have been made into box-office hits. It is undeniable that this master storyteller is able to attract readers and audiences alike regardless of the medium, be it books or movies.

The Scene of a Burglary

Imagine that you are a police officer. You are sent to investigate a reported burglary. Describe what you see at the scene of the crime. My partner, Salim and I arrived at the scene of the crime in ten minutes. The owner of the house was waiting at the gate. The porch light was on. The front door was slightly ajar. The house was in darkness. Salim went to the back of the house. I entered the house cautiously. The porch light lit up the living-room quite well. Nothing seemed amiss. No, wait! The television stand was bare. The burglars had carted away the television. I checked the bedrooms. All had been ransacked. Clothes were thrown higgledy-piggledy all over the floor. The cupboard doors were open. Drawers had been pulled out and their contents emptied. Pillows had been cut open and their cotton stuffing scattered about. I moved to the kitchen. The back door was open and Salim was just stepping inside. The kitchen had not been spared either. The contents of the cabinets were strewn all over the place. The floor was sticky with spilt flour, rice and what looked like oil. It was a terrible mess. The burglars had done a thorough job. Grimly, I went to tell the owner the bad news.

A National Park
Write about a visit to Turtle Island Park, one of Malaysia's national parks Last August my brother and I visited Uncle Husni in Sandakan, Sabah. Uncle Husni took us to one of the Turtle Islands, Pulau Gulisan. We took about one and a half hours to go by boat to Pulau Gulisan. The Turtle Islands lie 40 kilometers north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. As we approached Pulau Gulisan, we noticed that the water was crystal clear and we could see live coral on the sea-bed. Pulau Gulisan is the cleanest island I have been to in Malaysia. The white beach, with sand like fine powder, looked very inviting. The main attraction of Pulau Gulisan are the hawksbill turtles. They come here to lay eggs throughout the year. As the Park was created to protect the natural environment of the turtles, the coral reefs and other marine life, visitors have to obey strict rules. A Park Ranger is there to enforce these rules. Collecting of plants and living or non-living items is strictly forbidden. Building campfires, singing, dancing or playing music are also forbidden. Night photography is not allowed too, unless there is special permission from the Park Ranger. The Park Ranger informs the visitors when there are turtles laying eggs. Visitors must watch them from a distance. We were lucky to be able to watch the turtles that night, although we

had to watch from afar. I shall never forget this visit as I learnt something very important here -- how to respect and care for the environment.

A Shopping Mall
Write about a new shopping centre in your town. When my parents asked me and my sister what we wanted to do last Sunday, we said we wanted to go to the new shopping complex at Damansara Damai. 'You know it's going to be terribly crowded there, don't you?' said father. 'Let's go early, before eleven in the morning,' Mother suggested. 'Besides, I want to buy a birthday present for cousin Rashid.' Father gave in reluctantly. The new mall is enormous and very modern. The parking area is the size of several football fields. We went up to the ground floor in a fast and shiny new lift. The palatial interior of the mall was breathtaking. The shops were beautifully decorated and there were 'Opening Sale' signs everywhere. When we looked closer, we saw many familiar names on the shop fronts. 'See, it's not different from other malls!' declared father. 'You girls look around. I'll sit by the fountain and wait for you. Be back in two hours. Then we'll go to the food court for lunch.' My sister and I found the booths and kiosks more attractive than the shops. They also sold more affordable items. We discovered this after popping in. and out of the shops for about half an hour. Mother bought a nice T-shirt for Rashid. I bought a necktie for father, feeling sorry that we had dragged him to the mall. We bought our things at the kiosks. Then we went back to the fountain. It had become more crowded and noisy. Father was sandwiched between two large-sized strangers on the bench. Loud music was playing and some kind of show was about to begin on the platform by the fountain. Father had that 'What did I tell you?' look on his face. We agreed with him that 'If you've seen one you've seen them all!' We also decided to go for lunch at our favourite little mamak stall near our house.

A Foreign City
Describe a foreign city that you have visited My aunt Pauline, an intrepid traveler, took me with her to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. We arrived in this quaint city in Eastern Europe on May 1, 2004, the day Slovakia, together with 10 other European countries joined the European Union.

Young-at-heart Aunt Pauline noticed that Bratislava is a youthful city. This is because there are many universities here and about 60,000 of the population are students. On the other hand, because of its long history, it has many old castles, churches and streets. It also used to be a coronation town, and the site for the Hungarian king's crowning in the old days. Throughout its existence, it has been a cosmopolitan city, home to Slovaks, Germans, Hungarians, Russians, Jews and others. It was a public holiday and both tourists and the local people were out to enjoy the day. Many were dressed in their regional costumes. The streets were festooned with flowers and colorful flags. Music filled the air as small citizen bands were playing at street corners. The city has a strong music tradition because Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt often performed there. Caught up in the joyful and festive mood, Aunt Pauline joined in the reveling. She merrily took part in the singing and dancing. However, I was a bit too shy to join in. Later, we sat down at a roadside cafe where we quenched our thirst and sampled Slovakian food. After resting for a while, we followed the scenic walking route clearly marked out for tourists. It was an interesting stretch that led to an ancient castle atop a small hill overlooking part of the picturesque Danube. Together with a couple we had befriended on the train to Bratislava, we sat on the slope to rest and to enjoy the scene while snacking on the drinks and tidbits we had brought with us. After the short rest, we took a winding path back to the romantic cobbled-streets of the old city, stopping along the way to marvel at the beauty of the city's cathedral and the old houses built several centuries ago. Aunt Pauline had made it possible for me to go to East Europe. I will always be grateful for this memorable experience.

Great Figure of the 2011 Century

Write about someone who is known throughout the world and recognized for his achievements. Nelson Mandela, a South African, is famous for his struggle against the apartheid policy in his country. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He was born in 1918 to an aristocratic family. His father was Chief of the Tembu tribe. In his childhood, he listened to tribal stories depicting wars for freedom fought by his ancestors. These tales must have imbued him with strong feelings for freedom. Nelson Mandela went to the University of Fort Hare and Witwatersrand. After earning a law degree in 1942, he joined the ANC (African National Congress) in 1944. From 1948, he was actively engaged in resistance movements against the South African government's apartheid policy that discriminated sharply against non-whites, especially blacks. During this period, Mandela advocated violence to attain their anti-apartheid aims. He fought for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. Not all supported his idea, but members who did were allowed to join his campaign. In 1960 the ANC was officially banned.

In 1963 Mandela was tried for plotting the violent overthrow of the government. His statement from the dock was broadcast and received international publicity. The impression he gave was that of a fierce revolutionary, a firebrand. In 1964 he and eight others were sentenced to life imprisonment. For 18 years, Mandela lived in a small cell on Robben Island, sleeping on the floor, using a bucket as his toilet and receiving only one visitor a year. He was then moved to Pollsmoor Prison until he was released. In Pollsmoor Prison, he held his newborn grandchild whom a friend secretly brought to him. While in prison, Nelson Mandela learned and practised self-discipline. He carried himself with dignity and charmed many who met him. He was still defiant but no longer advocated violence for his cause. In fact, during his imprisonment, he held secret talks with the government to free South Africa from the apartheid system. His reputation grew, and his movement gathered strength, winning wide international support. After his release in 1990, he continued working hard towards his goals. Finally, in 1994 he was elected President of South Africa. Nelson Mandela is admired for his relentless struggle to free black South Africans from a cruel system that practised racism and forced them to live in poverty. He was not weakened by his 27 years in prison but retained his dignity and became a finer and wiser politician.

A Family Member
Write about a family member with whom you have shared happy and sad memories. My grandfather is now seventy-eight years old. If you ask me to name an outstanding characteristic of his, I will have to say it is his posture. He stands straight and tall for a person his age. `Posture is very important' is one of his favourite sayings. Grandpa's routine is to wake up before daybreak before anybody else. Then he has a cold shower and does yoga for half an hour. After that, he takes a walk in the garden. He bends down occasionally to pick the weeds. Then he spends the rest of the day indoors, reading his religious books. He eats all kinds of food but in small portions. 'Moderation', he says, `is the key to good health.' He seldom watches television but listens to the radio. He goes to bed at nine o'clock sharp. Grandpa is a rather handsome man. He is almost six feet tall. His hair has grown completely white. He looks stem when he is not smiling. He has a deep voice that sometimes sounds like a bark. Some of my friends are afraid of him but I always tell them, 'Grandpa's bark is worse than his bite'. But things were not always like this. Grandpa came to live with us shortly after grandma passed away. We all felt her loss. But my grandfather was devastated. He locked himself in his room for nearly two months and would not speak to anyone. He lost almost ten kilos. He remained fairly healthy but we were worried he would have a breakdown. We tried our best to make him feel better. My father bought him a computer and a CD player but he showed little interest in them. This continued for nearly a year. One day, I heard the sound of whistling from the garden. It was Grandpa! He smiled at me,

his favourite grandson, and said, 'Vikram, your grandmother came to me in a dream last night and scolded me severely for not doing my yoga anymore. She told me to stop feeling sorry for myself and look after the garden again. Just like her, still bossing me around!' We were all very happy. Just as I left to board the school bus, I heard a familiar voice, saying, 'Stand straight, Vikram. Don't hunch!' I grinned. It was good to have Grandpa back to his usual self.