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SECTION 3: COMPREHENSION AND SUMMARY

SET 1 (2014)
The passage below is an entry in an encyclopaedia on floods.
1 Floods occur when the waters of rivers, lakes or streams overflow their
banks and pour out onto the surrounding land. Bodies of water often
increase greatly in volume without causing floods. It is only when great
amounts of overflowing water cause severe damage to large surrounding
areas that bodies of water can be said to be in flood.
2 5
Floods are caused by many different things. Often heavy rainstorms that
last for a brief time can cause a flood but not all heavy storms are
followed by flooding. This usually happens in places where the land is
hard and rocky and rain cannot be properly absorbed by the soil.
Sometimes, less severe storms can cause flooding as well. This happens 10
when earlier rains have filled the soil with so much moisture that the land
3 cannot absorb any more water.
In many parts of the world, floods are caused by tropical storms called
hurricanes or typhoons. These storms bring destructive winds of high
speed and torrents of rain that cause flooding. On occasion, flooding on
4 coastlines can also occur from a combination of storm winds and high 15
tide.
For countries that experience the changing of seasons, flooding often
occur during the transition between winter and spring. This period of
time is marked by a sharp increase of temperature that melts the snow,
5 causing the melted water to overflow into rivers and streams. If the 20
increase of temperature persists without interruption, severe flooding will
happen, causing significant damage.
When a flood occurs, the destruction to the surrounding land can be very
great. Whole villages and towns are sometimes swept away by water 25
pouring swiftly over land. Railroad tracks buckle and are uprooted from
the ground. Roads are simply washed away. Sometimes the floodwaters
6 overflow so quickly and with such violent force that people have no
chance to seek safety. Often, lives are lost in the onrushing waters of a
severe flood. Sometimes it takes many days for the waters to withdraw,
30
leaving in their wake great loss in lives and millions of ringgit in
damages.
People have been trying to invent ways to minimise the damage flooding
7 causes for centuries. It is good to know much progress has been made in
reducing the danger. One of the first methods employed by people to
35
control flooding is by deepening the river channels and building levees -
structures to increase the level of the river banks. This will allow a higher
volume of water to be contained and gives people more time to prepare
8
before overflowing water spills over onto land.
40
Another way is to build dams. Dams are truly marvels of construction.
Not only do they provide renewable energy, they can also regulate a
rivers water level by releasing water through specialised valves built into
them. In this way, people have approximate control on how much water
is allowed to flow downriver in times when flooding is prone to occur.
Another popular way employed by people to control flooding is by
building reservoirs. Reservoirs are artificial lakes built around areas that
are threatened with flooding. They hold excess rainwater and at the
same time serve as resource storage areas, particularly in times of
drought. Enterprising people may even adapt reservoirs and turn them
into recreational areas where people can enjoy water based activities like
boating and swimming.
Adapted from The New Book of
Knowledge Encyclopaedia, 2003
Edition, Volume 6
26 a) From paragraph 1,
when can a body of
water be considered
to be in flood?
[1 mark]
...............................
.............................................
.............................................
................

............................... [1 mark]
.............................................
27 .............................................
................

b) From paragraph 2, if
the land is hard and [1 mark]
rocky, what happens
to the rain?

...............................
.............................................
.............................................
................ [1 mark]

28 ...............................
.............................................
.............................................
...............

a) From paragraph 3, [1 mark]


what are the signs a
tropical storm is
occurring?

............................. [1 mark]
.............................................
29 .............................................
.................

.............................
.............................................
............................................. [1 mark]
..................

b) From paragraph 4,
based on your
knowledge, give two
examples of [1 mark]
countries that
30 experience four
seasons.

[1 mark]


[1 mark]


From paragraph 5,
a) Which word has the
same meaning as
subside?

...............................
.............................................
.............................................
................

...............................
.............................................
.............................................
...............
b) Give one example
how flooding can
effect transportation.
...............................
.............................................
.............................................
................

...............................
.............................................
.............................................
................

a) From paragraph 6, in
your opinion, why is it
important to begin
flood control efforts
at rivers?

.............................................
.............................................
.............................................
.

.............................................
.............................................
.............................................
..

b) From paragraph 7,
name one advantage
provided by dams.

.............................................
.............................................
.............................................
..

.............................................
.............................................
.............................................
..

From paragraph 8,
a) If you are in charge of
a reservoir that has
been turned into a
recreational area,
what kind of activities
will you provide?

b) State the reason for


your answer above.

31 A flood is one of the rare natural disasters that concerns us as Malaysians.


Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

What causes floods and ways to overcome them

Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change
the original meaning.

Your summary must

be in continuous writing (not in note form)


use materials from lines 8 to 44
not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

[15 marks]

Begin your summary as follows:

Floods are dangerous natural disasters that may be cause by.....

SECTION C [25 MARKS]


Reading Comprehension
Questio Mar
Answer
n k
When great amounts of overflowing water cause severe
26 a 1
damage to large surrounding areas
1
b Rain cannot be properly absorbed by the soil

27 a Destructive winds of high speeds and torrents of rain 1

b USA, England any other acceptable answer 1

a withdraw 1
28
b Railroad tracks buckle/uprooted / roads are washed away 1

29 a Because floods usually begins at the river/ any other 1


logical answer

b Provide renewable energy/regulate river level/ any other 1


logical answer
a Swimming/boating/fishing/any other logical answer 1
30
b Any other logical answer 1

Summary (15 marks)


Question 31
Awarding Content Marks:

N
Point Mark
o
1 Heavy rainstorms (that lasts for a brief time) 1
2 Less severe storms can cause flooding (as well) 1
3 Land is hard and rocky 1
4 Rain cannot be properly absorbed 1
5 Tropical storms 1
6 Destructive winds and torrents of rain 1
7 High tide 1
8 Transition between winter and spring 1
9 Sharp increase of temperature that melts the snow 1
10 Deepening the river channels 1
11 Building levees 1
12 Build dams 1
13 Regulate a rivers water level 1
14 Building reservoirs 1
15 Hold excess rainwater 1

SET 2 (2015)
The passage below is an article on an imaginary interview.

1 Imagine you are a candidate in an interview for a possible


executive position in a company. You really want to work for this company
because it is respectable and the position offered is very noble. Like any
other job people ask for, you first provide your curriculum vitae for your
future employers perusal. Now imagine they like what they see. They will 5
call you for the next elimination stage. Ergo, here you are, facing a trio of
executives about to decide your future in the company.
2
The first question they ask is this: are you prepared to work
irregular hours? Sometimes customers require you to provide your services
outside business hours. You should expect being called at any time, even 10
late at night or even very early in the morning. In short you are on call 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. On some occasions, you will even have to
3 sacrifice your lunch hour. Is that okay?
You, the candidate, start to think to yourself. You are single. You do
not have any other responsibilities. You are still young, in the prime of your
4 life. You think, why not? So you reply yes, you are prepared to do so. 15

The next question: this position requires you to multi task on a


daily basis. On paper, this post is a managerial position in the organisation.
Yet, unofficially, your job description is purely based on the requirements of
your customers. You are in charge of many departments and you are 20
allowed to make executive decisions but the decisions you make are based
purely on the needs of your customers. For example, although youre a
5 manager, you will on occasion be required to assist in cleaning duties. Is
that okay?
Again, you start to think. You as the candidate will hold a position
of authority but said authority will be based on the needs of the people you 25
serve. That is normal, is it not? As a representative of a company, it is your
duty to satisfy your customers and in the process generate profits. The
cleaning duties mentioned were a bit peculiar but you do not think it will be
6 a problem. You are not the kind of person who would mind using some
elbow grease get your hands dirty. So, your reply yes, you would not
mind multi-tasking as per the requirements of the customers. 30

Moving on: You should not expect aid from fellow executives in the
company, even when it seems illogical for your colleagues not to help you.
During the process of completing your designated tasks, you will notice
7 other company executives sitting around doing nothing productive. You
should not, in any circumstance, ask these workmates for help. If you do, 35
you intentions may be misunderstood and to them you may come across as
pushy and bossy. Additionally, asking for their help may not result in them
helping you anyway. Is this okay?
8 Now this is not something you are happy about. You believe
teamwork is a necessary aspect of a successful organisation. Not offering 40
aid when a fellow worker is busy and you yourself have nothing to do is
simply counter-productive. It is not an attitude that should exist in the
9
workplace, let alone encouraged. Nevertheless, you hope to change the
organisation from the inside after you are hired. So, your answer I
understand and do not mind. 45
The final question catches you off guard. They ask: are you willing
to do this job for free? No pay will be provided. You are expected to work for
1 no pay at all. Is this okay?
0
You, the candidate, get angry. Of course you are applying for this
position for noble purposes, but not getting paid is too much! A person
needs to eat, after all. You tell them exactly how you think about their final
question. To your surprise they tell you that there are already billions of
people doing this job all over the world. And NONE of them are paid a single
cent. You are indignant. You think they are bluffing and you tell them so.
Their reply made you reach for your phone immediately.
They said: ever heard of the term mothers?

p/s: if after reading and understanding this text you are not moved in any
way, get professional help. There is something wrong with you.

2 a) From paragraph 1, why do you have to first send in your curriculum


6 vitae to your future employers?

.......................................................................................................... [1
............................... mark]

b) From paragraph 2, state the phrase that has the same meaning as
must be ready.
[1
.......................................................................................................... mark]
..............................
2
7
From paragraph 3, state two reasons why the candidate does not mind
working irregular hours.
[1
a).. mark]

b) [1
2 mark]
8 a) From paragraph 4, what is the main influence on the executive
decisions made by the candidate?

...........................................................................................................
..............................

........................................................................................................... [1
.............................. mark]
b) From paragraph 5, which part of the job description did the
candidate find strange?

...........................................................................................................
2 .............................. [1
9 mark]
..........................................................................................................
...............................

a) From paragraph 6, who do you think the term fellow executives [1


refer to? mark]

.........................................................................................................
...............................

3 b) From paragraph 7, which behaviour should not be encouraged in the


0 work place? [1
mark]
.........................................................................................................
................................

.......................................................................................................... [1
............................... mark]

State two ways to show your affection and appreciation to a mother. [1


mark]
a)

b)

31 This fictional interview reminds us of the sacrifices made by mothers


everywhere.
Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

The characteristics of the job offered in the interview; and


How a candidate may feel about the job offered in the interview

Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change
the original meaning.

Your summary must

be in continuous writing (not in note form)


use materials from lines 07 to 50
not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

[15 marks]

Begin your summary as follows:

If a candidate is interested in this job, he/she must

SECTION C [25 MARKS]


Reading Comprehension

Question Answer Mark

26 a for your future employers perusal 1

b (are) on call 1

27 a single/ do not have any responsibilities/ still young 1

b single/ do not have any responsibilities/ still young 1

28 a requirements by the customers 1

b the cleaning duties 1

29 a father, uncle, older siblings (any logical) 1

b not offering aid 1

a (any logical) eg: cook a meal for her, celebrate 1


30
mothers day etc.
b (any logical) eg: cook a meal for her, celebrate 1
mothers day etc.

Summary (15 marks)


Question 31
Annotate as follows:
CONTENT - 10
LANGUAGE - 5
====
TOTAL 15
====
Awarding Content Marks:

If a candidate is interested in this job, he/she must

N
Point Mark
o
1 Work irregular hours 1
2 Expect to be called any time 1
3 (the candidate is) single and without responsibility 1
4 (the candidate is) still young 1
5 Multi-task (on a daily basis) 1
6 Allowed to make executive decisions 1
7 Normal (to make decisions based on the customers) 1
8 Do not mind doing manual labour 1
9 Not expect aid from fellow executives 1
10 (the candidate) is not happy 1
11 Teamwork is necessary 1
12 (the candidate) hopes to change the organisation from the inside 1
13 Not be paid 1
14 (the candidate) is angry 1

Reward content points if candidate uses own words but the meaning gets through.

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