Describe an incident when a moment of forgetfulness got you into trouble.

The morning sun shone persistently on my still-shut eyelids. Annoyed, I rolled on to the right
side of my mattress. Wondering about the time, I stretched out my arm to grasp the little, round
alarm clock on my bedside table. I forced open my eyes, focused them on the numbers ... and
screeched!
Leaping out of my bed, I swung open the wardrobe door. Throwing my school uniform on the
bed, I dashed to the bathroom. Halfway, I spun around and grabbed my school bag, deciding not
to brush my teeth. Soon, I had shoved my feet into my shoes and pounced onto my bicycle. My
parents stood motionless, staring at me as I whizzed past.
As my bicycle raced on, I noticed a group of schoolgirls looking my way with great interest.
Well, well! Obviously, I was still attractive even with uncombed hair. My heart was pounding
furiously in my chest as I whirred past a few cars on the road. The drivers seemed to stare with
disbelief that one could pedal so swiftly. In no time, I reached the school gate, which was just
about to be closed.
Without bothering to explain myself to the priggish duo on guard duty, I hopped off my bike and
dashed off. After locking my precious iron steed at the shed, I sprinted to the school hall. As I
burst into the hall, I braked to change direction and made a beeline for the back of my class.
Screeching to a halt, I took my place behind my classmates.
In the whole gathering of students, I seemed to be the centre of attraction. It did not matter much
to me at the moment for I was used to being looked at. However, to say the least, I was a little
surprised when everyone stopped staring blankly at me and started to giggle.
Suddenly, the whole hall was filled with roars and bellows of laughter. Smiling at my audience, I
decided to take a bow.
Then, I noticed that the bottom half of my trousers were the wrong color. My line of vision
moved upwards, revealing that the rest of my pants were also the wrong color, and so was my
shirt. At first, even my powerful brain could not figure it out.
"Daniel! Why on earth are you in pajamas?" my friend blurted out amidst the hollers of laughter.
The feeling of sheer horror swept through my entire frame. My mouth was stuck open in an "0"
shape for a few long seconds. My mind was filled only with shock as darkness mercifully started
to engulf me.
Once again. I awoke with lights playing on my eyelids. At first I had little memory of what had
happened, but one look at the group of people peering down at me brought the whole incident
back to mind. The young boys were all clad in white uniforms and grinning quite lunatically at
me. In. the high corner of the room, I saw a red crescent. Then the horrible little squirts started to
call out for their seniors. Outside, I heard fresh gales of laughter. The brats were chortling. I was
still clad in pajamas. Not knowing what else to do, I feigned unconsciousness again ...
Imagine a world where nobody gets sick or old. Write a story based in this fictitious world

It's my birthday today. I have lost count of how many birthdays have passed, but I still keep my
tradition. I climb to the top of the nearby hill, bringing a handful of dirt with me. I press it into
the ground. Then, I sit down to prepare my mind for my next annual rite: reminding myself of
who I am and why I am living.
I made this hill, actually, and I'm still building it up. I started on my tenth birthday. Now, the hill
is large enough for me to ski down each winter. In a world where people stay young forever,
persistence pays.
Persistence was what led Dr Syue Cano to discover the secret of eternal youth. At the age of
eighty-four, he identified the gene that causes humans to age and the specific radiation that
destroys it. No one will know whether he detonated his "Youth" bomb for the sake of his own
immortality or for the sake of the other human beings in the world. However, his defective heart
could not withstand the impact of the blast. He died the instant the bomb exploded.
Mankind will always be grateful for the discovery to which Dr Cano dedicated his life. However,
he left the world with one problem: the earth's limited natural resources. Even with plant growth
accelerated by scientific wizardry, food and oxygen were becoming inadequate for the world
population, which only kept booming.
Some subtractions were necessary for the survival of the human species. The only solution was
to remove some of the people by unnatural means, that is, to execute them. Thus, this was why
all crimes were made punishable by execution: murder, theft, adultery, slander, hoarding of
food... the list is very long. This was the only way to maintain the balance of nature.
That's where I come in. I am an Executioner. I work alone, never considering the risk. People say
I have a death wish. Perhaps I do. Certainly, yesterday's job was no waltz in the park.
Rob Tao was suspected of stealing and hoarding food. My job was to check this out. As always, I
was to be detective, judge, jury and executioner.
I had enough stealth technology to break into Tao's compound undetected. To get into the house
was also a cinch. My vibra-blade cut through the wall like it was butter. In the house, my
Arometer detected food, lots of it. I went down corridor after corridor, following the bleeps of
light on my Arometer.
The signals went wild outside one closed door. There was a lot of human activity inside, judging
by my HUO sensors. I primed a grenade and opened the door just a crack -- enough to see whom
I would be executing.
Then I deprimed the grenade. Sitting there were thousands of children. Rob Tao stood amongst
them, holding a huge pot of steaming mush. He smiled at me, seemingly unperturbed.
"You're feeding all these children?" I asked, flabbergasted.
"Yes," he replied quietly.
"How do you get so much food? I'm sure you steal it," I said.
"Yes, I do. Going to execute me?" Still that gentle smile. Sitting here now, on my hill, I don't
understand why I just walked out. I had no excuse for letting him get away with his crime. It was
not my decision to make. Yet... I can't remember what I'm killing for; can't remember what I'm
living for.




Describe your relationship with your father

Every evening, as I am doing my schoolwork in my room, the familiar sound of my father's car reaches
my ears. I imagine his Fort Cortina coming up the driveway, the engine purring to a stop. I know that in a
few moments, my father will be pausing outside my door, looking in quietly, so as not to stir me from
my concentration. I know he will feel pleased as he watches me studying.
My father, at 53 years, has thinning hair swept back from his forehead. He has a slim and athletic body.
His broad shoulders and rather serious demeanor give him an air of authority. Yet, behind his steel-
rimmed glasses are soft, kind eyes.
My father has always been my source of encouragement. When I was very young, he would take a book
from our small home library and read aloud to me every night. Secure and loved, on his lap, I was
introduced to the fascinating realm of books. He would read stories and parables from the Bible. Thus,
he instilled in me a sense of God's presence in this world.
I remember how, as he was reading, my father would point out the spelling of words. Then one day, he
instructed me to read the words for myself. To our shared delight, I found that I was able to do so. From
that day onwards, I was the one who would read aloud, with his gentle correction every now and then.
Soon after that, I was picking up the hooks and reading them on my own. I became quite a bookworm.
As I grew into boyhood, my bookish ways and disinterest in outdoor games made me overweight,
clumsy and rather unfit. One day, my father stood observing me as I was running to a field, just 50 yards
away. I arrived there, huffing and puffing. Worriedly, he told me that he would not like to see his son
grow up into an unhealthy man.
From that day onwards, he started to take me on jogs. At first, I was a most reluctant jogger. However,
these days, as I stand perched on the peak of Mount Kina, breathing deeply after a good run, I
remember his words, "A healthy body breeds a healthy mind."
My father has a store of wise sayings which may seem common to some but always strike the correct
note with me. Once, when I was really depressed, he put an arm around my shoulders and gently asked
me what was troubling me. Lifting my bowed head, I poured out my heart's discontent. After listening,
he consoled me. Then he said, "Smile, and the world around you will smile." Somehow, I was able to
smile in spite of my problems.
At another time, when I was about to give up on a task, he advised me, "If a job deserves to be done, it
deserves to be done well." Somehow, his words gave me the strength to try again, and I was able to
succeed. Since then, whenever I feeldaunted by a task, his advice always comes to mind and this spurs
me on to persevere.
Looking back, I realize that every step of the way, through my childhood and adolescence, my father has
been there for me whenever I needed him. When I was sick, he would rush me to the doctor. When I
was sick at heart, he would know just the right things to say. In any kind of trouble, I would just have to
give him a call. He would surely be there.
I am only a few years away from adulthood and know that many more challenges lie ahead of me.
However, I can be sure that my father will be there, looking out for me all the way. Why? Because he
loves me



















Describe some of the minor accidents that you have experienced

Accidents are part and parcel of life itself and to say that you have never had a silly accident in
your life would be like saying, "I'm a green-faced alien from Pluto." Well, I have certainly had
my share of ridiculous accidents. Not all of them have changed my life, but they have certainly
made me more aware of my limitations. Yet, sometimes, remembering those times, I think, "I
can't believe I actually did that!"
There was this incident about five years back. I was at a piano recital. Actually, it was my debut,
and I was shaking with nerves. Finally, the dreaded moment arrived. I sat at the piano and started
playing. Halfway through the first movement, I felt a tickle in my nose. My fingers were needed
on the piano keys so I could not reach tip to rub my nose. I tried holding my breath... to no avail.
I exploded in a huge, sloppy sneeze that blasted my music sheets right off the piano.
Then, there was this skating incident which occurred only a year ago. My father had bought me
my first pair of in-line skates. Actually, they were my first pair of skates. I had never skated
before. Well, I confidently put them on and fastened them, not knowing what was ahead.
Standing up, I shoved off. Then, for the first time in years, I lost all control of my bodily
movements. I was waving my arms around, like a drowning chicken trying to fly out of the
water. My legs had no sense of direction, with my left leg heading north and my right heading
south-east. Finally managing to get upright, I found myself staring the gate right in its metal
grille. There was a loud Crash! Boom! and Bang! Fortunately, all that was injured was my self-
confidence, thanks to my protective pads.
Another accident occurred right in the safety of my home, in the kitchen, actually. My mother
had just bought a microwave oven. On that fateful day, my mother had left me a plate of fried
rice to be reheated for my lunch. On the plate were the usual accompaniments to the coconut-
flavored rice: vegetables, groundnuts, chillied prawns and a whole hard-boiled egg. I was, of
course, still considered a user with "L" (Learner) plates as far as this oven was concerned.
However, warming up food was not complicated ... or so I thought. Carefully, I placed the plate
of food in the microwave oven, turned the dial to "high" and pressed the lever to start the oven. It
started smoothly. Gleefully, I watched my dish of food turn graceful circles in the oven. After a
few rounds, I opened the oven to take out my warmed-up food. At that very second, the egg
exploded. Boom! It was "Egg yolk keeps falling on my head". My clothes, my hair, the whole
kitchen was covered with egg-yolk and rice that the force of the explosion threw. There was no
lunch for me that day either.
Well, there you have them, some of the grimace-inspiring details of my life. So, am I clumsy or
just low in luck? A little of both, I think.




Describe the sights and sounds at the end of a long day.

"Cuckoo! Cuckoo!..." the cuckoo clock on the wall of my office called five times.
"Yes!" I shouted in my head. "Time to pack up!".
I straightened my stiff back and neck, the result of hours of hunching over documents and
surveyed the whole noise-polluted room. Andrew was yelling at Mac for throwing a paper plane
at him; Mandy and Lily were chatting animatedly, undoubtedly about clothes or make-up; Jay
and Rayne were chatting up Sarah, the new clerk, probably trying to get her to go for a drink;
and Cynthia was doing the waltz in her three-inch heels, heading out the door.
With a grunt, I pushed my chair back, heaved myself up, started stuffing things into my briefcase
and my huge handbag. I couldn't wait to get home.
As I stepped out through the glass doors of the air-conditioned building, a blast of hot, humid air
slammed me full in the face, stunning me for a few seconds. Then I continued towards the bus
stop. I groaned
aloud when I saw the hordes of people gathered there and regretted leaving my car at home.
Sigh! I had no choice but to join the crowd.
Buses came and left. Every time it was the same anxious craning to read the bus number above
the heads of the crowd. Then, there was the rushing and jostling as I tried to force my puny
frame through the
masses of burly men and women. I was ready to perish amidst the petrol fumes and the stink of
stale sweat when I finally managed to squeeze my right foot onto a bus step. Then, up I went,
forced by the
pushing crowd into the packed bus.
Feeling woozy and yet hyped up, I searched for a seat. No way! They were all definitely
occupied. I grabbed hold of a strap and tried to stand firmly Every time the bus lurched forward,
we would all sway
backwards. The bus hurtled on, careening madly round corners, only to stop with a sudden jolt. I
was crushed on all sides, and had my toes trod on several times.
Then, we got caught in a massive traffic jam. Cars, buses and motorcycles around us kept up a
constant honking. The burning rays of the sun stoked up the oven which our bus had now
become. I became nauseous and thought many times about getting off. Yet, I was too tired to
walk home. Inch by inch we moved and one and a half hours later, I finally arrived at my stop,
which, thankfully, was just in front of
my flat. I shoved my way out, my strict upbringing forcing me to mutter a few insincere
"Excuse-me's".
I dragged my body up the flights of stairs to my second-floor flat. I did not even bother to try the
elevator as I knew I would be competing with a crowd of thirty or more residents. Finally, I
reached my door
and, after a little fumbling for my keys, I entered my apartment. With a sigh of utmost relief, I
dropped my briefcase and handbag on the floor, turned on the television and collapsed on the
couch. "All in
a day's work, my girl!" I told myself, and gazed with unseeing eyes at the television.























What changes would you like to see in your school ?

If you were to see the number of suggestion slips stuffed into my school's Suggestion Box, you
would be shocked. Granted, some of the suggestions are rubbish but I do agree with many of
them. There are many ways in which my school could be improved, many weaknesses that need
seeing to.
Firstly, and most importantly, teachers in all schools should realize that they are responsible for
their students' future. This is especially true for children from lessaffluent homes who cannot
afford to supplement the school's teaching with extra tuition. Teachers should not shirk their
responsibilities towards their students.
I am emphasizing this point because some teachers do not seem to feel the slightest obligation to
do their job well nor the slightest feeling of guilt when their students fail in the examinations. In
fact, in my school, teachers are sometimes found sipping coffee or even having a snack in the
school canteen when they are supposed to be in class teaching.
Of course, there are teachers who are truly committed to their job and do deliver the goods. They
stay up late into the night to finish correcting their students' work and to prepare effective lessons
for their students. Some teachers will even devote Saturday mornings to conducting extra-
curricular activities, such as the Scouts movement. Now, if only all teachers were like this!
Furthermore, wouldn't the school be a much better place to spend our adolescence if we did not
have to cope with teachers who vent their foul moods on us? We should not have to walk on
eggshells because our teacher has had a bad day.
Another aspect of the school that needs changing is the set of school rules. Some are so irrational
or petty! Take, for example, the rule on short hair for boys. What is the rationale behind this? Do
the people in authority believe that everyone with long hair will turn out to be a thug or a villain?
Well, look at Hitler: he had very short hair and he almost caused the extinction of the entire
Jewish race!
On the other hand, punishments for serious acts of indiscipline should be made more effective,
even if they have to be harsher. These days, students may get away with only a warning or a
"booking" for offences such as breaking the school's tables, chairs and even doors. I strongly feel
that these vandals should be made to pay for what they have destroyed.
Furthermore, I feel that criminal action should be taken against students who beat people up, or
threaten to do so, to extort money from them. If you behave like a criminal, you should be
treated like one.
Another area that needs reform is the school curriculum. One major problem is the subject called
"Moral Education". You just cannot learn good morals the way you learn any other academic
subject, memorizing facts for examinations. Good morals have to be internalized. So, "Moral
Education" should either be taken off the school curriculum after primary school or changed to
emphasize practical application rather than "head knowledge".
Our school hours take up a large portion of our day. Let us spend these hours usefully, in a
secure, caring, fun-filled atmosphere. Our school years take up a large proportion of our lives.
This is the time that we are molded, intellectually and morally. Help us to grow into worthy
citizens of our nation.






















What occupation do you see yourself in after you have completed your schooling ?
What are you going to do to achieve this ambition ?

I climb into the cockpit and sit myself down on the metal seat of the F-16 "Falcon", one of the
best supersonic planes ever invented. I run a routine check on all the aircraft's dials and gauges as
well as the weapon systems through the heads-up display.
The sergeant gives me the thumbs-up sign from the far run way, indicating that all the external
parts of the plane are in order and functioning well. I return the gesture to indicate that all
internal systems are working well and that I will be taking off.
I flick the start button and feel the soft vibration begin. I hear the hum of pure power. Pushing
the throttle to three quarters, I feel the acceleration of the planetaxiing off the runway and into
the air ... .
I have always aspired to be a fighter pilot. My dream began when I was about seven years old.
One day, my uncle took me for a ride in his private plane. It was a momentous experience for
me! Soaring freely in the sky, high above the rest of civilization, I knew that I would never want
to do anything as much as I wanted to fly.
As I grew older, I began to read books on aviation and air adventures. I was especially fascinated
with accounts of air battles. Biggles was my hero above all other heroes. Thus, my ambition
narrowed from just wanting to fly a plane to becoming a fighter pilot. The thought
of scudding through the sky with the ability to defy gravity with a multi-million dollar piece of
machinery and patriotic fervor excited my soul.
The requirements for fighter pilot candidates are many and difficult to fulfill. Among them are
academic excellence, perfect eyesight, a fit body, quick reflexes and the ability to stay cool under
pressure. Well, I have never been the kind of person to leave things to chance: I am constantly
aware of the need to work towards my goals.
Thus, throughout my childhood years, into adolescence and up till now, I have always made time
for exercise. I play games regularly, run ten kilometers a day and work out in the gym at least
three times a week. It is crucial for a fighter pilot to be fighting fit. He must be able to withstand
the high and low g's when piloting a jet at high speed.
I have always been conscious of the need to preserve the perfect eyesight that God has blessed
me with. So, I have always curtailed my hours of television-viewing. When I do watch
television, I make sure I sit a good four meters away from the screen. I have always been careful
to read only in well-lit areas. In addition, I watch my diet, eating food rich in vitamin A, which is
essential for healthy eyes.
In school, I never stint on my study times. I made sure I qualified for the science stream in High
School, as a pilot must have a good understanding of physics and mathematics. My hard work
has paid off and I have been topping the class in these subjects. I have just sat for the O levels.
The results will not be out for months but I feel confident that I have done well. Next year, I plan
to do my A levels. And after that, I shall enlist in the US Air Force.
There is not much longer to wait. My dream is almost within my grasp. I pray with all my heart
that it will become a reality and not remain just another of my boyish fantasies.























It is better to be the eldest child than the youngest one in the family. "Write a debate
speech, proposing or opposing this motion.

"Mr. Chairman, honorable judges, misguided members of the opposition, and members of the
floor: Good day to all.
"Standing here today on this breezy morning as the third speaker for the proposition, I wish to
continue where my team-mates left off to correct the misleading information presented by the
opposition.
"For instance, the second member of the opposition claimed that the youngest child will be
treated more leniently than the others. Now, is this an advantage? By being treated too leniently,
the child might think that his misbehavior is perfectly acceptable. Ever heard of the expression
"Spare the rod and spoil the child"? It is true. Without strict and loving discipline, a beloved
child might end up being the black sheep of the family. Now, the opposition contends that it is an
advantage to be spoilt in this way. How can this be?
"The opposition has also pointed out that the youngest child is usually more pampered. I agree.
But, again, is this good? It is indeed enjoyable to be fussed over, pampered
and mollycoddled but what will this pampered child grow into? It is a maxim that too much or
too little is no good: Once a pampered child grows up, he will be overly dependent on others, in
other words, spineless. Would you like to be this spineless adult? I leave you to decide.
"Ladies and gentlemen, having straightened out a few delusions of the opposition, I shall present
my own points. One of the advantages of being an eldest child is that he is used to being
respected and obeyed by his siblings. This is because they know he is wiser and more
experienced. This is a good feeling and it creates high self-esteem. This self-esteem will motivate
him to succeed in every aspect of life.
"Undeniably, the eldest child will shoulder more responsibilities. He will often be left in charge
of the younger ones. The eldest child is also cast as a role model for the younger ones. Thus, he
has to try harder to maintain discipline and a high standard of behavior.
"The eldest child, having to cope with his siblings' antics, will also develop patience. He may
have to give in to his siblings because `they are too young to understand'. Thus, he develops
tolerance and understanding of other people's weaknesses.
"All these points were described as 'disadvantages' by the opposition. They are only
disadvantageous if you are unable to see the long-term benefits. You see, these momentarily
trying circumstances will shape the child and prepare him for the challenges that lie ahead.
According to a survey conducted by the Home Ministry, an average of 3 out of 5 successful
people -- corporate leaders, lawyers, politicians -- were the eldest children in their families.
"On to my next point, which centers on the word 'privileges'. In most cases, the eldest child will
inherit the greater share of the wealth. According to Chinese custom, the eldest son carries on the
family name, therefore he deserves a larger share of the property. In monarchies, the eldest child
is the heir to the throne, as in the case of Prince Charles. If you think that the eldest child is only
privileged if he belongs to a wealthy family, you are wrong. The distinction is even sharper in
poor families where the eldest child may be the only one whom the family can afford to educate
or feed properly.
"So, there you have it. Clear arguments to demolish the opposition to this motion. And now I
hand over to my opponents, to give the sensible ones amongst them a chance to start defecting
over to our side. Thank you."





















Should our school examination system be abolished ? Give reasons for your stand.

From primary school to the end of their tertiary education, students face the daunting task of
preparing for examinations every single year. So much time and emotion is poured into
preparing for examinations.
Advocates of the system contend that annual examinations are a good way of training children
for the stress of life after school - where deadlines and sales quotas need to be met, and work
completed methodically and with minimum fuss.
Government examinations are also said to be the necessary yardstick for measuring the
capability of each person for further education or employment.
Yet, are examinations an accurate yardstick? A person's true abilities may not be shown by
written examinations. Take Winston Churchill, for example. He was a school dropout and yet he
became one of England's greatest statesmen, a national savior in World War II. Clearly, some
talents and forms of ingenuity go undetected in examinations.
Another problem related to our system of examinations is that teachers become too "exam-
orientated". They race through the syllabus so that they can cover everything in it in time for the
examinations regardless of whether their students have understood the material. The weaker
students often end up the victims in this race -- they are left far behind the rest of the class. They
become more and more discouraged as they understand less and less of the lessons, to the point
that they hardly care if they pass or fail. Sadly, this attitude will be carried with them into adult
life.
What about the "swots"? Well, speaking as one, I confess that I often wonder whether it is worth
it. We rush from one tuition class to another and we spend most of our time studying for tests
and examinations, or doing our homework. All through the school semester, we only have one
thought in mind: to excel in the examinations. Is this really living?
A related point is that some students are so occupied with their studies that they do not develop
their potential in other fields. It is true that there are many clubs and societies in the school.
However, many students just do not have the time to make full use of these extracurricular
activities. They have to study, study, study. So, our emphasis on examinations is indirectly
producing people who are only trained to study and reproduce facts rather than well-
rounded individuals.
In conclusion, while I realize that it will be impossible to do away with all examinations, I feel
that they should be given less importance within the school system. For example, instead of
basing entry qualifications on one examination, students should also be evaluated through the
cumulative marks of tests and assignments. Furthermore educationists, employers, parents and
the students themselves should always be reminded that the results of examinations are not equal
to the sum of the net worth of the individual.