Paper 1

One hour and forty-five minutes

You are aduised to spend about 45 minutes on th'is section. Question 1 you have just returned from a three-day outdoor activity camp. You have decided to write a letter to a friend about your experience at the camp. Write your letter based on all the notes below. ' ' ' ' ' who organized the camP date of the camP transport to the camPsite number of ParticiPants location of the camP ' . accomodation grve two relevant examPles of: - activities - benefrts - problems

When writing the letter you should remember: ' to layout the letter correctlY ' to use ParagraPhs ' that vour letter is to a friend Section B: Continuous Writing 150 rnarksl You are aduised to spend about one hour on this section. Question 2 Write a cornposition of not less than 350 words on one of the following topics. (a) Describe the biggest challenge in your life. (b) Write a story with the title: An Unexpected Visitor (c) How to keep oneself healthY. (d) If you were given a chance to be anybody, who would you want to be and why? (e) Music

SPM D(AMINATION Paper 1 Section A

PAPER

2OO5

Shirley Lim No. 9, Jln Mesra, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor. 10. 12. 05 Dear Shanti, Hi, there! How are you? I am sorry I was not able to reply your letter any earlier. I was at a camp. The camp was called 'Discover Yourself'. It was an enriching experience as I have never attended such camp before. My uncle, who is one of the organizers, roped me in. At first I was very apprehensive about the whole thing. But later I realized I needed some motivation to boost me for the coming SPM examination. Let me glve you some details. The organizers are a group of people who call themselves 'The Millennium People'. They are basically teachers, trainers and leaders from various social groups who have come together to help young people to excel. The camp was from 1st of December to 9th of December. It was a three-day outdoor activity camp. We went to the camp by bus and later got into a ferry that took us to the Pangkor Island. There were about 120 participants with 12 trainers. The camp was conducted in the west of Pangkor Island. It was so quiet and peaceful, overlooking the beautiful hills. It was a superb place for us to unwind and discover ourselves. There were little chalets reserved for us. We enjoyed many interesting activities. I cannot describe them all, but I need to tell you about some of the interesting activities. The first activity was called 'Loosen Up'. We got to know each other in this ice-breaking session. Then came the difficult section. It was called the 'Bear the Brunt'session. Here we were practically yelled at and scolded by the trainers. The purpose was to break our egos. After this we were given a series of motivation guidance for studying, self improvement and time management. I greatly benefited from this camp. I have discovered my own potentials. Now I know that I have a good memory and can socialize easily. I also have identified my weaknesses. My greatest weakness is procrastination. But we have learnt to deal and overcome our weaknesses. However, the carnp had its own problems. Some participants did not co-operate because they refuse to participate in hiking and jungle trekking activities. Another problem was that, we did not have water supply on the first day. But these are all small matters compared to the benefits and the lifelong experience that I have gathered in the camp. In the next camp, I will surely take you along. That's all for now. I hope to hear from you soon. Take care.

Your friend,

Sdralz4
Shirley Lim

Section B (a) The biggest challenge in my life is to get through my SPM examination with good grades. Little did I know that the form five Sijil Pendidikan Malaysia or SPM examination is so important to me. Ever since I have entered secondary school, I have been repeatedly told and reminded by my teachers and by family that SPM examination is very -y important, as it is the stepping stone into my career and my future. But as usual, students like me have taken this matter lightly because we cannot see the future yet. Many students can fairly get through the SPM examination, but how many of us will be able to get through with flying colours is another question. Why is it so important to do well at SPM level? It is simply because it is a getaway to further education and higher education. Strange enough SPM qualification itself does carry weight. A person with SPM qualification only get to be employed as a clerk, and may be paid a salary of RM500.00 at the most. But having a good SPM certificate can ensure many other perks. Students with good grades are often offered scholarships for further studies by local and foreign institutions ofhigher learning. This I see as a great motivation as I do not have to burden my parents unnecessarily. Moreover, those with good grades are also exempted from sitting for foundation courses in some programmes. This is good because I can save cost and time in pursuing my ambition that is to be a bio-technologist. Those students who do well in SPM are also given priority to get into Form Six or the preuniversity classes which are conducted in some schools. The cost is low and affordable for students and parents. Those who want to do their preuniversity in a private college because their SPM results are not good enough to be absorbed into government schools, have to pay high fees. With a good certificate, students can also opt to do theirA levels which could take them for an oversea education in the United Kingdom, Australia or America. These countries have an excellent tertiary educational programmes which use SPM results as their yardstick to take in Malaysian students. Therefore I think the biggest hurdle in my life is the SPM. It is the deciding point that makes or breaks my future and career. So my advise to all my comrades out there, take the challenge and excel. @) Students on a camping trip - in a special camping site, surrounded by jungles, in Sarawak - students listened to their patrol leader for instructions students busy setting up the camp area, pitching tents, looked for firewood for the jamboree - got together at night - some cooking, some setting a campfire, others preparing games and songs, practising their performances - all having a good time - singing - dancing around the campfire suddenly someone spotted a strange figure - an Orang Utan dancing among them - screamed - ran

and hide in the bushes nearby * peeped through the bushes - Orang Utan was not afraid of them - continued to dance around the campfire - really enjoying itself, dancing according to the rhythm of the music - music stopped, Orang Utan waited for a while looking around, then slowly went back into the jungle - came out from their hiding places slowly - laughter and jokes - the uninvited intruder - a memorable experience (c) The old adage 'health is wealth' is true to its meaning. People who have good health is equivalent to having a good fortune. Though we are all born healthy, it is up to us to take care ofour body. Keeping healthy means having a well-balanced rneal and exercising regularly. Good eating habits and regular workouts must be part of our regular routine. To know what is a balanced meal we can have a look at the The Food Guide Pyramid which is an outline ofwhat to eat each day based on the Dietary Guideline. It is not a rigid prescription but a general guide that lets you choose a health diet that is right for you. The pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need and at the same time the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight. Use the pyramid to help you eat better every day and prevent many medical problems, including becoming overweight or obese, developing weak bones and developing diabetes. It will also ensure that you can physically grow to your full potential. Do not feel that you have to eat because you are bored or depressed. Eating only makes the problem worse. Be smart, do not smoke! Smoking causes cancer which can lead to death and many other health problems. Please stay away from drugs and alcohol. You control what happens. By taking drugs, it takes away your mind control. Exercising is physically working out the human body to improve how it functions. Exercise can be classified as either active or passive exercise. Physical fitness is the body's capacity to carry out work and protect itselfagainst disease and infection. Active exercising involves willful physical effort like walking, cycling, swimming and jogging. Exercise which involves a machine or the action of another person is called passive exercise. Through working or exercising, muscles in the body develop strength. Coordination in nerve muscles is also improved. Besides well-balanced food and exercise, sleep is also an integral part of our health. Sleep problems at this age usually involve having a late sleep phase. Teenagers will commonly stay up late on the weekends and then sleep in the next day, sometimes until noon. This carries over into the school week and can cause difficulty falling asleep at a proper time on school nights. It is now well known that being sleep deprived can lead to behavioural and attentional problems in school, so it is important that teenagers get at least 8 hours of sleep. Therefore balanced food, exercise and a good night's sleep may make you healthy, wealthy and wise.

(d) The person that I would want to be, ifgiven a chance, is Tan Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed because he has put Malaysia distinctively in the world map. Born on 20 December 1925 inAlor Setar, Kedah, the young Mahathir joined the United Malays National Organization (IIMNO) at its foundation in 1946. He set up private practice in his hometown in 1957, a year after he married his wife, Hasmah, also a physician. In 1981, he became the prime minister. On assuming high office, Dr. Mahathir set about putting his ideas into practice and transforming Malaysia from an exporter of rubber and tin, into an Asian tiger producing electronic equipment, steel and cars. His restless ambition was examplified by his programme af heavy industrialization. The ambition was driven by Malay nationalism and Malaysian capitalism, which coupled to conceive Malaysia incorporated and privatization. The beginnings of his era were charged with the energy of reforming bureaucracy and modernizing the economy. He basically wanted to change the Malays to businessmen. His most exalted target was the creation ofa unified nation, Bangsa Malaysia, which would be led by the Melayu Baru - the society of 'new Malay' capitalists and professionals - to undertake a conquest of foreign markets. Dr. Mahathir has created a Malay middle class, and even billionaires, through government patronage as well as policies of positive discrimination in employment and higher education. However at the core of his reforms were the assimilation of Islamic values. These values celebrated learning, promoted thrift and dignified labour. It created the elements ofan'Eastern work ethic'which he imposed upon Malaysian society. More visible projects to boost his people's sense of pride have included the world's tallest building and the 'Multimedia Super Corridor'intended to rival California's Silicon Valley. In addition, he has taken on the mantle of spokesman for the NewAsia, upholding Asian and Malaysian values, criticizing Western double standards and winning a following among non-Western and developing countries. With his leadership we have experienced a gain in prosperity, a sense of a more unified society and pride in Malaysia's place in the world. For all he has done, I really would be proud to take him as a role model and be T\rn Dr. Mahathir if given a chance. (e) Music is one of God's greatest gifts to human beings. Music is a magical gift we must nourish and cultivate in young people, beiause music is a part ofthe fabric ofour society. The intrinsic value ofmusic for each individual is widely recognized in the many cultures that make up our lives. If we look around us, every human culture uses music to carry forward its ideas and ideals. The value of music in shaping individual abilities and character are attested in a number of places. In America, secondary students who

participated in bands or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and cunent use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. There are also scientific evidence that proves that an education in the arts makes better Math and Science students. It enhances spatial intelligence in newborns. participation in the arts and music is a valuable experience that broadens students' understanding and appreciation of the world around them. It is also well known and w i dely recog nized tha t t he ar t s c ont r ibut e significantly to children,s intellectual development. Since music and pop culture are the norm of toda.y's society, they help to create jobs, boost tourism, spur growth in related businesses, hotels, restaurants, printilg, and thus improve the overall quality of life for our cities and towns. Success in society, of course, is predicted on success in school. Any music teacher or parent of a music student can call to mind anecdotes about the effectiveness of music study in helping children become better students. Skills learned through the discipline of music, these stories commonly poiit out, transfer to study skills, communication skills anO cogrritive skills usefirl in every part of the curriculum. There are grouadbreaking neurological research that show how music study can actively contribute to brain development - particularly through participation in ensembles - helps students learn to work effectively in the school environment without resorting to violent or inappropriate behaviour. Generally parents want their children to achieve success in school, success in employment and successin the social structures. But parents also want their children to experience ,success,on a broader scale. Participation in music, often as not based on a grounding in music education during the formative school years, brings countless benefi"ts to each individual throughout life. The benefits may be psychological or spiritual, and they may be physical as well. These are all important irr tne holistic development as an individual. Therefore music education is the answer to all these.