Lỗi ccler to procced witch tpe the word erase here năm 2024
Uploaded byNgọc Sơn Show 0% found this document useful (0 votes) 616 views 1,745 pages Copyright© © All Rights Reserved Available FormatsTXT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd Share this documentDid you find this document useful?Is this content inappropriate?0% found this document useful (0 votes) 616 views1,745 pages Vie Tanh Uploaded byNgọc Sơn Jump to Page You are on page 1of 1745 Search inside document Reward Your CuriosityEverything you want to read. Anytime. Anywhere. Any device. No Commitment. Cancel anytime. Life in the city is full of activity. Early in the morning hundreds of people rush out of their homes in the manner ants do when their nest is broken. Soon the streets are full of traffic. Shops and offices open, students flock to their schools and the day’s work begins. The city now throb with activity, and it is full of noise. Hundreds of sight-seers, tourists and others visit many places of interest in the city while businessmen from various parts of the world arrive to transact business. Then towards evening, the offices and day schools begin to close. Many of the shops too close. There is now a rush for buses and other means of transport. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to reach home. As a result of this rush, many accidents occur. One who has not been to the city before finds it hard to move about at this time. Soon, however, there is almost no activity in several parts of the city. These parts are usually the business centres. With the coming of night, another kind of actịvity begins. The streets are now full of colorful lights. The air is cooler and life becomes more leisurely. People now seek entertainment. Many visit the cinemas, parks and clubs, while others remain indoors to watch television or listen to the radio. Some visit friends and relatives and some spend their time reading books and magazines. Those who are interested in politics discuss the latest political developments. At the same time, hundreds of crimes are committed. Thieves and robbers who wait for the coming of night become active, and misfortune descends upon many. For the greed of a few, many are killed, and some live in constant fear. To bring criminals to justice, the officers of the law are always on the move. Workers and others who seek advancement in their careers attend educational institutions which are open till late in the night. Hundreds of them sit for various examinations every year. The facilities and opportunities that the people in the city have to further their studies and increase their knowledge of human affairs are indeed many. As a result, the people of the city are usually better informed than those of the village, where even a newspaper is sometimes difficult to get. The city could, therefore, be described as a place of ceaseless activity. Here, the drama of life is enacted every day. Bài dịch Cuộc sống ở thành thị cuộc sống ở thành thị rất nhộn nhịp. Từ tờ mờ sáng hàng trăm người ùa ra khỏi nhà như đàn kiến vỡ tổ. Chẳng bao lâu sau đường phố đôngnghẹt xe cộ. Các cửa hàng và văn phòng mở cửa. Học sinh hối hả cắp sách đến trường và một ngày làm việc bắt đầu. Giờ đây thành phố hoạt đông nhộn nhịp và đầy ắp tiếng huyên náo. Hàng trăm người ngoạn cảnh, du khách và nhiều người khác viếng thăm những thắng cảnh của thành phố trong khi các doanh nhân từ nhiều nơi trên thế giới đến trao đổi công việc làm ăn. Trời về chiều, những văn phòng và trường học bắt đầu đóng cửa. Nhiều của hàng cũng đông cửa. Lúc này diễn ra một cuộc đổ xô đón xe buýt và các phương tiện vận chuyên khác. Dường như mọi người đều vội vã về nhà. Kết quá của sự.vội vã này là nhiều tai nạn xảy ra. Những ai chưa từng đến thành phố cảm thấy khó mà đi lại vào giờ này. Tuy vậỵ không bao lâu sau một số khu vực của thành phố như ngừng hoạt động. Những nơi này thường là các trung tâm kinh doanh. Đêm xuống, một hình thức hoạt động khác lại bắt đầu. Đường phố tràn ngập ánh đèn màu. Bầu không khí dịu xuống và cuộc sống trở nên thư thả hơn. Giờ đây người tìm đến những thú vui giải trí. Nhiều người đến rạp chiếu bóng, công viên và câu lạc bộ, trong khi những người khác ở nhà xem ti vi và nghe đài phát thanh. Có người đi thăm bạn bè và bà con. Có người dành thì giờ đọc sách và tạp chí. Những người quan tâm đến chính trị bàn luận về những sự kiện chính trị nóng hổi. Cũng trong thời gian này, hàng trăm vụ trộm cướp diễn ra. Trộm cướp chờ đêm xuống để hoạt động, và vận rủi ập xuống nhiều ngưòi. Chỉ vì lòng tham của một sô ít người mà nhiều người sẽ bị giết, và nhiều người khác phải sống trong cảnh sợ hãi triền miên . Để đưa tội phạm ra trước công lý, các viên chức luật pháp luôn luôn sẵn sàng hành động. Người lao động và những ngưòi muốn tiến triển trên con đường công danh sự nghiệp của mình thì tham gia các lóp học ban đêm. Mỗi năm có hàng trăm người trong số họ tham dự vào nhiều kỳ thi khác nhau. Các phương tiện và cơ hội dành cho người dân thành thị để mở rộng học hỏi và gia tăng kiến thức nhân sinh thực sự rất phong phú. Do đó người dân ở thành phố luôn nắm bắt thông tin nhanh hợn người dân vùng nông thôn, nơi mà có khi ngay đến một tờ báo cũng khó kiếm. Tóm lại thành thị có thể nói là nơi của những hoạt động không ngừng nghỉ. Chính tại đây vở kịch cuộc đời tái diễn mỗi ngày. New words:
Living in a multiracial community Bài mẫu Living in a community where there are people of various races could be a rewarding and an exciting experience. Such a community is like a small world with many types and races of people in it. Everyone, young or old, enjoys listening to stories about people in other lands. We read books and newspapers to learn about the habits, customs and beliefs) of people who do not belong to our race, but when we live in a community composed of many races, we have the opportunity to meet and talk with people or various races. We can learn about their customs and beliefs directly from them. In this way, wẹ have a better understanding of their ways of life. For example, in Singapore and Malaysia, which are known as multi-racial countries, Malays, Chinese, Indians and others have lived together for several decades. They have learnt a lot about the cultures of one another, more than what they could have learnt by reading books or newspapers. By living together, they have also absorbed many of the habits of one another to their common benefit. Further, living in a multi-racial community teaches us how to respect the views and beliefs of people of other races. We learn to be tolerant and to understand and appreciate the peculiarities of those who are not of our race. In this way, we learn to live in peace and harmony with foreigners whose ways of life are different from ours in several respects. We become less suspicious of strangers and foreigners. The relationship that develops among the people from common understanding in a multi-racial community makes life in such a community very exciting. Any celebration of any race becomes a celebration of all the other races. Thus, there is a lot of fun and excitement during every celebration. In this way, better understanding is promoted among the peoples of the world. Through each of the races of the people in a multi-racial community, we come to know about their respective countries. For example, through the Chinese and the Indians in Malaysia or Singapore we have come to know much about China and India. As a result, we have a better understanding of the peoples of China and India as a whole. It could therefore be said that life in a multi-racial community teaches us many useful lessons in human relations. Bài dịch Sống trong một cộng đồng đa chủng tộc Sống trong một cộng đồng mà các cư dân thuộc nhiều chủng tộc khác nhau có.thê là một trải nghiệm thú vị và bổ ích. Một cộng đồng như thế cũng giống như một thế giới thu nhỏ gồm nhiều sắc tộc và kiểu tính cách. Tất cả mọt người, dù già hay trẻ, đều thích nghe chuyện kể về những người dân xứ khác. Chúng ta đọc sách, báo để biết về những thói quen phong tục và tín ngưỡng của các dân tộc khác, nhưng khi chúng ta sống trong một cộng đồng đa sắc tộc, chúng ta có cơ hội gặp gỡ và trò chuyện với người dân.thuộc nhiều chủng tộc khác nhau. Chúng ta có thể trực tiếp học hói về những phong tục và tín ngưỡng của họ. Băng cách này, chúng ta có thể hiểu nhiều hơn về lối sống của họ. Chẳng hạn như tại Singapore và Malaysia, những nước được xem là đa Sắc tộc, người Mã Lai, Trung Quốc, Ấn Độ và các sắc dân khác đã chung sống với nhau qua vài thập kỷ. Họ đã học hỏi rất nhiều về văn hóa của nhau mà việc đọc sách báo không .thể sánh bằng. Qua việc chung sống với nhau, họ cũng đã tiếp thu nhiều tập quán của nhau đế mang lại lợi ích chung cho cộng đồng. Thêm vào đó, cuộc sống trong một cộng đồng đa sắc tộc dạy cho ta biết tôn trọng quan điểm và tín ngưỡng của dân tộc khác. Chúng ta biết khoan dung, hiểu biết và đánh giá cao nét đặc thù của những người không thuộc chủng tộc mình. Bằng cách này, chúng ta học chung sống trong hòa bình và hòa thuận với những người ngoại quốc mà lối sống của họ khác chúng ta trên vài phương diện. Chúng ta trở nên ít nghi ngại những người lạ và người nước ngoài. Mối quan hệ nảy sinh giữa các dân tộc từ sự hiểu biết chung trong một cộng đồng đa sắc tộc làm cho cuộc sống trong cộng đồng như thế trở nên hết sức thú vị. Bất kỳ lễ ký niệm của một dân tộc nào cũng trở thành lễ ký niệm của tất cả các dân tộc khác. Nhờ vậy có rất nhiều niềm vui thích và thú vị trong mỗi một dịp lễ hội. Bằng cách này, sự hiểu biết lẫn nhau giữa các dân tộc trên thế giới được đẩy mạnh. Thông qua mỗi một dân tộc trong cộng đồng đa chủng tộc, chúng ta dần dần hiểu biết về quốc gia mà họ là đại diện. Chẳng hạn, thông qua người Trung Quốc và Ấn Độ ở Malaysia hay Singapo. chúng ta biết nhiều về Trung Hoa và Ấn Độ. Vì vậy chúng ta hiểu nhiều hơn về tổng thể dân tộc và đất nước Trung Hoa và Ấn Độ. Vì thế có thể nói rằng cuộc sống ở một cộng đồng đa chủng tộc dạy cho ta nhiều bài học hữu ích về mối quan hệ của con người. New words:
A visit to a famous city Bài mẫu A few months ago my father and I visited Singapore, one of the most famous cities in Asia. Singapore, a small island, lies at the southern and of West Malaysia. A long and narrow piece of land joins Singapore with Johore Hahru, the southern-most town of West Malaysia. Singapore is now an independent. The city of Singapore is extremely beautiful. It is well known for its centres of business and other activities. There are many places of interest such as the Tiger Balm Garden, the Botanical Gardens and Raffles Museum. There are also many important centres of learning such as the University of Singapore, Science Centre, the Nanyang University and the Polytechnic. Being a famous city, hundreds of people come every day from various parts of the world to do business or to enjoy the sights of the city. Singapore therefore has large and beautiful airports and its harbours are full of ships. There are many night schools where people who cannot go to the day schools for some reason or other can continue their studies. And, the government of Singapore is still doing its best to make further improvements in the city for the benefit of the people. During my stay in Singapore, I went out every day with my father to see the beautiful and interesting places and things in the city. One day we went to the Tiger Balm Garden where I saw several statues of people, animals and other strange creature beautifully made and kept. The sea near this garden makes this a pleasant place to visit. We spent almost half of the day at this place. Another day we visited the museum where I saw hundreds of curious things preserved for scholars and others. It was indeed an education to see all those things. There is so much to learn here that every visit by any person is sure to add to his knowledge. I also visited some of the harbours and saw the large ships anchored there. The sight of the ships aroused a desire in me to cross the oceans and go round the world. I was indeed deeply impressed by the activities at the harbour. Then every night, I went round the town and visited some of the parks and other places of interest. The numerous sights and the constant stream of traffic kept the city alive. I visited a few of the cinemas as well. In short, I enjoyed every moment of my stay in this famous city of Singapore Bài dịch Cách đây vài tháng, bố tôi và tôi đi tham quan Singapore, một trong những thành phố nổi tiếng nhất châu Á. Singapore là một hòn đảo nhỏ nằm ở phía nam và thuộc miền trung tây Ma1aysia. Một dải đất nhỏ và hẹp nối liền Singapore với Johore Bahru, thành phố cực nam của vùng Tây Malayxia. Singapore hiện nay là một quốc gia độc lập. Thành phố Singapore cực kỳ diễm lệ. Nó nổi tiếng bởi những trung tâm buôn bán và các hoạt động khác. Có nhiều thắng cảnh như Vườn Tiger Banh, vườn sinh học và viện Bảo tàng Raffles. Ngoài ra còn có nhiều trung tâm nghiên cứu quan trọng như Đại học tổng hợp Singapore, Trung tâm khoa học, Đại học Nanyang và Đại học Bách khoa. Vì là một thành phố nổi tiếng nên hàng ngày có hàng trăm người từ các nước khác nhau trên thế giới đến để làm việc hay chiêm ngưỡng cảnh quan thành phố. Vì thế Singapore có những sân bay to và đẹp, còn những hải cảng của nó lúc nào cũng tấp nập tàu bè. Có những lớp học ban đêm cho những người không thể đến trường vào ban ngày vì một lý do nào đó để họ tiếp tục học tập. Và hiện nay chính phủ Singapore đang làm hết sức mình để ngày càng phát triển thành phố vì lợi ích cho người dân Singapore. Trong khi dừng chân ở Singapore, hàng ngày tôi ra phố dạo chơi với bố và ngắm nhìn cảnh vật thi vị rà đẹp đẽ của thành phố. Một ngày nọ tôi đến vườn Tiger Balm nơi tôi thấy có vài bức tượng người, nhiều loài thú và những tạo vật lạ kỳ được tạo tác và gìn giữ rất công phu. Chúng tôi ở đó gần nửa ngày. Chúng tôi cũng tham quan viện bảo tàng, ở đó tôi thấy hàng trăm thứ quý giá được giữ gìn cho các học giả và những người khác. Thật là một cơ hội học tập khi được xem tất cả các vật này. Ở đây có rất nhiều điều để học hỏi đến nỗi bất cứ người nào đến thăm viện bảo tàng cũng có thêm kiến thức cho mình. Tôi cũng đi thăm vài hải cảng và thấy những con tàu lớn thả neo ở Đó. Cảnh tượng tàu bè khuấy động trong tôi ước muốn vượt đại dương đi vòng quanh thế giới. Các hoạt động ở bến cảng thật sự gây cho tôi ấn tượng sâu sắc. Rồi mỗi đêm tôi đều đi quanh thành phố viếng thăm những công viên và thắng cảnh khác. Vô số ánh đèn và dòng xe cộ bất tận làm thành phố rất sống động. Tôi cũng đến thăm một vài rạp chiếu bóng. Tóm lại tôi yêu thích mỗi khoảnh khắc tôi sống tại thành phố Singopore nổi tiếng này. New words:
An unusual opportunity I had Bài mẫu Seldom does one have opportunity of seeing a fight between a tiger and a crocodile. I, however, had this opportunity one day when I went with my father into a forest in search of some wild plants. I had never been to a forest before. Therefore, whatever I saw in the forest interested me greatly. I looked ạt the rich vegetation all round as well as the variety of colourful flowers and birds, large and small. I saw the activity of some of the wild creatures, such as snakes, squirrels and insects. Occasionally, I heard the cry of some strange animal in pain, perhaps while being eaten by a larger animal. I also heard some rustling noises in the undergrowth; but I was not afraid of all these. Such things, I knew, were natural to the forest. My father whose only interest was in the type of plants he wanted for my mother’s garden, however, paid little attention to the sounds and movements in these green depths. He continued his search for more and more of those plants until we reached one of the banks of a large river in the forest. There we stopped for a while to enjoy the sights around. The scene was peaceful. Then, to our surprises and honor, we saw a tiger on the other side of the river. It was moving quietly and cautiously towards the water for a drink. A hush fell upon the jungle. My father and I were now too frightened to move from there. However, as the tiger put its mouth into the river there was a sudden swirl of the waters, and before the tiger could rush out, it was seized by a huge crocodile. The tiger’s howl of pain and anger filled me and my father with terrors. Yet we waited there to see the end of the struggle between these two lords of the forest and the river. The crocodile had the advantage from the beginning. It used all its strength to pull the tiger deeper into the water, and the tiger too fought desperately to free itself from the jaws of the merciless reptile; but the tiger soon gave up the struggle and all was quiet again. I now felt pity for the tiger which had died just to slake its thirst. Then, my father reminded me of the narrow escape that we had ourselves had. If the tiger had been on this side of the river, one of us might have died in the way the tiger did, a victim of animal appetite. And as we were returning home, I began to think of the struggle for life and savagery that lurks beneath peaceful scenes. Bài dịch Rất hiếm khi người ta có dịp xem một trận đánh nhau giữa một con hổ và một con cá sấu. Tuy nhiên tôi đã từng có cơ hội này vào một ngày nọ, khi cùng với bố tôi vào rừng để tìm cây dại. Trước đó, tôi chưa bao giờ bước chân vào rừng. Vì thế bất cứ điều gì tôi thấy trong khu rừng đó cũng làm cho tôi thích thú. Tôi nhìn những loại thảo mộc sum xuê ở khắp nơi cũng như những loại hoa cỏ và chim muông lớn nhỏ sặc sỡ đủ màu. Tôi thấy những loài thú hoang như rắn sóc và côn trùng đang hoạt động. Thỉnh thoảng tôi nghe tiếng kêu của một loài thú lạ bị thương, có lẽ là bị một con thú lớn hơn ăn thịt. Tôi còn nghe thấy tiếng xào xạc của những lùm cây thấp; nhưng tôi không sợ. Tôi biết những điều này là phải có trong một khu rừng. Cha tôi chỉ quan tâm đến nhũng loại cây mà ông muốn trồng trong vườn của mẹ nên ít để ý tới những âm thanh và hoạt động trong khu rừng rậm sâu thẳm này. Ông mải mê tìm thêm nhiều cây dại cho đến khi chúng tôi đến bên bờ một con sông lớn trong rừng. Chúng tôi dừng lại đó một chốc để ngắm cảnh vật xung quanh. Khung cảnh rất thành bình. Thế rồi hết sức ngạc nhiên và sợ hãi, chúng tôi thấy một con hổ bên kia bờ sông. Nó đang lặng lẽ và thận trọng tiến tới để uống nước. Im lặng bao trùm lên khu rừng rậm. Cả cha tôi và tôi đều kinh sợ đứng chôn chân một chỗ. Tuy nhiên, khi con hổ cúi sâu xuống mặt sông, bất ngờ một xoáy nước xông lên và, không kịp chạy thoát, con hổ đã bị một con cá sấu khổng lồ tóm chặt. Tiếng rú đau đớn và giận dữ của con hố làm tôi và cha tôi hết sức kinh hoàng. Nhưng chúng tôi vẫn đứng để xem kết cục của trận quyết chiến giữa hai loài chúa tể của rừng xanh và sông nước. Con cá sấu có lợi thế ngay từ lúc đầu. Nó dùng hết sức kéo con hổ xuống nước, và con hổ cũng chiến đấu một cách tuyệt vọng để thoát khỏi hàm con cá sấu tàn bạo. Những chẳng bao lâu sau con hổ thua cuộc và im lặng lại trùm lên khu rừng. Lúc đó tôi cảm thấy đáng thương cho con hổ bị chết chỉ vì khát nước. Thế rồi cha tôi nhắc tôi nhớ đến sự thoát chết mong manh vừa qua. Nếu con hổ ở bờ sông bên này, hẳn là một trong hai chúng tôi đã chết như con hổ, nạn nhân của loài thú khát máu. Và trên suốt quãng đường về nhà, tôi bắt đầu nghĩ về sự đấu tranh để sinh tồn và sự bạo tàn ẩn sâu dưới cái vẻ thanh bình của cuộc sống. New words:
The value of libraries Bài mẫu A good library is an ocean of information, whose boundaries continue to extend with the endless contribution of the numerous streams of knowledge. Thus, it has a peculiar fascination for scholars, and all those whose thirst for knowledge is instable. The usefulness of libraries in the spread of knowledge has been proved through the years. The field of knowledge is so extensive and life is so brief that even the most avid reader can never expect to absorb it all. Those who have a love for knowledge, therefore, try to master only a small fraction of it. Even this requires reading of hundreds of books, cheap and expensive, new and old. But few people are able to buy all the books on the subject in which they wish to attain proficiency. It is therefore necessary for them to visit a good library, where they can read a great variety of books on the subject they love. Besides, many old and valuable books on certain subjects are found only in a good library. Even the original manuscript of an author, who died several years ago, can be found in it, sometimes. Today, men everywhere have discovered the benefits of learning. More and more books are being written to extend human knowledge and experience. Governments and individuals throughout the world are, therefore, opening more and more libraries to enable people to read as many books as possible. Libraries have been opened even in the remotest regions of the earth, so that people who are unable to buy books from the towns can still gain access to the various sources of knowledge. Mobile libraries serve the people in various parts of the earth. The importance of libraries, however, is felt most acutely by students in schools and universities, where most students are engaged in deep studies. The number of books that a student has to study, especially at a university, is so large that unless he comes from a rich family, he can hardly buy them all. Besides, many of the books may not be available in the book-shops within his reach. It is therefore to his advantage to visit a good library. Some people even have then own private libraries in which they spend their leisure, reading the books that they have collected over the years and drive great intellectual benefit and pleasure. In short, libraries have contributed so much to the extension of knowledge that they have become almost indispensable to all literate men. Bài dịch Một thư viện lớn là một đại dương của thông tin mà ranh giới của nó tiếp tục mở rộng với sự đóng góp vô tận những dòng suối tri thức không bao giờ ngừng lại. Vì vậy nó có sức quyến rũ đặc biệt đối với các học giả và những người khát khao chân trời kiến thức. Sự hữu dụng của thư viện trong việc truyền bá kiến thức đã được Minh chứng hàng bao năm qua. Cánh đồng của tri thức thì quá rộng và cuộc đời thì quá ngắn cho nên ngay cả những độc giả tham lam nhất cũng đừng bao giờ mong rằng sẽ đọc được tất cả. Vì thế, những người yêu mến tri thức chỉ nắm vững một phần nào đó mà thôi. Mà chỉ thế thôi cũng phải đọc hàng trăm quyển sách, rẻ và đắt, mới và cũ. Nhưng ít ai có thể mua tất cả những quyển sách về chuyên môn mà họ muốn thành thạo. Vì thế họ cần phải đến thư viện nơi họ có thể đọc thật nhiều sách về chủ đề yêu thích. Hơn nữa nhiều quyển sách quí giá chỉ có trong thư viện. Đôi khi cả một bản thảo nguyên gốc của một tác giả qua đời cách đây vài năm cũng có thể tìm thấy trong thư viện. Ngày nay, con người ở khắp nơi đã phát hiện ra lợi ích của việc học tập. Ngày càng có nhiều cuốn sách được viết để mở rộng kiến thức và kinh nghiệm con người. Vì thế các chính phủ và cá nhân trên thế giới không ngừng mở những thư viện giúp người ta đọc càng nhiều sách càng tốt. Thư viện cũng xuất hiện tại ngay cả ở những vùng xa xôi nhất của trái đất để những ai không thể mua sách từ thành phố vẫn có thế tiếp thu những nguồn kiến thức đa dạng. Những thư viện di động phục vụ người đọc sách ở mọi nơi trên thế giới. Tuy nhiên tầm quan trọng của thư viện là dễ thấy nhất ở sinh viên, học sinh các trường phổ thông và đại học, nơi mà phần lớn học sinh luôn bận rộn nghiên cứu. Con số những quyển sách mà một sinh viên phải nghiên cứu đặc biệt ở trường đại học là khá lớn đến nỗi gần như không thể mua hết được, trừ khi gia cảnh của anh ta hết sức giàu có. Hơn nữa, nhiều quyển sách có thể không có sẵn trong hiệu sách để anh ta mua. Vì vậy đến thư viện rất là tiện lợi. Một số người có thư viện riêng để khi nhàn rỗi đọc những quyển sách họ đã sưu tập hàng bao năm trời và mang về niềm vui và nguồn tri thức. Tóm lại, thư viện đã đóng góp rất nhiều trong việc mở mang kiến thức đến nỗi nó trở nên không thể thiếu được đối với tất cả con người. New words:
A horrible sight Bài mẫu On the main roads of West Malaysia accidents occur almost every day. Most of them are caused by young drivers who are long of speed. The recklessness has caused the death of even careful drivers. What I am about to relate concems the death of some young people, resulting from the reckless driving of a young man. On the day in question, I was travelling with my brother to Ipoh. As my brother’s car was old, he had to drive slowly. We left Singapore, our hometown, very early in the morning, so that we could reach our destination before . The slow journey soon made me so tired that I fell asleep. However, we broke our Journey at Yong Peng, a small town in Johore for some refreshment. When we resumed our journey, we saw a number of badly damaged vehicles in front of the Police Station of that town. My brother then began to talk about the various accidents that he had seen on that road. I began to grow uneasy about the rest of the journey. My brother had told me that most of the accidents occurred within a few miles of that town. I now began to fear for our own safety. Then, suddenly, a car, running at great speed, outtook our car. My brother then predicted that the car would be involved in an accident soon. After that my heart began to beat fast. The car was soon out of sight. My brother, however, assured me that I would have an opportunity to see a very bad accident, and sure enough, we soon arrived at a distressing scene. The car that had overtaken our car was in a ditch and four young girls were lying dead on the road-side. Their faces and clothes were covered with blood. Some people were trying to extricate the other occupants, including the young driver, who were still alive in the car. But all of a sudden, the car was on fire, and their efforts failed. Thus, the occupants in the car were burnt alive, and it was indeed heart-rending to hear their last screams. Soon a fire engine and the police arrived with an ambulance, but it was too late. This was indeed a horrible sight, and even today the mention of accidents reminds me of those piteous screams of the dying ones in that car. Bài dịch Trên những con đường chính ở Tây Malayxia tai nạn xảy ra hầu như mỗi ngày. Phần lớn các tai nạn là do những tay lái trẻ ưa thích tốc độ. Sự liều lĩnh của họ đã gây nên cái chết của những lái xe thận trọng khác. Những gì tôi sắp kể sau đây liên quan đến cái chết của một số thanh niên gây ra do sự khinh suất của một tài xế trẻ. Vào một ngày như vậy, tôi đang trên đường đến Ipoh với anh tôi. Vì chiếc xe đã cũ, anh tôi phải lái rất chậm. Chúng tôi từ giã Singapore quê hương chúng tôi vào buổi sáng sớm để có thể đến nơi trước khi trời tối. Chuyến khởi hành chậm chạp chẳng mấy chốc làm tôi buồn chán đến ngủ thiếp đi. Tuy nhiên, chúng tôi dừng lại ở Yong Pens, một thị trấn nhỏ ở Johore để mua thực phẩm tươi. Khi lên đường trở lại, chúng tôi thấy vài chiếc xe hỏng nặng trước sở cảnh sát của thành phố. Anh tôi bắt đầu kể về những tai nạn anh đã chứng kiến trên con đường đó. Còn tôi cảm thấy bồn chồn suốt cả quãng đường còn lại. Anh tôi báo tôi rằng phần lớn các tai nạn xảy ra cách thị trấn đó vài dặm. Lúc đó tôi cảm thấy lo sợ cho sự an toàn của chúng tôi. Thế rồi bỗng nhiên một chiếc xe hơi chạy hết tốc lực vượt qua xe chúng tôi. Anh tôi đoán rằng thế nào chiếc xe kia cũng gây tai nạn. Sau đó tim tôi bắt đầu đập nhanh hơn. Chẳng bao lâu, chiếc xe chạy khuất dạng. Nhưng anh tôi quả quyết với tôi rằng tôi sẽ được dịp nhìn thấy một tai nạn tồi tệ, và đúng như thế, một lát sau chúng tôi đi đến một quang cảnh thê lương. Chiếc xe đã vượt xe chúng tôi lúc này đang nằm trong con mương và bốn cô gái trẻ nằm chết trên đường phố. Mặt và quần áo họ bê bết máu. Một số người cố sức giải thoát hành khách còn sống trong xe, và người tài xế trẻ; nhưng thật bất ngờ, chiếc xe bùng cháy và nỗ lực của họ tiêu tan. Thế là những người trong xe bị thiêu sống và tiếng gào hấp hối của họ như xé lòng. Ngay sau đó, xe cứu hỏa và cảnh sát đến với xe cấp cứu nhưng đã quá muộn. Đây thật là một cảnh tượng kinh hoàng và cho đến tận hôm nay, khi nói đến tai nạn tôi lại nhớ đến những tiếng kêu cứu thảm khốc của những người sắp chết trong chiếc xe kia. New words:
Discuss the part that money plays in our lives Bài mẫu Money plays an important part in our lives. In several aspects, it is the most important thing in life. It is therefore much sought after. Without money we could not buy our food, clothes and all the other things that we need to live comfortably. We require money to travel, to buy medicine when we are ill and also to pay for the services rendered to us by others. In truth, money is almost indispensable to our survival. Most of our activities are therefore directed towards earning as much money as possible. We use money not only to meet the basic needs of life but also to pay for our own advancement. We use it for education which helps us to live a better life. Thousands of students are unable to attend school or continue their studies for want of money. Lack of money also causes great hardship and sorrow in hundreds of families. Thousands of people are dying everyday throughout the world because they are not able to pay their doctors fee or because they cannot buy nutritious food. As money is so important, many crimes are committed everyday in all parts or the world to gain possession of it. Some are driven by hunger and desperation to steal, rob, and even kill to get at least what they require to keep body and soul together. Others commit the most serious crimes out of sheer greed for money. Such people cause much trouble and unpleasantness in society, and to bring them to justice, large sums of money are spent by every government. Today, millions of dollars are being spent by the various governments in the world for the betterment of the people. Numerous schools and hospitals are being built, and hundreds of acres or land are being cultivated to produce more food for the growing population of the world. As a result, the world is gradually becoming a better place to live in. At the same time, however, much money is being wasted in producing deadly weapons of war. Countries which have more money than the others have become more powerful by strengthening their armed forces. This has led to rivalries among the powerful nations, and several parts of the world are in turmoil. All this shows what an important part money plays in human affairs. Bài dịch Tiền giữ vai trò quan trọng trong đời sống chúng ta. Trên một vài phương diện nào đó, tiền là quan trọng nhất trong cuộc sống. Vì vậy người ta chạy theo tiền. Không có tiền chúng ra không thể mua thực phẩm, áo quần và tất cả những vật dụng cần thiết cho một cuộc sống tiện nghi. Chúng ta cần tiền để đi lại mua thuốc khi đau ốm và trả cho những dịch vụ mà người khác làm cho chúng ta. Nói cho đúng, tiền hầu như không thể thiếu với sự tồn tại của chúng ta. Phần lớn các hoạt động của chúng ta vì thế hướng tới việc kiếm ra càng nhiều tiền càng tốt. Chúng ta dùng tiền bạc không chỉ để thỏa mãn những nhu cầu tối thiểu trong cuộc sống mà còn để nâng cấp cuộc sống của mình. Chúng ta dùng tiền trong giáo dục để có cuộc sống tốt hơn. Hàng ngàn học sinh không thể đến trường hay tiếp tục học tập chỉ vì thiếu tiền. Việc thiếu tiền gây ra khó khăn và những nỗi lo lớn cho hàng trăm gia đình. Trên thế giới hàng ngàn người đang chết dần vì họ không có tiền đế đến bác sĩ hay vì họ không có tiền để mua thực phẩm giàu chất dinh dưỡng. Vì tiền quan trọng như thế nên hằng ngày trên thế giới diễn ra rất nhiều vụ phạm pháp để giành lấy quyền sở hữu tiền. Có người điên khùng vì đói khát và tuyệt vọng phải đi ăn cắp, ăn trộm và ngay cả giết người để ít nhất giữ cho phần hồn và phần xác của họ không phải lìa nhau. Có người phạm những tội ác nghiệm trọng nhất đơn giản chỉ vì tham tiền. Những người như vậy gây ra rất nhiều phiền toái và khó chịu trong xã hội và để đưa họ ra trước công lý, mỗi một quốc gia phải bỏ ra những món tiền rất lớn. Ngày nay, nhiều quốc gia đang bỏ ra hàng triệu đô la để cải thiện đời sống nhân dân. Nhiều trường học và bệnh viện đang được xây dựng. Hàng trăm mảnh đất đang được trồng trọt để sản xuất ra nhiều thực phẩm cho dân số đang gia tăng trên thế giới. Vì vậy thế giới dần dần trở thành một nơi cư ngụ tốt hơn. Tuy nhiên cùng lúc đó, rất nhiều tiền bị hoang phí để sản xuất những vũ khí giết người trong chiến tranh. Những quốc gia nhiều tiền hơn trở nên hùng mạnh hơn bằng cách tăng cường lực lượng vũ trang của họ. Điều này làm các cường quốc đi đến thù địch và nhiều nơi trên thế giới đang trong tình trạng rối loạn. Tất cả những điều đó nói lên rằng tiền quan trọng như thế nào trong cuộc sống con người. New words:
Science and its effects Bài mẫu One of the most striking features of the present century is the progress of science and its effects on almost every aspect of social life. Building on the foundation laid by the predecessors, the scientists of today are carrying their investigation into ever-widening fields of knowledge. Modern civilization depends largely on the scientist and inventor. We depend on the doctor who seeks the cause and cure of disease, the chemist who analyses our food and purifies our water, the entomologist who wages war on the insect pests, the engineer who conquers time and space, and a host of other specialists who aid in the development of agriculture and industry. The advance of science and technology has brought the different parts of the world into closer touch with one another than ever before. We are able to reach distant lands within a very short time. We are also able to communicate with people far away by means of the telephone and the wireless. The invention of the printing machine has made it possible for us to learn from books and newspapers about people in other lands. Indeed, man’s curiosity and resourcefulness have been responsible for the steady stream of inventions that have created our civilization. At the same time, however, there have been harmful effects. Our machine civilization is responsible for numerous accidents and industrial rivalries among nations. Everyday hundreds of people are dying from serious wounds and injuries. Further, the rapid tempo of modern life results in wide-spread nervous disorder. Moreover, science, which has helped man to secure control over nature, has also made it possible for him to develop more deadly weapons or war. More and more countries are competing with one another in the production of war material. But in these instances the fault lies not with science, but rather with man’s intention to misuse the discoveries of science. Science is admittedly the dominating intellectual force of the modern age. Bài dịch Một trong những đặc điểm nổi bật nhất trong thế kỷ hiện nay là sự tiến bộ của khoa học và ảnh hưởng của nó trên hầu như mọi mặt của cuộc sống xã hội. Xây dựng trên nền tảng của những người đi trước, các nhà khoa học ngày nay đang tiến hành nghiên cứu những lĩnh vực kiến thức lớn chưa từng có. Nền văn minh hiện đại phụ thuộc phần lớn vào các nhà khoa học và nhà phát minh. Cuộc sống chúng ta phụ thuộc vào các bác sĩ trong việc tìm kiếm nguyên nhân và cách chữa bệnh, vào các nhà hoá học phân tích thực phẩm và làm sạch nguồn nước uống, vào các nhà côn trùng học chiến đấu với các loại côn trùng gây hại, vào kỹ sư chinh phục thời gian và không gian và rất nhiều những chuyên gia khác góp phần vào sự phát triển của nông nghiệp và công nghiệp. Sự tiến bộ của khoa học và kỹ thuật đã làm cho các nước khác nhau trên thế giới xích lại gần nhau hơn bao giờ hết. Chúng ta có thể đến những vùng đất xa xôi trong một thời gian rất ngắn. Chúng ta có thể liên lạc với những người ở xa qua phương tiện điện thoại và máy vô tuyến. Việc phát minh ra máy in giúp chúng ta đọc sách, báo về con người ở những đất nước khác. Thật vậy tính tò mò và tài tháo vát của con người là nguyên nhân của nguồn phát minh bền vững tạo ra thời đại văn minh của chúng ta ngày Tuy nhiên, bên cạnh đó khoa học cũng có những ảnh hưởng tai hại. Thời đại văn minh máy móc của chúng ta là nguyên nhân của vô số tai nạn và những sự đối đầu về công nghiệp giữa các quốc gia. Hàng ngày hàng trăm người đang hấp hối vì các thương tích trầm trọng. Hơn nữa nhịp độ tất bật của cuộc sống hiện đại gây nên sự rối loạn thần kinh đang ngày càng lan rộng. Bên cạnh đó, chính khoa học đã giúp con người đạt được quyền kiểm soát thiên nhiên, những cũng chính khoa học đã giúp con người tạo ra càng nhiều vũ khí giết người trong chiến tranh. Ngày càng nhiều quốc gia cạnh tranh với nhau sản xuất ra trang thiết bi chiến tranh. Nhưng trong những trường hợp này lỗi lầm không thuộc về khoa học mà thuộc về con người đã sử dụng sai lầm những phát minh khoa học. Khoa học được công nhận và lực lượng tri thức then chốt của kỷ nguyên hiện đại ngày nay. New words:
The rights and duties of a citizen Bài mẫu Almost every modern state, especially a democracy, allows its citizens several rights; but in return, it expects its citizens to perform certain duties. Among the rights enjoyed by the citizen in a democracy are the right to pursue his own affairs as he prefers;. the right to express his views, however silly they may appear to others, and the right to move about as he pleases. The citizen is considered so important that his rights are protected by the law of the state, and whenever they are infringed, he can secure redress. But in a totalitarian state, the rights of the citizen are so restricted that he has practically no freedom. The citizen is supposed to exist for the state. His interests are always subordinated to those of the state. Thus, his duties exceed his rights. Even in a democracy, however, the citizen is expected to exercise his rights within the limits of the law. He should not do or say anything that may affect the rights of others. In exercising his right to act as he pleases, for example, he should not try to elope with another man’s wife or say anything slanderous about her or anyone. In the same way, his actions should not cause injury or damage to any individual or his property. He cannot kill as he pleases. If his conduct infringes the rights of others, then those who have been affected by his misconduct could take legal action against him and he will be punished according to the law of the state. In this way, the state protects its citizens and their rights from the thoughtlessness of any individual in the state. This means, of course, that every citizen in the state is expected to do his duty to his fellow citizens. The citizen is also expected to give his services for the protection of the state in times of war, and to maintain law and order in his state, at all times. Thus every citizen who is conscious of his rights should also be conscious of his duties to the state and his fellow citizens. Bài dịch Hầu như mỗi một quốc gia hiện đại, đặc biệt là một quốc gia dân chủ, đều cho phép công dân có những quyền lợi nhất định; nhưng ngược lại nhà nước cũng yêu cầu công dân thi hành những bổn phận của mình. Trong số các quyền lợi mà công dân của một quốc gia dân chủ được hưởng thụ, có bao gồm quyền theo đuổi những việc làm ta thích, quyền được bày tỏ các quan điểm của mình dù cho chúng nghe có vẻ ngớ ngẩn, và quyền được đi lại tùy thích. Người công dân rất được tôn trọng đến mức các quyền lợi của công dân được luật pháp nhà nước bảo vệ và bất kỳ lúc nào những quyền này bị vi phạm người công dân có thể yêu cầu bồi thường. Nhưng trong một quốc gia độc tài, các quyền lợi của công dân bị hạn chế nhiều đến nỗi trên thực tế anh ta chẳng có chút tự do nào. Người công dân được xem là phải tồn tại vì nhà nước. Các lợi ích của anh ta luôn bị xem nhẹ so với lợi ích của nhà nước. Như vậy, nghĩa vụ của công dân vượt quá quyền lợi của họ. Tuy nhiên ngay cả trong chế độ dân chủ người công dân vẫn phải sử dụng quyền lợi của mình trong giới hạn của pháp luật. Anh ta không được làm hay nói điều gì ảnh hưởng đến quyền lợi của người khác. Chẳng hạn trong khi sử dụng quyền được làm những gì mình muốn, anh ta không được cố gắng tán tỉnh vợ người khác hay vu khống cô ta hoặc bất kỳ người nào khác. Tương tự, những hành động của anh ta không được gây thương tích hao tổn hại đến bất kỳ cá nhân nào cũng như tài sản của họ. Nếu anh ta vi phạm quyền lợi của người khác thì những người bị ảnh hưởng bởi hành vi sai trái của anh ta có thể nhờ đến luật pháp xét xử anh ta và anh ta sẽ bị trừng trị theo pháp luật nhà nước. Bằng cách này, nhà nước bảo vệ các công dân và quyền lợi của họ khỏi sự vô ý thức của bất kỳ các cá nhân nào trong đất nước. Đương nhiên điều này có nghĩa là mọi công dân trong nước phải thực hiện nghĩa vụ của mình với những công dân khác. Người công dân cũng được yêu cầu thực hiện nghĩa vụ bảo vệ tổ quốc trong chiến tranh, duy trì trật tự và luật pháp trong mọi thời điểm. Vì thế mỗi công dân hiểu biết về quyền lợi cũng nên hiểu biết về nghĩa vụ của mình đối với quốc gia và các công dân khác. New words:
4 . redress (n): sự sửa sai, sự uốn nắn, sư đền bù, sự bồi thường
The most important day in my life Bài mẫu The most important day in my life was the day when my parents decided to send me to school. I was then about seven years old. I had been playing with the children living around my house for some years. I had no thought of ever going to school. I enjoyed playing to catch fish from the shallow streams near by. Sometimes we went to the forest to catch birds and squirrels, and I had always thought that life would continue to be the same for me. But, one day, to my great sorrow, my parents suddenly announced that I was no longer to play about and that I was to go to a school. Words can hardly describe how sad I felt at the thought of having to go to a school. I had often heard that school teachers were very strict and cruel. I had also been told that there were many difficult subjects to learn in school and I could not bear the thought of being compelled to learn them. But everything had been decided for me and I had no choice but to go to school. Soon after I was admitted to school, however, I discovered to my great joy that learning in school was a pleasure. I began to learn about the people and other wonderful things spread throughout the world. The teachers were very kind and friendly and they often told many interesting stories. The subjects that they taught were also very interesting as a result of all this, I began to take a keen interest in my lessons and I no longer wanted to waste my time playing about. Today, I am older and I am in a secondary school, learning more and more about the world around us. The knowledge that I have gained has enriched my mind and I have a better understanding of human problems. I am also able to speak the English language with some ease, and I know that my knowledge of English will prove of great value in all my future activities. I also know that if I can pass all my examinations, I will some day occupy an important position in some profession. I might even become a minister in the government of my country or a well-known person in some way. Therefore, when I now think of the day when my parents arrived at the decision to send me to school, I am filled with love for them. That was indeed the most important day in my life, a day which has changed the whole course of my life. Bài dịch Ngày quan trọng nhất trong đời tôi là ngày ba mẹ tôi quyết định gởi tôi đến trường. Lúc đó tôi lên bảy. Tôi đã rong chơi vài năm với các trẻ em quanh nhà. Tôi chưa bao giờ nghĩ đến việc đi học. Tôi thích chơi câu cá trong con suối cạn nước gần đó. Đôi khi chúng tôi vào lùng bắt chim và sóc và tôi luôn nghĩ rằng cuộc đời sẽ mãi như thế. Thế nhưng vào một ngày nọ, thật buồn cho tôi, cha mẹ tôi bất ngờ tuyên bố rằng tôi không được rong chơi nữa mà phải đến trường. Không có từ nào diễn tả nỗi buồn của tôi khi phải đi học. Tôi thường nghe rằng các thầy giáo ở trường rất nghiêm khắc và dữ tợn. Tôi cũng nghe nói rằng có nhiều môn học rất khó ở trường và tôi không tài nào chịu được ý nghĩ rằng mình bị buộc phải học chúng. Nhưng mọi việc đã định sẵn cho tôi. Tôi không còn sự lựa chọn nào khác ngoài việc đến trường. Tuy nhiên, chẳng bao lâu sau khi ưng thuận đi học, tôi vui sướng thấy rằng đi học thật là thú vị. Tôi bắt đầu học về con người và những điều kỳ diệu khác đang diễn ra trên khắp thế giới. Các thầy giáo rất tốt bụng và thân thiện, họ thường kể nhiều câu chuyện lý thú. Vì thế tôi bắt đầu yêu thích các bài học và không còn muốn phí thời gian rong chơi nữa. Giờ đây tôi đã lớn hơn và là một học sinh trung học đang học ngày càng nhiều về thế giới xung quanh chúng ra. Những kiến thức tôi thu lượm được làm phong phú trí óc tôi và tôi đã hiểu biết nhiều hơn về các vấn đề của nhân loại. Tôi cũng có thế nói tiếng Anh lưu loát, và tôi biết rằng kiến thức tiếng Anh của tôi sẽ có ích trong cuộc sống tương lai của mình. Tôi cũng biết rằng nếu tôi đỗ tất cả các kỳ thi, một ngày nào đó tôi sẽ giữ một vị trí quan trọng trong một ngành nghề nào đó. Biết đâu thậm chí tôi sẽ trở một bộ trưởng trong chính quyền nhà nước hay một nhân vật nối tiếng trong một lĩnh vực nào đó. Vì thế nghĩ về cái ngày ba mẹ quyết định gửi tôi đến học đường, trong tôi tràn ngập yêu thương. Đó thực sự là ngày đáng nhớ nhất trong cuộc đời tôi đó là ngày đã thay đổi toàn bộ cuộc đời tôi. New words:
The subject I consider most important Bài mẫu Of all the subjects that I study in school, I think that English is the most important subject. It is mainly through the English language that we gain access to the various sources of knowledge. English is a language which is spoken and understood by many people in most countries of the world. It is, in fact, the most important means of communication among the vanous countries of the wodd. Knowledge of new discoveries and inventions in one country is transmitted to other countries through English for the benefit of the world. In this way English helps to spread knowledge and progress. It is true, however, that in the modern age, the study of Science and Mathematics too should be considered very important. Science has conferred many benefits in man. But it requires little thought to realise that scientific principles cannot be understood well without a good knowledge of a language. And, though other languages such as German and Russian are important in the world of Science, it is English that plays the most important role in spreading scientific knowledge. There is in fact no branch of study that has not been communicated in English. The original writings of great scientists, economists, philosophers, psychologists and others who did not speak and write the English language have all been translated into English. Therefore, one who has a good knowledge of English has access to all the sources of information. Further, as the English language is used by people of different lands and cultures, it has become very rich. It contains so many words, ideas and thoughts that a good knowledge of English enriches the mind and enables one to express oneself well. It also helps one to think better and to understand the people of other lands. It is for all these reasons that I consider English the most important subject in school. Bài dịch Trong tất cả các môn tôi học ở trường, tôi nghĩ rằng tiếng Anh là quan trọng nhất. Chủ yếu nhờ thông qua tiếng Anh mà chúng ta có thể tiếp cận nhiều nguồn kiến thức đa dạng. Tiếng Anh là ngôn ngữ được nói và hiểu biết rất nhiều người đang sống tại phần lớn các quốc gia trên thế giới. Trên thực tế tiếng Anh là phương tiện giao tiếp quan trọng nhất giữa nhiều quốc gia khác nhau trên thế giới. Kiến thức về những phát minh và khám phá mới trong một nước được truyền sang các nước khác thông qua tiếng Anh để mang lại lợi ích cho cộng đồng thế giới. Bằng cách này tiếng Anh góp phần truyền bá kiến thức và sự tiến bộ. Tuy nhiên, hoàn toàn đúng khi cho rằng trong kỷ nguyên hiện đại, việc nghiên cứu Khoa học và Toán cũng nên được xem trọng. Khoa học đã ban cho loài người nhiều ích lợi. Nhưng không cần suy nghĩ cũng nhận thấy rằng người ta không thể hiểu biết các nguyên lý khoa học mà không có kiến thức về ngôn ngữ. Và mặc dù các ngôn ngữ khác như tiếng Đức và tiếng Nga cũng quan trọng trong giới khoa học, nhưng chính tiếng Anh chiếm giữ vai trò quan trọng nhất trong việc truyền bá kiến thức khoa học. Thật vậy không có ngành nghiên cứu nào mà không liên quan đến tiếng Anh. Tất cả những công trình nghiên cứu nguyên bản của các nhà khoa học, kinh tế học, triết học, tâm lý học vĩ đại đều đã được dịch sang tiếng Anh. Vì thế những ai hiểu biết về tiếng Anh có thể tiếp cận được mọi nguồn thông tin. Hơn nữa vì được sử dụng bởi nhiều người của nhiều đất nước và nền văn hóa khác nhau, tiếng Anh trở nên rất phong phú. Nó bao gồm rất nhiều từ ngữ, ý kiến và tư tưởng, cho nên một sự hiểu biết sâu sắc về tiếng Anh sẽ làm phong phú trí tuệ và giúp ta diễn đạt ý tưởng của mình tốt hơn. Nó cũng giúp ta suy nghĩ tốt hơn và hiếu biết về con người của những đất nước khác. Với tất cả những lý do này tôi cho rằng tiếng Anh là môn học quan trọng nhất ở trường. New words:
An incident I shall never forget Bài mẫu Certain incidents so impress us that they leave an indelible mark on our memory. I was once involved in an incident of which I shall always have vivid recollections. The incident occurred when I visited a village in India together with my parents, sometime during my holidays last year. Early in the morning on the day the incident occurred, I was talking with a few of my new friends in that village. All of a sudden, a boy of my age came rushing towards us to break the news that violence had broken out in the neighbourhood. Alarmed at this news, we began to protect ourselves, and before long the violence spread like wild fire throughout our area. I was a little confused at first for I had no idea about the cause of the outbreak of violence there. One of my friends told me that the area had been notorious for such occurrence owing to rivalry between two parties. Each party tried to destroy the influence of the other in that area, and the bad blood that existed between them had caused several deaths and great misery to innocent people for a long time. Official influence could not be exercised effectively in this area owing to its remoteness from the centres of authority. The members of the rival parties therefore enjoyed almost complete freedom of action. The police arrived only when there was news of violence, and often long after the damage has been done. While I was listening to this account of facts and events, the situation suddenly took an ugly turn. A man who had been standing a short distance away from us ran into his house most unexpectedly, and within minutes his house was ablaze. My friends and I then ran towards his house to put out the fire; but we were stopped by a few burly men who were holding lethal weapons in their hands. They threatened to kill if we offered any help to anyone. One of them had even struck me on my head with a stick. We realised instantly that we were no match for them and that discretion was the better part valour. We therefore decided to proceed no further. Soon the fire from that house began to spread and several houses were burning. There were frantic cries for help. Men, women and children were running in all directions in their desparate attempts to save whatever they could from the fire, in spite of the interference of the gangsters. A few of the unfortunate ones were burned to death, including the man who had set fire to his own house. We then concluded that the man must have been so disgusted with what we had seen for so long that he had no more desire to live, and this was his way of putting an end to himself. It was indeed a pathetic sight. Then, after several hours, the police arrived when more than a quarter of the village had already been burned to ashes. They asked us several questions to find out if we had ourselves participated in the violence. As I was foreigner who would be leaving that village the following day, I had the courage to answer all their questions and to point out the men who had threatened to kill us. Those men were then arrested together with other suspects. Early next morning, my parents and I left the village with no more desire to re-visit this place; but my memory of this incident will remain fresh forever. Bài dịch Có những sự việc mà ấn tượng về chúng mạnh mẽ đến mức đế lại dấu ấn không thể xóa nhòa trong ký ức chúng ta. Một lần tôi đã chứng kiến một sự kiện mà ký ức về nó vẫn mãi sống động trong tôi. Sự việc xảy ra khi tôi viếng thăm một làng quê Ấn Độ cùng với bố mẹ tôi trong kỳ nghỉ năm ngoái. Vào buổi sáng sớm ngày xảy ra câu chuyện, tôi đang trò chuyện với vài người bạn mới trong làng. Bỗng nhiên, một đứa con trai trạc tuổi tôi chạy về phía chúng tôi báo tin rằng bạo động đã xảy ra ở vùng lân cận. Được báo động, chúng tôi bắt đầu tự vệ và chẳng bao lâu cuộc bạo động đã lan nhanh như lửa cháy qua vùng chúng tôi. Thoạt đầu tôi hơi bối rối vì không biết nguyên nhân nổ ra bạo động ở Đó. Một người bạn cho tôi biết rằng vùng này khét tiếng về những sự vụ như thế do sự thù nghịch giữa hai đảng phái. Đảng này cố gắng triệt hạ ảnh hưởng của đảng kia trong khu vực và sự mâu thuẫn giữa họ đã làm một số người thiệt mạng và gây ra sự bất hạnh cho những người vô tội trong một thời gian dài. Những ảnh hưởng của chính quyền không có hiệu quả ở vùng này bởi nó quá xa các trung tâm quyền lực. Các phần tử của hai đảng phái thù nghịch vì thế hầu như được tự do hoạt động. Cảnh sát chỉ xuất hiện khi có tin tức về vụ bạo động và thường là rất lâu sau khi các thiệt hại đã xảy ra. Trong khi tôi lắng nghe giải thích về tin tức và sự việc này, tình thế đã bỗng chuyển sang một bước ngoặt nguy hiểm. Một người đàn ông đứng cách chúng tôi không xa bỗng chạy vào nhà, và chỉ trong vài phút ngôi nhà của ông ta bốc lửa. Các bạn tôi và tôi chạy về phía ngôi nhà đế dập tắt lửa, nhưng chúng tôi bị ngăn cán bởi những người đàn ông lực lượng mang vũ khí giết người trong tay. Họ dọa sẽ giết chúng tôi nếu chúng tôi giúp đỡ bất kỳ người nào. Một người trong số họ thậm chí đã dùng gậy đánh vào đầu tôi. Ngay lập tức chúng tôi thấy mình không phải là đối thủ của họ, đồng thời cũng nhận ra rằng liều lĩnh lúc này là không thích hợp. Vì thế chúng tôi quyết định không tiến thêm bước nào nữa. Trong phút chốc lửa từ ngôi nhà cháy lan ra và vài ngôi nhà khác cũng bị cháy. Đây đó vang lên những tiếng kêu cứu điên cuồng. Đàn ông, đàn bà và trẻ em chạy toán loạn trong sự nỗ lực tuyệt vọng đế cứu lấy bất cứ cái gì có thể từ ngọn lửa bất kể sự can thiệp của những tên côn đồ. Một vài người rủi ro bị thiêu cho đến chết, trong số đó có người đàn ông đã đốt nhà mình. Sau đó chúng tôi kết luận rằng hẳn là người đàn ông đó vì quá ghê tởm với những gì chúng tôi đã chứng kiến trong một thời gian dài đến nỗi ông ta không muốn sống nữa và đây là cách ông kết thúc cuộc đời ông. Thật là một cảnh tượng bi thương. Rồi sau đó vài giờ cảnh sát xuất hiện khi hơn một phần tư ngôi làng đã cháy ra tro. Họ chất vấn chúng tôi để xem chúng tôi có tham dự vào cuộc bạo động hay không. Vì là một người ngoại quốc sẽ rời làng vào ngày hôm sau, tôi đã can đảm trả lời tất cả câu hỏi và điểm mặt những kẻ đã đe dọa giết chúng tôi. Những người này bị bắt giữ cùng với những người bị tình nghi khác. Sáng sớm hôm sau bố mẹ tôi và tôi tạm biệt ngôi làng mà không mong trở lại; nhưng kí ức về sự kiện này sẽ mãi mãi không phai mờ trong tôi. New words:
The value of music in the happiness of man Bài mẫu Music has always been a source of happiness to all men on the earth. From their primitive days, men’s love of music has led them to make instruments of all descriptions to produce beautiful music for their enjoyment and happiness. Without music the world would indeed be a very dull place to live in. Even nature is full of music. There is music in the movements of the winds, the sea, as well as the trees; there is music in the calls of the birds, flies and insects and also in the night of the birds and animals. It is from all these things that men have learnt to appreciate the value of music. The same things have also taught men how to produce music from the simplest of things such as sticks, bamboos, and animal horns. Men make many kinds of flutes with bamboos which produce beautiful music. That music is very important for men’s happiness is hard to deny. Music removes men’s depression and fills them with gladness. It is for this reason that music is played even in hospitals to cheer up the sick people. As music has the capacity to make men happy, it contributes greatly to men’s success in life. A happy man is a good and hard worker. He works happily among people and ẹarns the good-will or all around. People like to associate with him and to employ him in all kinds of work. Thus, he leads a happy and successful life. The value of music in the happiness of man is therefore great. Bài dịch Âm nhạc luôn luôn là nguồn hạnh phúc cho mọi người trên trái đất này. Từ thuở ban sơ, lòng say mê âm nhạc đã khiến con người sáng tạo những nhạc cụ đủ loại để tạo ra âm điệu tuyệt vời mang lại thích thú và hạnh phúc cho mình. Không có âm nhạc thế giới thực sự trở thành nơi cư ngụ buồn tẻ. Ngay cả thiên nhiên cũng tràn đầy âm nhạc. Có tiếng du dương trong những chuyển động của gió, của biển cả cũng như của cây xanh. Có âm điệu réo rắt trong tiếng hót của chim chóc, tiếng vo ve của ruồi muỗi và côn trùng cũng như âm thanh trong tiếng vỗ cánh bay đi hay chạy nhảy của chim và thú rừng. Từ đó con người đã biết cảm nhận giá trị của âm nhạc. Cũng chính những âm thanh đó đã giúp con người tạo ra âm nhạc từ những dụng cụ thô sơ nhất như gậy, tre và sừng động vật. Con người đã chế tạo ra nhiều loại sáo bằng tre phát ra những âm thanh du dương. Khó mà phủ nhận rằng nhạc rất quan trọng tới hạnh phúc con người. Âm nhạc xoa dịu nỗi buồn của con người và làm họ tràn đầy niềm vui. Đó là lý do tại sao âm nhạc được sử dụng trong bệnh viện để khích lệ tinh thần bệnh nhân. Vì âm nhạc có thể làm cho con người hạnh phúc, nó góp phần quan trọng cho sự thành công của cọn người trong cuộc sống. Một người hạnh phúc là một người làm việc tốt và siêng năng. Anh ta làm việc giữa mọi người và luôn được mọi người yêu mến. Người ta thích kết bạn với anh ta, thích thuê anh ta làm mọi công việc. Vì thế cuộc sống của anh ta luôn sung sướng và thành công. Tóm lại âm nhạc có giá trị to lớn trong hạnh phúc con người. New words:
The advantages and disadvantages of the cinema Bài mẫu The influence that the cinema exerts on the minds of those who visit it is at once beneficial and harmful. Today, there is a cinema in almost every town. The cinema provides so much entertainment that few people fail to visit it. One of the reasons for the popularity of the cinema is that, it entertains all types of people, young and old, literate and illiterate. Because it is so popular, it must exercise some influence on those whom it attracts. The films shown in the cinema are often very instructive and informative. Almost every film shows something about the activities and customs of the people in other lands. By seeing such films, one learns a lot about human activities. One also gains a better understanding of people of the world. Further, some films show the battles that were fought in the past. They also sometimes show very vividly how man has struggled through the centuries to remove discomfort from his life. In this way, some films have given many people an insight into the past. Even illiterate people have benefited from such films. What they cannot acquire from books owing to their inability to read, they can acquire from films. School students, too, often benefit from a visit to the cinema. What they see and hear in the cinema makes a better impression on their minds than only the spoken words or their teachers. For example, a teacher of history can hardly describe a battle scene to his students as vividly as a film does. For all these reasons, the cinema is often regarded as an important means of spreading knowledge. It must be admitted, however, that some films have exerted an evil influence on many people. Films which show the activities of criminals have encouraged many youths to commit acts or crime. Other films, too, such as those dealing with sex and other natural weaknesses of man, have corrupted the morals of many people. As a result, the governments of many countries have been compelled to interfere in the display and production of certain films. Yet, the cinema continues to retain its popularity. Bài dịch Những ảnh hưởng mà rạp chiếu phim tác động đến tư tưởng của các khán giả đến xem vừa có lợi cũng vừa có hại. Ngày nay hầu như thành phố, thị trấn nào cũng có rạp chiếu bóng. Rạp chiếu bóng mang lại sự giải trí to lớn đến nỗi không mấy ai chưa từng đến rạp để xem phim. Một trong những lý do làm cho rạp chiếu bóng được ưa thích là vì đây là phương tiện giải trí của mọi người dân, dù già hay trẻ, trí thức hay thất học. Vì phim ảnh khá phổ biến, nó có tác động đến những người thích xem phim. Những bộ phim được chiếu ở rạp thường có tính chất truyền bá kiến thức và thông tin. Hầu như mỗi bộ phim đều kể chuyện về những sinh hoạt, phong tục của con người ở những xứ sở khác. Bằng cách xem phim, người ta học được rất nhiều về sinh hoạt con người. Người ta cũng có thể hiểu nhiều hơn về các dân tộc trên thế giới. Hơn nữa, có những phim kể về các cuộc chiến tranh trong quá khứ. Nhiều bộ phim kể lại một cách rất sinh động cuộc đấu tranh của con người qua hàng thế kỷ để cải thiện đời sống của mình. Bằng cách này phim ảnh đã cho con người cái nhìn sâu sắc về quá khứ. Ngay cả người học cũng thu được nhiều lợi ích khi xem các phim này. Họ có thể xem phim để nắm bắt được những điều mà họ không đọc được trong sách vì mù chữ. Học sinh, sinh viên cũng học được nhiều điều bổ ích sau khi xem phim. Tất cả những điều họ nghe và thấy trong phim có ấn tượng sâu đậm trong trí tưởng của họ hơn bất kỳ bài giảng nào của giáo viên. Chẳng hạn một giáo viên lịch sử hầu như không thể miêu tả cho học sinh quang cảnh trận đánh sinh động như phim ảnh. Vì thế phim ảnh được xem là một phương tiện quan trọng để truyền bá kiến thức. Tuy nhiên phải thừa nhận rằng phim ảnh đã gây ra ảnh hưởng tội lỗi cho nhiều người. Những bộ phim về các hoạt động tội phạm đã khuyên khích nhiều thanh niên phạm pháp. Những bộ phim khác về tình dục và bản năng yếu đuối của con người đã làm suy đồi đạo đức của khá nhiều người. Vì vậy chính quyền của nhiều nước đã buộc phải can thiệp vào việc sản xuất và trình chiếu phim ảnh. Dù vậy, rạp chiếu phim vẫn tiếp tục duy trì đươc tính đại chúng của mình. New words:
illiterate (adj): mù chữ thất học
Describe some of the interesting places in your country Bài mẫu Though my country is small, yet there are many places of interest spread throughout the country. In the southern most part of the country, where the state of Johore lies, there are some very interesting and beautiful places. In Kota Tinggi, for example, there are beautiful waterfalls which are visited by many people everyday. Then, there is Johore Lama, a place of great historical interest. In Johore Bahru, there is a beautiful beach which is visited daily by several people who love the sea. In Batu Pahat, another town in Johore, is Minyak Buku, an interesting place on the coast. As we go towards the north, we arrive at Malacca, the oldest town that the Europeans occupied in Malaya in the past. The influences of the Portuguese and the Dutch can still be seen in many of the buildings there. Further north lies Port Dickson which is well known for its beautiful beaches. In Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, there are many places of interest such as Batu Caves, the zoo and the museum. The city itself is an interesting place to visit. Another beautiful town is Penang, situated on an island. The sea around it makes it the most beautiful town in the country. Finally, the paddy ficlds in the northern most parts of the country are also very beautiful and interesting to look at. On the east coast of the country too there are some beautiful towns such as Kuantan and Kuala Trenganu. All these places have indeed made my country an interesting place to live in. Bài dịch Dù chỉ là một quốc gia nhỏ bé nhưng trên khắp đất nước tôi có rất nhiều thắng cảnh. Ở vùng cực nam của đất nước, nơi có tiểu bang Johore, có rất nhiều cảnh sắc đẹp đẽ và thú vị. Ở Kota Tinggi chẳng hạn có những thác nước tuyệt vời mà hằng ngày có rất nhiều du khách đến chiêm ngưỡng. Sau đó là Johore Lama, một thắng cánh lịch sử nổi tiếng. Ở Johore Bahru có một bãi biển đẹp mà nhiều người yêu biển thường ghé đến mỗi ngày. Ở Batu Pahat, một thị trấn khác của Johore, có Minyak Buku, một phong cảnh lý thú vùng duyên hải. Về phía bắc chúng ta đến Malacca, thị trấn cổ xưa nhất mà người châu Âu đã chiếm đóng tại Malaya trước đây. Có thể thấy trên các toà nhà ở đây dấu ấn sâu đậm của người Bồ Đào Nha và Hà Lan. Xa hơn về phía bắc là cảng Dickson nổi tiếng với những bãi biển đẹp. Ở Kuala Lumpur thủ đô Malayxia có nhiều thắng cảnh như hang động Batu, vườn thú và viện bảo tàng. Ngay chính thành phố này cũng là một nơi thú vị cho du khách tham quan. Một thị trấn xinh đẹp khác là Penang, toạ lạc trên một hòn đảo. Vùng biển quanh đảo giúp cho Penang trở thành thành phố đẹp nhất của đất nước. Cuối cùng là những cánh đồng lúa ở vùng cực bắc của đất nước, tạo nên cảnh quan đẹp mắt và hấp dẫn. Tại vùng biển phía đông của đất nước cũng có một vài thị trấn xinh đẹp như Kuantan và Kuala Trengalu. Tất cả những thắng cánh này thật sự làm cho đất nước chúng tôi trở thành một vùng đất tuyệt vời để sinh sống. New words:
What career would you like to choose after leaving school Bài mẫu Today, it is not easy to choose a career. Hundreds of students pass various examinations every year and compete with one another for positions in the various professions which are not so many as there are applicants. I would, however, like to choose teaching as my career. Teaching is an interesting career for several reasons. As a teacher I can learn many things, especially if I teach to an udder-secondary school. If I teach History or English, for example, I have to read many books to make my teaching lessons more interesting to my pupils. Thus, I can acquire more knowledge of the subjects that I teach than what I can learn from the class text books. It is indeed a fact that a teacher learns a lot from the class text books; but that is hardly enough to make the teacher’s lessons interesting to pupils. A good teacher must therefore read many other books. Again, as a teacher, I have to speak well so that my pupils will be able to understand my instructions well. In this way I can improve my powers of expression. Even my pronunciation of words will improve to great extent. Further, as a teacher, I shall have enough leisure to read and prepare for various examinations. It is possible today to sit for many important examinations by studying entirely at home. Thus, I can acquire important qualifications. Finally, as a teacher I will be respected as an educated person. People will assume that I have certain qualifications and show their regard for me and the opinions that I express. Thus, I shall be able to live a happy Bài dịch Ngày nay, chọn nghề là một điều chẳng dễ dàng. Hàng trăm sinh viên trải qua nhiều kỳ thi mỗi năm và tranh đua với nhau để giành chỗ trong nhiều ngành nghề khác nhau mà số lượng ít ỏi hơn nhiều so với số ứng cử viên. Còn tôi, tôi muốn trở thành một thầy giáo. Có nhiều lý do để cho rằng dạy học là một nghề thú vị. Làm giáo viên tôi có thể học hỏi được nhiều điều, đặc biệt nếu tôi dạy ớ một trường trung học phổ thông. Nếu tôi dạy Lịch sử hay Anh văn chẳng hạn, tôi phải đọc nhiều sách để bài giảng trở nên thú vị hơn đối với học sinh. Như vậy tôi sẽ tiếp thu được nhiều kiến thức về các đề tài mình đang dạy hơn là những gì có thể đọc qua sách giáo khoa ở lớp. Quả thực không thể phủ nhận rằng một giáo viên học được rất nhiều điều từ sách giáo khoa; nhưng như thế vẫn chưa đủ để làm cho bài học hấp dẫn với học sinh. Một giáo viên giỏi phải đọc nhiều quyển sách khác nữa. Tương tự, để làm một giáo viên giỏi tôi phải có khả năng diễn đạt tốt để học sinh có thể hiểu được những chỉ dẫn của mình. Bằng cách này tôi có thể phát triển khả năng diễn đạt của mình. Ngay cả cách phát âm của tôi cũng sẽ tốt hơn nhiều. Hơn nữa, nếu là một giáo viên tôi sẽ có đủ thời gian rảnh rỗi để đọc sách và ôn luyện cho nhiều kỳ thi khác nhau. Ngày nay chúng ta có thể hoàn toàn tự học ở nhà để ôn luyện cho nhiều kỳ thi quan trọng. Nhờ vậy tôi có thể có những bằng cấp quan trong. Cuối cùng, khi làm giáo viên tôi sẽ được kính trọng như một người trí thức. Mọi người sẽ công nhận rằng tôi có năng lực, họ sẽ coi trọng tôi cũng như những ý kiến tôi đưa ra. Như vậy cuộc sống của tôi sẽ rất hạnh phúc. New words:
Why is agriculture important in the world of today? Bài mẫu Since the dawn of history, agriculture has been one of the important means of producing food for human consumption. Today more and more lands are being developed for the production of a large variety of crops. In Asia, vast areas of land are being used to produce rice, wheat, rubber and a variety of other crops. More than half of the lands occupied and developed by human beings in the world are devoted to agriculture. That agriculture is one of the most essential means of producing food is realised easily when we think of the types of things that we eat. The rice or wheat that we eat comes from the land. Even potatoes and other roots or vegetables and even leaves such as tea, as well as the fruits that men eat are the products of the soil that covers the earth. In fact, everything that we eat, except meat, fish and other kinds of flesh come from the land, and what grows on the land is part of agriculture. Even the sugar, oil, coffee and other beverages that we use are products of plants that grow on land. In the same way, many of the medicines that we use are made of plants that grow in various parts of the world. The tobacco that we use for relaxation also comes from a plant. Thus, it can be easily observed that without agriculture we would be almost without food. It is true, however, that in the remote past men did live mainly on flesh that he obtained by hunting. But such a kind of life was unhappy and inconvenient, for animals were not found everywhere easily. Therefore, men turned to agriculture for his livelihood. Today, agriculture continues to provide almost all the food that men require to survive on the earth. Bài dịch Từ buổi bình minh của lịch sử, nông nghiệp đã trở thành phương tiện sản xuất thực phẩm quan trọng cho con người tiêu thụ. Hiện nay ngày càng có nhiều đất đai được khai khẩn để sản xuất những vụ mùa lớn. Ớ châu Á những vùng đất mênh mông đang được sử dụng để trồng lúa gạo, lúa mạch, cao su và nhiều hoa màu khác. Hơn một nửa diện tích đất đai mà con người đã chiếm hữu và khai phá trên thế giới được dành để phát triển nông nghiệp. Tầm quan trọng thiết yếu của nông nghiệp trong vai trò phương tiện sản xuất thực phẩm có thể được dễ dàng nhận ra khi chúng ta nghĩ đến các loại thực phẩm mình thường ăn. Lúa gạo và lúa mạch chúng ta ăn mọc từ đồng ruộng. Ngay cả khoai tây hay những loại rau củ khác, kể cả lá cây như lá trà, cũng như các loại trái cây mà cũng là sản phẩm của lớp đất bao phủ bề mặt trái đất. Trên thực tế, tất cả những gì chúng ta ăn trừ thịt, cá và những thứ thịt sống khác đều sinh ra từ đất đai, và những gì mọc trên đất đều là một phần của nông nghiệp. Ngay cả đường, dầu, cà phê và các thức uống khác cũng đều là sản phẩm của thực vật mọc trên đất. Tương tự, nhiều vị thuốc chúng ta lấy từ các thực vật ở nhiều nơi trên thế giới. Thuốc lá mà chúng ta dùng để thư giãn cũng lấy từ một loại cây. Như vậy dễ dàng nhận thấy rằng không có nông nghiệp, chúng ta hầu như cũng không có thực phẩm. Tuy nhiên sự thật là vào thời xa xưa con người sống chủ yếu nhờ vào thịt động vật kiếm được khi săn bắn. Nhưng một cuộc sống như thế không sung sướng và thoải mái bởi vì không phải ở đâu cũng dễ dàng tìm thấy thú vật. Vì vậy con người chuyển sang nông nghiệp để nuôi sống bản thân họ. Ngày nay, nông nghiệp tiếp tục cung cấp phần lớn lương thực cần thiết cho sự tồn tại của loài người trên trái đất. New words:
PHẦN 2 A heroic deed The story of man is full of heroic deeds. One of the acts of heroism that I have seen myself was that of my uncle, who was attacked by a huge tiger while we were in our plantation, one day. My uncle, a young and well-built man, and I had left our home early in the morning to do some work in the plantation. When we reached there, we could hear some dogs barking in the distance. But we did not suspect anything, and began to do our work. While we were working, however, we noticed some foot-prints of some animal. We then examined them closely and were satisfied that they did not belong to any member of the cat family, the most ferocious of animals. We then resumed our work. My uncle took a long knife and began to cut some sticks and branches of plants scattered throughout the plantation, while I did some other work. Soon, however, I saw a movement in the bush, a short distance away. I was alarmed. I ran up to my uncle to draw his attention, but he was hardly interested in what I had to say. He continued to do his work. But shortly afterwards, my uncle himself observed the movement in the bush. Yet, he showed no signs of fear, and his composure dispelled my anxieties. He warned me, however, to be careful, and picked up an axe that had been lying on the ground. His knife, he gave to me. Then, he moved slowly and cautiously towards the bush, ready for any attack. To our horror, a huge tiger soon emerged from the bush. But my uncle was prepared to face it, to escape seemed impossible. The tiger too seemed to be fully aware of the strength and courage of its adversary. It paused several times while advancing towards my uncle. Then all of a sudden, it sprang on my uncle, but his agility enabled him to escape the sharp claws of the brute with the slightest injury. Now with the axe still in his firm grip, my uncle struck the tigers face again and again, until it was bleeding profusely. The length of the handle of the axe made it difficult for the tiger to get to close to my uncle. That the tiger was at a disadvantage was clear to me from the beginning. In the end, however, the tiger collapsed and died. Within hours, after that all the people in our area heard of my uncle’s bravery, which saved us both from death. It was indeed a greatest act of heroism that I had witnessed. New words:
8 . horror (n): nỗi kinh hoàng, sự khiếp sợ, sự ghê rợn
Crimes in society The human society is full of activity. People work in all kinds of business Firms, government offices, factories and other places, to earn their livelihood. Some work from dawn till dark; many work only at night; and others work during the day. At the same time men with criminal tendency are engaged in all kinds of activity, which often cause great hardship and sorrow to a large number of people in society. Men develop criminal tendencies because of numerous frustrations. Society has always failed to satisfy the social, emotional and other needs of a large number of people, many of whom have therefore turned to crime for either survival or recognition. The activities of such men represent a constant threat to the welfare society, and much being done to reform them. But criminals cannot be reformed until they are apprehended. By that time, hundreds of people are forced to live in fear at the hands of criminals, who resort to violence at the slightest provocation. Numerous people of various descriptions have been killed by criminals without proper cause. Society is therefore straining all its resources to bring criminals to justice. Large sums of money are being spent to employ men and equipment for the prevention and detection of crime. Criminals are desperate men, and when they are pursued, they fight tooth and nail to escape capture. Therefore, those who are employed to capture them have to be brave, intelligent and well-trained men. To have such men always on the alert for the protection of society involves much expenditure. Punishment of criminals today, however, is not the same as what it was in the past. Society has realized its responsibility towards individuals who always find a bone to pick with ít. It is now believed that criminals could be reformed. Therefore, psychologists and others who are responsible for the welfare of criminals are doing their utmost to train criminals to live a good life in the future. Only those who commit the most serious crimes are punished severely to deter others from committing such crimes. New words:
A strange happening The mysteries of nature have always fascinated the human mind, and many of them remain unsolved for a long time. The story that I am about to relate concerns a mysterious relationship between a baby boy and a snake somewhere in Malaysia. I was indeed intrigued when I read a report in a newspaper sometime ago that a snake had suddenly appeared in a room, with the birth of a child and that it had attempted to show some relationship with the child. I could hardly believe it. The report added that the mother or the child was finally convinced that there was indeed some relationship between her child and the snake and she allowed the snake complete freedom to play and live with the child. To make sure that the report was true, I made up my mind to visit the house where this unnatural relationship between a reptile and a human being was established. Then, one morning, my brothers, sisters and I arrived at the house, not very far from ours. As we enter the house we were greatly surprised to find a baby boy and a large snake playing with each other mirthfully. Soon, the mother of the child appeared and narrated the events that led to the snake and the child to live together. It seems that the snake was found lying near the baby just a few hours after the baby was born. A man was called in to kill the snake; but every time the man struck at it with the stick that he brought, the child cried with pain. The man then tried to take the snake out of the room, but again the child began to cry. The child’s mother then realised that there was some mysterious relationship between the snake and her child. She ordered the man to stop molesting the reptile, and to the surprise of all those who had arrived on the scene, the child stopped crying. The snake then returned to the child without attempting to harm anyone. Since then the snake has been fed by the mother of the child, and the snake and the child have been living together as brothers. To see this strange occurrence, many people from all parts of the country come everyday. It is said that the snake, by its touch, has cured many sick people; but the mystery remains unsolved. New words:
A journey by train The house in which I lived before was near the railway station. Trains used to pass by at regular interval and I had become so familiar with their sound and sight that I took little interest in them. It never occurred to me that I might make journey by train some day. However, when my father decided to take up a new appointment in the place where we now live, it was decided that we should travel by train. It was only then that I discovered how pleasant a journey by train might be. My father, mother and I boarded a train one afternoon. As the train moved out of the station, I began to think of the days I had spent in our old house which I could still see from the train. But soon the house went out of sight, and I began to think of my journey itself. The train was now moving quite fast. The first thing that impressed me was the beauty of the landscape. There were green valleys, and tropical plants could be seen everywhere. In certain places there was tall grass. All this reminded me of the geography lessons I had in the classroom. Several palm-oil and rubber plantations could be seen now and then. Sometimes I saw a few houses here and there. I also saw many vegetable gardens at several places. The train stopped at many stations, and soon it became dark. But sometime later the moon appeared and the landscape looked romantic. As I looked outside, I felt a thrill of admiration for the great artistry of nature. Inside the train, too, everything was interesting. Some restless passengers moved about aimlessly and their restlessness was amusing. Some were sleeping with their mouths wide open, into which some mosquitoes blundered. Others were reading magazines and newspapers. Occasionally, the ticket-checker passed by. At one corner I saw two policemen keeping a close watch on a man who was hand-cuffed. At every station a few passengers alighted from the train while a few boarded it. Whenever the train stopped at a big station, I saw a large number of people on the platforms, smartly dressed, and often smiling. As the train moved out, many waved their hands and the passengers too waved in response. After we had passed several stations, I felt sleepy and closed my eyes. When I opened them, I saw the dim light of the dawn. I looked outside and saw the mist-covered plants. The air was fresh, and some birds were flying about. The scene looked extremely beautiful and I was lost in admiration of it. But we soon arrived at our destination and my enjoyment came to an end. New words:
Discuss “news travel fast” Until a few decades ago news travelled very slowly. It took several days to know what was happening in places only a few miles away. But today news travels at a speed much greater than ever before. In the past, men had to travel on root to get information, even about the most unimportant thing. There were no motor vehicles and travel was slow and difficult. As a result, news too travelled very slowly. If one’s relative died in some distant place, one received the news of the death several days later. Sometimes there was no news at all. The difficulty in getting news and information about people in other places made life dull and miserable. There was little communication among those whom we would regard as neighbours today. News was therefore difficult to send and in times of need, it was hard to obtain help. But all this has changed today. The invention of the means of communication such as the telephone, the wireless and several others has made it possible to send and receive news within a matter of hours and minutes. Even the newspaper and the post office help to spread news and information quickly. As a result, we know what is happening today in all parts of the world. If a great man dies or a war breaks out in some corner or the earth. we receive news about it almost immediately. The ease and speed with which news travels today have helped greatly in promoting better understanding and co-operation among the peoples of the world. When the people of one place or country suffer a sudden calamity, news is at once sent to all parts of the world and help comes from many countries within a very short time. This is not possible in the past when news travelled slowly. That news travels fast can also be known from our own personal affairs. If we are ill or if something unfortunate happens to us, our friends and relatives come to know about it very quickly. It is therefore true to say that today. “news travels fast”. New words:
World trade In the past when men’s needs were few, it was not necessary to get things from distant lands. But today, the people of one country depend on the people of another country for a variety of things. As a result, world trade has developed. Without world trade, it would be difficult for the people of any country to get many things which are now considered necessaries. Some countries are not rich in mineral resources. They have no iron or coal mines, while others have too many of them. Again, some countries are not suitable for agriculture while others have several fertile plains to grow crops Further, even if a country is rich in natural resources, it may not have enough skilled men to exploit them. For such geographical and other reasons the peoples of the world have learnt to buy things which they cannot produce profitably and to sell things for which they have a special ability to produce. West Malaysia, for example, specialises in producing rubber for which there is a great demand from several courtiers in the world. But she has no ability to produce machinery and several other things. West Malaysia therefore depends on other courtiers for many of her needs. In the same way, all the countries of the world co-operate and exchange things with one another. From other countries we get motor- cars, radios, television sets and several other things, which we cannot produce ourselves. At the same time we give to other countries the things that we can produce better than many others. In this way, every country specialises in producing only a few things. As a result, the quality of goods is improved to the common benefit of the people of the world. World trade has also raised the standard of living of the people in the world. We are able to use things made in countries across miles of ocean. As a result of all this, life has become more comfortable than what it was before; and it is realised that a country could hardly progress without world trade. New words:
A narrow escape Whenever my mind travels over the past events in my lifè, one incident stands out prominently to remind me of the narrow escape I once had from almost certain death. In the rubber estates of west Malaysia there are hundreds of snakes of which the cobra is the most dangerous and venomous. This snake has a preference for cool places along the numerous streams found in the estates, where it relaxes, especially in the afternoons. Those who catch fish from these streams have, therefore, to be on the look-out for cobras. All this I did not know until I came face to face with a cobra one day, while fishing with my brother. My brother and I were then spending our holidays in an estate where our father was employed. In the afternoons, my brother, who loves fishing, and I would go out to catch fish from the streams not very far from our father’s house. Wherever the water was shallow, we got down into the streams and searched for holes where fish usually like to shelter. When we found one, we put our hands in and often caught some fish. Fishing in this way had its moments of excitement, for at times we also caught some water- snakes, which we found to be harmless. Then, one day, I came so close to death that I made up my mind never to catch fish again in that way. A cobra, about six feet long, was lying along the water’s edge of one side of the stream in which we were fishing. Its tail was in the water, but it was concealed by the reeds and grasses along that stream. As I put my hand into the water, my searching fingers touched something tender. Thinking that it was a fish, I gripped it at once and tried to bring it out of the water. But it resisted violently, and to my consternation I discovered that it was a cobra. I relaxed my grip at once and rushed for safety. My brother, who was a few yards away, was too surprised to speak. But he soon saw the cobra which was now rushing towards him with its hood fully opened. I picked up stick hurriedly and threw it at the cobra. Surprisingly, the cobra now turned towards me, and I took to my heels. My brother then picked up a stick and ran after the cobra and managed to kill it just at the time when I was almost exhausted. lf he had been a little late, I might have been killed by the cobra. That was indeed a very narrow escape, an escape I shall never forget. New words:
Travel as a means of education In the past travel was considered an essential part of education. Poets and writers realised the value of travel and went out to other countries in search of knowledge. A man’s education was not completed until he had visited foreign lands. That travel broadens the mind cannot be denied. Those who remain within the confines of their homes are cut off from the outside world. As a result, they develop a narrow outlook on life. But those who travel come into contact with various types of people whose ways of life are completely different from theirs. They see things with their own eyes and have a better understanding of the affairs of the world. The impressions that they receive while they travel remain fresh in their minds for many years, and all false impressions and ideas are removed from their minds. Thus, they are able to see things in their proper perspective and make correct judgments and decisions, and to be able to make connect decisions is a valuable part of education. It is argued, however, that the presence of the great variety of books, newspapers, the radio and television today obviates the need for travel to acquire knowledge. One would study in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home and absorb all the knowledge that one desires. But there are many things which books cannot describe effectively. For example, the love and respect people in other lands have for us and the natural beauty of the various parts or the world cannot be described properly in words. They have to be seen and felt. Besides, not all can understand everything that they read about people away from their homes. To such people, especially, travel is an important means of education. Of course, travel involves time and money which most people cannot afford. But the value of travel as a means of education is so great that time and money spent on travel are not a waste of effort. New words:
The country I would like to visit I have heard much about the beauty of the East as well as the West, about the wonderful islands in the Pacific and also in the Atlantic. In short, the whole world seems to be full of beautiful places. The country that I would like to visit, however, is the United States of America. My knowledge of the United States of America is derived from the geography and history books that I have read, the films that I have seen and the stories that I have heard from people who have visited this country. The United States of America is a vast country with a mixed population. People from many different lands have come and settled here. This mixture of different races of people with different customs, religions, cultures and abilities have created a nation unique in history. Although this country has a very short history compared with that of the other large countries in the world, it is an example to the world of how people of different races could live together in peace and harmony. The exchange of ideas among the people of so many racial origins here has contributed greatly to the progress and prosperity of the nation. There are world famous scientists, doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and politicians whose original homes were in many different lands. The work of such men has made this country a wonderful land indeed. The roads, buildings and cinemas here may be said to be the best in the world. There are many places and things of interest such as Hollywood, the United Nations building. Niagara Falls and the skyscrapers. Even the natural vegetation and features are rich in variety. If one travels across the land, one will find different kinds of scenery in different places. Further, as the people here still follow their original customs and traditions, one will also have the feeling that one is passing through many different countries. The people of the United States are proud of their country, for it was their country that gave the modern world ideas of freedom. The name of Abraham Lincoln will always be remembered by those who believe in the freedom of man. It was the United States, again, who saved the world from destruction in two World Wars. Such a country must be a wonderful land, and it is for this reason that I would like to visit this country some day. New words:
Good manners Good manners play an important part in maintaining peace and good- will in a community. A man who has good manners does not hurt the feelings of others, and therefore he is on good terms with his friends and neighbors and also with others. In this way he helps to keep peace in society. But a man whose manners are bad has no respect for others. He uses words carelessly and behaves rudely towards other and causes a lot of ill- will and unpleasantness. In the end, it is he himself who suffers the most. Everyone avoids him and he is forced to live almost in isolation. To live well in a society, money alone is not enough. We should also have good manners, for it is human nature to seek friendship; and friendship cannot be bought with money. Friendship with others makes life pleasant and it has to be earned through our own attitude towards others. If we are kind to others, they will be kind to us, and kindness is the essence of good manners. Bad manners not only drive away friends but also others, including our own family members. Even the richest man cannot afford to have had manners. For a man may have enough money to buy all the things than he wants; but if his manners are bad he will have no friends, and no one can live happily without friends. Even the members of his own family may not respect him and finally he will become a lonely man. On the other hand, a man whose manners are good has many friends. He commands the respect of all those who come into contact with him. He does not talk ill about others. Even when he is provoked, he tries his best to use words in a way which will not offend others. He is also sympathetic towards the weak and ignorant and does not poke fun at the deformities and weaknesses of others. There are, however, many people who behave so well outside their homes that they are respected and admired by everyone outside. But in their own homes they are worse than the devil. Such people could not be said to have good manners. Their whole behavior is a pretence and it does not take long for others to discover this. If one’s manners are good, one behaves well everywhere, even when one is away from the critical eyes of others. Only such a person can live well in society. It is therefore essential for everyone to cultivate good manners. New words:
Choosing a career It is not easy to choose a career today. Hundreds of students are leaving schools and universities every year to seek employment in the various professions, though employment opportunities are not increasing proportionately. As a result, there is a lot of unemployment. The inability of the various professions to absorb all those seeking employment makes the choice of a career more difficult. Before one leaves school or university, one has many plans, confident that choosing a career will not be difficult. But when the time comes to choose a career, one finds that there are others with better qualifications waiting to enter the same profession. Disillusioned, one then looks for any kind of employment. In this way, many who wanted to become police, inspectors or field assistants in the rubber estates in this country, become teachers instead, and many who wanted to become teachers, have become clerks. The lack of institutions where people could acquire the skills necessary for a particular career makes the choice of a career even more difficult. For example, if one desires to become a journalist, one has to receive some training and instruction in a school of journalism. But if there is no such school, one is compelled to think of some other career. On the other hand, even if there are institutions where one could acquire the necessary skills, one may still experience difficulty in gaining admission to them because one may not have the financial resources or the academic ability. Thus, many who wanted to become doctors and lawyers have actually become clerks and teachers. Further, even if one has all the academic and intellectual requirements for the career that one has chosen, one’s temperament may not enable one to make a success of that career. Thus, many who passed several professional examinations and began their career as teachers are now working in the banks and other commercial firms. All this indicates the difficulty in choosing a career. Only a few are able to remain in the professions of their choice. New words:
A visit to a zoo The zoo is an artificial forest created by man. Though there are few trees compared with the natural forest, the animals, birds and other creatures found in the zoo must always remind us of the forest. It is indeed an interesting place to visit. Even in the natural forest such a variety of animals, birds and other creatures cannot be found as are found in a big zoo. Animals which are not found in the forests of one country are caught in other parts of the world and brought to the zoo. The lion, for example, is not found in Malaysia; but one may see an African lion in the zoo at Johore Bahru. Until I visited the zoo at Johore Bahru, a few months ago, I had no idea how informative a visit to a zoo might be. Though the zoo at Johore Bahru is not big, I found many kinds of interesting animals and other creatures there. Lions, tigers and other animals were moving about lazily in their cages. Some of the animals appeared to be bored, and they took little interest in the visitors. The monkeys, however. showed their natural agility. Whenever they saw a visitor, they ran towards him and begged for something to eat. I was indeed amused at their behavior. Most of them were caught in Malaysia and their variety was amazing. Some of the birds too were very interesting to see. Their beautiful feathers and looks fascinated me. Birds are indeed one of the loveliest creations of God. A few birds are larger than many animals. The lions and the tigers in this zoo were so docile that I could not but treat them as domestic animals like the dog and the cat. I went very close to them, but they showed little interest in me. I then began to think of how the animal or even human spirit could be broken by confinement. Confined to their cages, these animals had become spiritless. Even the sight of food did not seem to excite them much. Then, there was the crocodile with its usual pretence of innocence. It refused to be disturbed. Heaven knows how it might have reacted if a child had fallen into its pit. However, my visit to the zoo had increased my knowledge of animals. New words:
The importance of the newspaper The newspaper, today, plays a vital role in human affairs. Its importance has not been diminished by the appearance of the radio or the television. Men no longer have travel to get information. The newspaper has become the main source of information about local and foreign affairs. Though the radio and television convey important news and messages quicker than the newspaper, they seldom give the details of an incident. The newspaper, on the other hand, gives not only more details about a particular incident but it also contains more new items. This is of great importance today when political changes occur with a rapidity unknown before. Besides, the newspaper is easier to carry and it could be read at any time during the day. Further, the permanence of the printed word helps one to refresh one’s memory of certain facts and incidents reported in the past. The importance of the newspaper has been increased greatly by the spread of education. Education sharpens one’s curiosity about events in distant lands and also makes one conscious of the necessity to maintain one’s reading habits. In both respects the newspaper appeals most, especially if one finds little time to read books. The newspaper should, however, be read with caution, for its capacity to do harm is great. Most people believe every thing that is reported by the newspaper. As a result, the newspaper exerts a profound influence on the minds of its reader. Therefore, when some news is reported wrongly either by mistake or design, it may cause a lot of harm. On the other hand, if the policy of the newspaper is to promote the welfare of the people, it could do a lot of good. For example, it could exercise its influence to persuade the government of a country to do many things for the benefit of the people. In a country like Malaysia, where there are many races of people, the newspaper could also use its influence to promote good-will and harmony among the people. It is therefore important to know the policy of the newspaper that one reads. In general, however, the newspaper tries to report as accurately as possible, for there are various magazines and periodicals competing with the newspaper to provide accurate information on world developments, and it is the newspaper that links us with the outside world. New words:
The things that I like most There are so many things around us that one finds it hard to have a special preference for a few particular things. I, however, take a special interest in motor-car and television. Motor-cars have always fascinated me. Since my childhood I have been travelling in motor-cars, and I have visited hundreds of places in this country. I have been to remote villages and almost all the towns, large and small. Travel has broadened my outlook on life. I have met various types of people, and my knowledge of the people and places of this country has increased greatly. If I am at home or if I am walking along a road, I feel the urge to travel as soon as I see a car. It is because of motor-cars that I am able to do various types of work. In the morning I go to my school, a long distance away, in my father’s car. After school I go to my father’s plantation to help him in his work. Then I visit one of my class-mates and discuss our school work. Sometimes I visit the cinema, miles away. If there were no motor-cars, I would not have seen so much. Even in this small country, I would perhaps not have been able even to attend school. The next thing that I like is television. Television helps us to see and hear some of the famous leaders of the world. We are also able to see some of the great events of the day. In addition, we can get news from all parts of the world, and listen to songs and music. Sometimes there are special programmes which are very amusing. The television programmes become more interesting on a rainy day. We can then sit in the comfort of our home and watch the television programme. Even if we cannot read the newspaper for some reason, television keeps us well informed about the latest developments in the world. In this respect, television is better than the radio because the pictures and incidents shown on television convey a better impression than only the spoken words of the radio. I shall therefore always have a special preference for the motor-car and television. New words:
My hobby To have a hobby is to know how to spend one’s leisure moments. A hobby, besides providing an avenue of escape from boredom, can also add to one’s knowledge of human affairs. My hobby is reading. When my day’s work is over, I sit down in the privacy of my room and read the newspaper. Reading the newspaper is like travelling round the world. As I read about the developments in the various parts of the world, I fell that I am there myself observing the incidents. I also feel that I am having contacts with many leaders and peoples of the world. This feeling is a source of pleasure to me. By reading the newspaper I have acquired a better knowledge of the world. I am aware of what scientists, economists and politicians are doing to make this world a better place to live in. At the same time, I am also aware of the activities of those who are trying to create chaos in the world. After reading the newspaper, I take a book which requires deep concentration, such as a history book or a book on psychology. Sometimes I read a novel or a popular magazine. Through this hobby I have learned that people everywhere are the same, in all ages, and in all countries. I have also learned that the world was made not for man alone but for every creature that can feel hunger and thirst, warm and cold. It has also helped me to see not only into the most remote regions of the world today but also into the world in which our ancestors lived. My hobby has deepened and widened my knowledge of man and his place in the universe. Reading, I think, has made men more human, broad-minded and sympathetic. It has brought me into contact with many great minds, and acquainted with the beauty of language and ideas. It has also improved my powers of expression. I have little difficulty in expressing my thoughts and feelings. Therefore, I could say that my hobby has made me a better person. New words:
The advantages and disadvantages of the cinema Cinemas are a common sight nowadays. They are found in every town. The existence of so many cinemas reflects their popularity. They have indeed become the most popular places of entertainment. The cinema attracts large numbers of people everyday. It is the magnet of the town. It sometimes attracts even those who do not wish to see a film. As it is so popular, the cinema exerts a profound influence on the minds of many people, young and old. The influence is sometimes good, and sometimes it is bad. Films showing criminal activities and the sensual desires of man have caused much harm to many youths. Some youths have become criminals themselves though almost every film shows how the good always triumphs over the evil. The cinema has also caused many people to waste money. Such people have become so addicted to visiting the cinema that they see almost every film, good or bad. In this way money is wasted not only on purchasing tickets for admittance to the cinema but also on travelling and many other things. Often, however, the cinema helps to spread knowledge. There are many films which show the activities of the various races of people living in the remote regions of the earth. Some films show how man has struggled through the centuries to make the world a better place to live in. There are also films which show the events that led to some of the important battles in the past. They are shown with so much realism that one remembers them for a long time. Such films are indeed invaluable, especially to those who are illiterate. In this respect the cinema could be regarded as a school. Even the dullest student learns many things if he sees an educational film in the cinema though he may learn nothing from his teacher or his books. Such is the effect of the film, and in many countries, educational authorities are trying to make the best use of the cinema to spread knowledge and information. It is therefore clear that the cinema has many advantages as well as disadvantages. Often the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Those who visit the cinema with the purpose of learning something good are sure to benefit from almost every visit to the cinema. New words:
The importance of examinations Life today has become so complex that examinations have come to play an important part in one’s educational career. Examinations are considered so important that most students are afraid of them. The ability to pass an examination is indeed a valuable quality. It shows that the student is able to express his thought and ideas to a manner others can understand. It also shows that the student has acquired a certain amount of knowledge in some branches of study. Besides, the mind of a student, even if he is dull, receives good exercise when he prepares for an examination. A student’s success in an examination, therefore, helps employers and others to assess his mental or general ability. Some people, however, argue that examinations test only a certain kind of skill. They say that many people have a good memory and a special ability to pass examinations and achieve brilliant results, though they have no capacity for original thought or imagination. But it should be realized that today the syllabuses are so extensive that a student cannot expect to pass an examination by relying entirely on his memory. The student of today must not only have a fair knowledge of the subject manner but also be able to show his intelligence and power of reasoning, especially if he is sitting for a higher examination. Therefore, a student’s ability to pass an examination must indicate some of his mental powers as well as his grasp of the subjects that he has studied. If there were no examinations, most scholars would have been less informed than they are today. Examinations compel students to read as much as they can, and as they do so, they absorb knowledge unconsciously. Further, because of examinations; teachers have to confine themselves to the syllabuses which are aimed at imparting knowledge in a systematic manner, and thus develop mental discipline. Examinations are therefore an important part of academic studies. New words:
A week in hospital I had always dreaded the thought of being admitted to hospital. The peculiar smell of the hospital, the sight of deformed and critically ill persons and dead bodies in the hospital are things that I had always wished to avoid. But a serious illness sometime ago necessitated my admission to the General Hospital in Malacca. Though I was seriously ill and required special attention, yet the knowledge that I was in the hospital made me feel miserable during the first few days. The clothes that I had to wear in the hospital were uncomfortable and the food was tasteless. At night, when all the patients were asleep, I used to wake up and think of what might happen it the dead bodies in the mortuary nearby came back to life. I also thought of the patients who might die at anytime. Sometimes I thought that I myself might not wake up from my sleep; that I might have to leave my dear parents, brothers and sisters and never return. Tears would then flow from my eyes. From the fourth day, however, my spirits were high. The doctors and nurses assured me that I would recover completely in a few days and that I could move about in the hospital as I wished. I now began to think of the good work that was being done in the hospital to reduce pain and suffering. Hundreds of sick people were coming to the hospital, many with serious injuries caused by various kinds of accidents, with the last hope of survival. And while many were dying, many more were returning home with smiles on their faces. Working every minute and sacrificing their own pleasures and pastimes, the doctors, nurses, hospital assistants and all the other staffs were doing their utmost to save another life. Their humanity impressed me deeply. I now realised what an important role the hospitals were playing in our daily life, and the disgust that I fell on the first few days was gone. After being in the hospital for a week, I returned home with a better knowledge of human misery and sacrifice. New words:
A frightening experience Discuss “fire is a good servant but a bad master” How man first learnt to use fire is still unknown, but it is known that even the most primitive man, centuries ago, found it to be of great service to him as it is to us today. Man, in his early days, did not cook his food. He ate everything raw, including meat and fish. But the discovery of fire changed his eating habits completely. He now learnt to cook his food; and, when he found that cooked food was more delicious, fire became an important thing in his life. Fire also gave the early man warmth and light. Even in his scanty clothes he could keep himself warm in his cave on rainy or cold nights. His cave was no longer dark and he could move about freely at night. Further, fire gave him protection from wild beasts, and his life was more secure than it was before. In fact, fire, like water and air, became indispensable to man; and, today, we use fire for a diversity of purposes. We use it even to operate machinery to produce goods. But fire has to be kept under strict control, for its capacity to destroy his great. Once it is out of control, it will destroy life and property at tremendous speed and the world has lost things worth millions of dollars because of fire. And, people often use fire’s enormous capacity to great advantage. They use it to burn thousands of acres of forest and grow crops: As a result, we now find green fields where once there were forests. On the other hand, fire has been used by men, especially of the modern age, to destroy men. In every human battle in the past fire was used to destroy the enemy. Even today, thousands of people.in many parts of the world are being destroyed by fire; and, when furious men try to make the best use of fire’s extreme anger, misery is hard to avoid. lt then reigns supremes. Innocent people, young and old, must die in thousands. It is, therefore, true to say that, “fire is a good servant, but a bad master”. New words:
An accident I have witnessed One rainy day last year, while I was returning home from Mersing, a town in the east coast of Malaysia, I witnessed an accident which I shall never forget. I was returning home in my father’s car. It was raining heavily and the road could not be seen clearly. My father, an old man, was driving slowly to avoid an accident. The journey, therefore, seemed unusually long, and I began to feel tired. Then, suddenly, a small car, running at great speed, overtook our car. My father was shocked at the recklessness of the driver of that car. We could not count the number of persons in that car, but were sure that there were at least five, including two children. My father at once predicted that tragedy would befall the occupants of the car. After this prediction I began to grow impatient. I did not wish to see any ugly scene resulting from an accident. Though the car had gone quite far its rear lights would still be seen. In the distance there was a narrow bridge. Looking at the way the car was being driven, I too was now sure that an accident would occur and sure enough it did occur. This is how it happened. A lorry was coming from the opposite direction. It was already on the bridge. The driver of the small car, however, could not slow down in good time. He lost control of the car which skidded and plunged into the swollen river. Somehow, the driver managed to slip out of the car, but the others were doomed. When we arrived at the bridge, we were touched deeply by what we saw. Two children were struggling in the river and we could do nothing to save them. Their mother, as we came to know later, was at the bottom of the river, trapped in the car, and they were swept away by the rush of the current and drowned. The driver, and father of the children, began to cry piteously for the wife and children he had lost so suddenly. It was indeed a very touching scene and I shall never forget this day. New words:
The importance of good roads in a country Good roads are essential for the development of a country. The Romans realised this centuries ago, and wherever they established themselves, , they tried to improve the roads there. Today, the governments of all countries in the world are building more and more roads to gain access to the remotest regions of their countries. Roads link towns and villages and enable the people of one place to communicate with the people of another place. When food is scarce in one place, it can be brought from another place without much difficulty. Even things which cannot be produced in one region can be brought from another region where they are produced in abundance. The invention of motor-vehicles has made it easy to transport goods from place to place. But these vehicles require good roads to travel quickly, and the better the roads the more goods can be transported from one place to another in a very short time. Thus, trade is improved. Further, good roads help people to travel easily to places where they can work and develop their lands and industries. In Malaysia, for example, the improvement of roads has made it easy for skilled workers from the towns to work in remote villages. The people of the villages, on the other hand, have been able to learn much from the towns. As a result, there has been a lot of improvement in this country in all spheres of activity. Finally, in times of war good roads help armies to move about without difficulty. Sometimes, a country is defeated because its army is not able to reach a place in good time owing to bad roads. Even the police may not be able to reach a place where there is some trouble if the roads are bad. For all these reasons: it is always necessary for a country to have good roads. New words:
Life in the village The village has always been known to be a place of peace and quiet. The scattered houses among hundreds of plants and trees at once indicate the lack of activity in the village. The workers in the village leave their homes early in the morning to work in the plantations or towns nearby. Some have their own plantations, and some make certain articles in their homes to sell them in the towns. A few of the villagers, including women, go out to catch fish in the streams and rivers found in the village. Though the people of the village do not usually earn much, yet they seem to be contented. In the afternoon, most of the villagers are at home. Some of them take a nap after lunch; some work in their small gardens, and some visit the small shops in the village. In various parts of the village children may be seen playing the popular games of the village. Occasionally, a cyclist passes by. Then, in the evening, the villagers meet one another. Some play cards and other types of games peculiar to the village. Some talk about the day’s incidents in the village, and those whose minds go beyond the village discuss world events. In almost every village there is a headman whose duty is to settle quarrels among the villagers and maintain peace in the village. Whenever there is a dispute, the villagers go to the headman who is held in such esteem that his word has the force or law. In this way the villagers have developed their own simple laws, and the crimes of cities are almost unknown to the people of the village. During a festival, the whole village is alive with activities. Everyone is in a happy mood and plays his part to make the festival a success. This is the time for the men, women and children of the village to wear their best clothes and the village is full of colour. These simple ways of life in the village, however, must soon change. Progress in science and education has already begun to affect the outlook of the people in the village, and hundreds are leaving the village to seek their fortunes in the towns and cities. New words:
take a nap after lunch: ngủ một giấc sau bữa ăn trưa
My favourite author My favourite author is William Shakespeare, a man who has written enough for immortality. Though a few hundred years have elapsed since the death of Shakespeare and volumes have been written on the life and work of this great writer, his early life still remains a subject for speculation and conjecture. It is generally believed that Shakespeare had very little schooling. Yet his keen intellect and mastery of language have earned for him the appreciation and applause of the literary world. Shakespeare’s fame, ‘I think, originates from his ability to identify his readers with the characters in his stories. In most of his stories we find reflections of our own experiences. This shows strikingly that Shakespeare had an insight into ‘human nature and the problems of life. His tragedies such as “Macbeth’ and “Hamlet” clearly show his deep knowledge of the human mind. Man’s ambition, desperation, sorrows, frustrations and hopes are dealt with in these tragedies with such skill that the reader himself experiences all the mental conflicts and emotions, and thus gets a better idea about human nature. With equal skill, Shakespeare deals with man’s joys and pleasures in all his comedies. His comedies like, “Twelfth Night” and “As You Like It,’ are a delight to read. Through the characters in his stories Shakespeare conveys his views on life and the world. Most of his characters, such as Hamlet, are vehicles for moral instruction. Man’s nature is the theme of all his writings. By a skillful combination of words and situations, he reveals the worst as well as the best in man. His choice of words is masterly and many of his phrases are literary gems. As man’s nature is his theme, what he wrote years ago remains true even today, and it will remain so till the end of time. It is for all these reasons that I enjoy reading Shakespeare. However, I do enjoy reading the works of other writers too, such as those of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. But they do not give the satisfaction that Shakespeare gives. I find Shakespeare’s stories so interesting that I have read the same stories several times in last few years; and, every time I read the same story, I learn something new about human nature. Shakespeare was indeed a genius. New words: 1 favourite (adj): được mến chuộng nhất được ưa thích nhất
A frightening experience I am not one who is frightened easily; but I must admit that one night I saw a figure that struck terror into my heart. It was a moonlit-night. I was returning home on foot from a town a few miles away. That was the first night in my life that I was out alone. The road along which I was walking was not used much at night. Even during the day, it was used only by those who worked in the rubber and banana plantations long that road. As I was walking, I could hear the noises made by squirrels, insects and owls. Creatures that love the night world such as bats were very active, and there were hundreds of shadows. All these did not, however, frighten me. I held a stick in my hand and moved rapidly towards home for my dinner. Then, suddenly, I caught sight of an old lady, a short distance away. Her head was covered with a white cloth, and she was waving to me. Curious to know why she was there at that time of the night, I stopped for a while. As I stood there, however, vague memories of stories about ghosts began to come back to my mind. I was soon gripped with fear and took to my heels. I ran as fast as I could, and when I reached home I could hardly speak. On the next day, however, I visited that place again to make sure that the woman was indeed a real person and not a ghost. But I could find no footprints there. Only a banana plant stood there with its leaves moving in the breeze. I realised then that it was the banana plant with its leaves moving in the breeze that looked like a woman waving her hand. I had indeed made a tool of myself; but after the previous night’s experience, this discovery was small relief to me. New words:
The value of higher education Since the dawn of civilization, great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle have been doing their utmost to spread education to the remotest corners of the earth. It is realised that education develops the intellect and enables one to discriminate between the good and the bad. More and more universities and other education institutions are therefore being opened in all parts of the world to provide higher education. In almost every country today, there is a lot of unemployment. Only those who have received a high standard of education are able to secure high positions in society and in the various professions. It has therefore become necessary for many people to attend institutions or higher learning to improve their prospects of employment. Higher education confers many other benefits. It broadens the mind and increases one’s powers of thinking, reasoning and imagination. Further, it makes one more sympathetic towards others. It helps us to understand the problems and weaknesses of man, and we become less suspicious of strangers and others. We also become more thoughtful of the feelings and needs of others. As a result, we are able to mix better with people. Besides, higher education helps us greatly in deciding what is right and what is wrong, what is true and what is false. Therefore, people can hardly deceive or mislead us. Higher education also teaches us how to spend our leisure moments. We learn to make the best use of our spare time. Even during old age we know how to keep ourselves occupied. Again, higher education develops self-confidence. We learn to have faith in our own abilities. As a result, we are able to meet and talk with people anywhere. All these qualities, acquired through higher education, combine to make one a leader among men. One is able to live a better life in society. The benefits of education are therefore many, and everyone should try his best to acquire the highest of education, either by attendance at an educational institution or by private studies. New words: 1 civilization (n): nền văn minh
The rainy season When the grass dry, the trees have lost their leaves, the rivers have very little water in them and the fields are parched, everyone prays for the coming of rain. But when it continues to rain for several days, there are prayers everywhere for the rain to stop, for heavy and continuous rain often causes great hardship to many people, especially in the equatorial region. The rainy season is therefore welcomed at times, and at other times, it is hated. In equatorial countries like Malaysia, the rainy season often causes much damage to crops, life and property. People who work in the paddy- fields, rubber and other plantations have to stop their work for sometime. As a result, they lose income and suffer hardship. Farmers too suffer as they have to stop selling vegetables and poultry for a few days. Even school children experience a lot of inconvenience. They find it difficult to go to school in comfort and ease. Some places are completely under water and many children are unable to go to school. Sometimes the schools have to be closed. Even to go to the market becomes a problem, and people cannot go out to enjoy or do any work. Continuous rain during the rainy season also causes much illness among children and adults. Sometimes many children are drowned in the floods caused by heavy rains. Bridges and houses are swept away by the floods and there is much suffering. But if the rains are not heavy, the rainy season can bring a lot of joy to farmers and others. Rains bring water for our crops and for use in our homes. Light rains make the day cool and pleasant and people find it easy to work in the fields and other places. The soil remains moist. Plants and flowers grow easily to make our gardens beautiful. Vegetables too grow well and markets are full of green vegetables. Even animals, like cows and goats find enough grass to eat. There is also enough water for them to drink. Yet, those who live in places where there is a lot of rainfall do not realise how fortunate they are. Only those who live in the hot deserts realise the value of rainfall. They would surely welcome the rainy season. New words:
The importance of water Since the beginning of time, water has continued to be an important thing to all living things. Without water nothing could live. We may change our food according to the climate of a place but we find no substitute for water. Man has always looked for pure fresh water to slake his thirst. Water not only quenches our thirst but it is also a source of food to us. From the sea we catch large quantities of fish and other creatures. We use water to irrigate our lands to produce crops. Many parts of the world are dry and barren because there is no water there. People in such places lead a very hard life. Even the plants and animals find it a real struggle to survive. They can obtain water only by some means of ingenuity. Water also helps to increase the fertility of the land in several parts of the world. The alluvium that is brought down by rivers is very fertile and yields large quantities of crops. Even electricity, which has changed our lives completely, is produced by water-power in many countries. Further, water is an important means of communication. We use waterways to carry our goods or trade. Water transport is cheaper than land transport and in many remote regions, rivers are the only means of communication. In many countries rivers are used to bring down timber from the hilly regions to the lower regions where the timber mills are. In this way much money is saved. It is true, however, that water has also caused much destruction to life and property throughout human history. Heavy rainfall, swollen rivers and the angry waves of the sea have killed thousands of people and destroyed homes and crops. Yet, water is indispensable to life, and people everywhere are trying their best to bring water to places where it is scarce, to control its flow in times of floods and to make greater use of it. New words:
How I spend my time after school As I am now preparing for an important examination which will be held at the end of this year, I spend most of my time reading my books. There are, however, a few other things that I sometimes do during my leisure. As soon as I reach home everyday after school. I have my lunch quickly in order to have as much time as possible to read my books. Eating quickly is not good for health but I have to pass my examination. Therefore, the more I am able to read the more certain I can be of passing my examination. It is for this reason that I read my books for about two hours after lunch everyday. After reading in the afternoon, I have my bath and then a cup of tea. Having done these, I go out to my friend’s house nearby and discuss our lessons for about an hour with my friend. Sometimes we go for a walk and as we do so, we talk mainly about our lessons. My friend is very good at her lessons and she explains many of the things that I do not understand clearly in school. Sometimes, however, I remain at home to help my mother in the kitchen, especially if we expect some visitors. I must admit that I enjoy doing such work, as it helps me to learn how to prepare a good meal. I have already learned how to make some delicious cakes by helping my mother. There are times when I spend some time working in our vegetable garden. My parents have planted many varieties of vegetables, and I help them to water the plants so that they may grow well. Further, I also spend some time decorating my house, when I feel that things in my house have become too dull to look at. At night, I study my lesson again, and go to bed late after dinner. Thus, my time after school is spent in a variety of way. New words: 1 prepare (v): chuẩn bị
The things I dislike the most There are many things that most people dislike. The things that I dislike the most are noise, crowds and laziness. Noise disturbs me greatly. This is why I do not like to live in a city where noise predominates. From dawn till mid-night, vehicles run to and for in the city to make the place extremely noisy. The noise is further increased by the voices of thousands of people engaged in all kinds of activity and the sounds of other things such as busy factories and machines. For this reason, the very thought of going to a city, even for a short visit, is distasteful to me. In the same way, I also dislike crowds. Crowds make movement difficult. If a place is crowded, it is not easy to move about or do any work. If we are in a hurry to go somewhere, a crowd can delay our progress. A crowd can also interfere with our enjoyment of sights and visits. For example, if we go with others to places like the museum and the zoo, we may not be able to enjoy looking at the things around because of the constant fear of losing sight of the others with us, especially if they are small. Finally, I dislike laziness because I feel that a lazy person is always a burden not only to his parents but also to others. By refusing to do any work he compels others to work for his comforts. Sometimes even a weak and poor person has to struggle to provide for a strong and healthy man who will not exert himself only because he is lazy. Such a person is certainly inconsiderate and ill-mannered towards others. As long as he gets what he needs and wants, he does not care what others think of him. I hate to see such a person, even if he is my own brother or father. These arguments explain why I hate the things that I mentioned above. New words:
Describe the things you enjoy doing I do many things everyday: but the things I enjoy doing most are picking flowers and preparing my school lessons. As a girl of fourteen years of age, I help my mother everyday. My mother is a very religious lady. Every evening, before her prayers, I go out in search of flowers which she needs during her prayers. I must admit that looking for flowers around my house is a very pleasant exercise. I go to all our neighbours’ gardens where a great variety of flowers can be found. Our neighbours are very kind and they allow me to pick as many flowers as 1 like. As I look at the flowers, I fell extremely happy. They are so beautiful and colourful that they make the gardens the best place to visit in our area. Once I am in these gardens I spend a long time to pick flowers because of the sheer pleasure of walking inside the gardens. Then, I return to the house with the best flowers that grow in these gardens, and my mother is always happy to see them. Thus, I must say that I enjoy picking f1owers very much. Preparing my school lessons also gives me a lot of pleasure. As I prepare them. I learn many things about the world and its affairs, past and present. 1 also learn about the people around us as well as those who are thousands of miles away in different lands across the oceans. Further, I 1earn more and more new words and phrases which help me to express my own thoughts and feelings better. Besides, the knowledge that I acquire while preparing my lessons helps me to meet and talk with people with greater confidence. It is for these reasons that I like to prepare my lessons. Thus, the things that I like to do most not only amuse my mind but also contribute to the extension of my knowledge. New words:
PHẦN 3 Express your opinion on the importance of studying geography Geography is a fascinating subject. It reveals all the wonderful changes and activities that have been going on in the world since the beginning of time. By reading geography we learn not only about our own country but also about countries beyond the seas. We also learn about the mountains, oceans, islands, lakes, volcanoes, the winds and a number of other very interesting things about the world and the ụniverse. Among the important things that we learn in Geography are the infinite varieties of creatures. plants, birds and land features that exist in the world. We know that there are millions of creatures: small and large, of various kinds in all parts of the earth. We also know that many of the early creatures have now become extinct, while many of them have changed from their original forms. Reading about all these is indeed very interesting. We also learn about the various types of plants and birds that exist throughout the world. The plants and birds in the cold lands are not the same as those in warmer lands. In the same way, the land forms in the cold regions are different from those in other regions. In the equatorial regions, for example, plant and animal life is luxuriant while in the poles the land is covered with snow, and animal and plant life is less abundant. In equatorial regions abundant rain has produced large rivers and lakes, while in areas where little rain falls there are large deserts without many rivers and lakes. As the climate and vegetation of one place are not the same as those of another, the habits and activities of the people of different regions are also different. Even their religious convictions and languages are different from those of other parts of the world. Thus, Geography is a very important subject, and because of its width and variety it is one of the most interesting subjects to read. New words:
The importance of rivers Rivers have been very useful to men in all parts of the earth since very early times. They provide water to slake the thirst of men, to fertilize their lands and to provide a means of communication for the goods that they transport from place to place. Early civilization began on the banks of the great rivers of the world, such as the Nile and the Indus. These rivers provided the water, the people on their banks needed for all their purposes. As people in those early days did not have the transport facilities that we have today . They had to live close to the rivers to transport their goods to places along the rivers and to draw the water that they needed. Rivers not only provided water for their domestic needs and agricultural purposes but also enabled the people to move from place to place along their banks. Boats or rafts were used to travel from one end of a river to another. In the same way, goods were also transported. With the transport of good and the contacts of people between different parts of the same river there were also many cultural exchanges. Thus, rivers helped to spread civilization. It is true, however, that rivers have also caused much misery and unhappiness to millions of people throughout history. They have caused floods and destroyed lives and property in all parts of the earth. For example, the Hwang Ho in China has been described as the “sorrow of China” because of the destruction that it had caused in the past. But it should be realised that floods occur once in several years. Therefore, the damage that rivers cause is not so great as the benefits that they confer on humanity. Today,rivers continue to be used not only as a source of water for drinking and fertilizing the lands or as a means of transport but also as a source of electricity which has revolutionized society. The importance of rivers is therefore not difficult to appreciate. New words:
The value of books Deep in the heart of every good book lies the distilled wisdom of centuries. To read it is to become wiser. Books are written for the benefit and pleasure of all those who like to read them. But they are of various types. There are books for children, as well as for adults. Some books are written for the specialists, some are written for students in the schools and universities, and many are written just for the pleasures of the mind. Indeed, the variety of books is infinite. One of the reasons for the existence of such a wide variety of books is that the field of knowledge is very extensive. Even to grasp a small part of it one has to read several books for many years. Another reason is that different people have different likes and dislikes. The book that one likes to read, the other may not like. To meet these broad and varying needs of people for information, knowledge, recreation and aesthetic enjoyment, more and more books are being written every year. Those who aim to specialize in a certain branch of knowledge concentrate more on the books that provide information on their particular field of study. In the libraries and book shops they look mainly for such books. But those who have no particular interest in any subject read and buy all types of books. Sometimes they buy books intended for the specialist, sometimes they buy those written for children. and sometimes if they are preparing for some examination, they buy books which give some information on their examination subjects. Almost every book extends the knowledge of the reader and develops his intellect as well. Even if the reader does not learn any new facts from the book, he may at least learn a few new words, expressions or ideas. In fact, certain books are written mainly to acquaint the reader with the beauty of language and ideas. They do not deal with facts or actual human experiences. Books of this type provide great pleasure to the mind, and almost everyone who loves reading buys a few of such books. Books have also helped to promote better understanding among the peoples of the world. By reading books. The people of one country have come to know about the achievements of those in other countries. Thus, books could be regarded as one of the channels of communication among men. Indeed, without books man would not have made so much progress as he has made today. By applying the knowledge that he has gained from books to practical purposes, he has made the world a pleasant place to live in. Civilization therefore owes a great debt to these inanimate things called books. New words:
Do you think that physical education is important? The value of physical education has been realized since the earliest times of human existence. The Greeks and the Romans considered it indispensable to the development of a good personality and character. Today in all the schools and universities in the world, a great deal emphasis is being placed on physical education as a means of producing citizens of good character and personality. Physical education develops the muscles of the body scientifically and increases muscular activity and physical strength. All this makes the body active and efficient. It is now also realized that there is a close connection between the body and the mind. Therefore, if the body is active, the mind too is active. Proof of this can be easily found among children. Children who are inactive physically are usually also mentally lazy. An active and efficient body is a healthy body. When the body is healthy, the mind too is and therefore happy. Thus, physical education contributes greatly to the health and happiness of an individual such an individual could do a great deal for the good of society. Physical education can also contribute to the strength of a nation. If the youths of a country receive proper physical education, they can build up a strong country to protect itself from foreign attacks or invasions. Further, physical education provides opportunities for contacts with people of other lands. Athletes of all countries meet at various countries at various times to compete with one another and thus promote common understanding among countries for the benefit of one another. It is therefore, not without reason that physical education has been a part and parcel of academic pursuit today. I do therefore agree that physical education is important to all people. New words:
The importance of reading newspapers As the name suggests newspapers are a source of news and information. In several respects they are also a medium of communication among the peoples of the world. Today there are hundreds of newspapers all over the world. Everywhere there is a keen desire to learn more and more about the affairs of the world. This is partly the result of the spread of education which sharpens one’s curiosity to learn about distant lands. As a source of news: the newspaper is almost indispensable to those whose thirst for knowledge is insatiable. They contain news on events in distant corners of the earth. Information about such events arrives almost immediately. As a result. people everywhere are informed about the most important events in the world verỵ quickly and almost all the same time. For example, if a war breaks out in one part of the world today , the people in the other parts will certainly come to know about it tomorrow. As a result, all the countries of the world are able to do something quickly to help those who have suffered because of the war or to persuade the countries at war to cease fighting. Newspapers also play an important part in keeping the peoples of the world informed about the troubles that might arise in the future, if nothing is done to prevent them from happening. For example, if a dispute arises between two countries for any reason: the newspapers can keep the peoples of the world informed about what might happen if nothing is done to persuade the two countries to resolve their differences peacefully. In this way many wars have been avoided because of the intervention of some countries in the disputes of many countries which were given prominences in newspapers. When all this is considered, we feel that there is some silent communication among countries through the medium of newspapers for the common benefit of the countries of the world. Further, constant reading of newspapers improves one’s outlook on life and makes one a more reasonable person. The importance of the newspaper is therefore obvious. New words:
Discuss the part played by science in the promotion of public health during the last hundreds years One of the most striking features of the present century is the progress of science and its effects on almost every aspect of social life. Building on the foundations laid by their precedessors the scientists of today are carrying their investigation into ever widening fields of knowledge. The contribution of science to the promotion of public health in the last hundred years has indeed been tremendous. The unceasing work and experiments of scientists during this time have led to numerous discoveries and removed many misconceptions that many people had before, regarding health illness. The causes of many of the diseases have become generally known. Indeed, many of the facts relating to public health, which are now regarded as common knowledge, were unknown even to the doctors of those days. The fact that germs were the cause of most of the common diseases was not realised by doctors of high repute in the not very distant past. Today, however, even a pupil of a primary school has some knowledge of the destruction that germs can cause. The discovery of germs has indeed revolutionised all medical concepts of disease and illness: everywhere people have come to realise the importance of cleanliness in the prevention of disease. The researchers or scientists of all countries have also revealed other secrets. It is now known that illness and diseases can be caused by other living creatures also, such as flies, insects and even birds, animals and human beings. Their discoveries have contributed to the progress of medical science. Today, people in all parts of the world are doing their utmost to destroy the creatures that carry diseases. At the same time, however, scientists have also discovered that certain animals and creatures could provide some cure for a variety of diseases that are dangerous to human beings. Even the curative value of certain plants has been discovered. An important result of the discoveries of scientists has been that, they have also found the cure of almost every disease. It is a practice of the scientists to work for the discovery of a cure as soon as they have discovered the causes of a certain disease. This service of the scientists has promoted the welfare of the human race. In this field of research, scientists make no distinction between races. Whatever they discover is used for the advantage of men everywhere. The progress of humanity is their main aim. The work of medical scientists also reduced pain to great extent. In the past operations were performed on individuals in a very crude manner. Amputation was a very painful affair. Today, however. the whole body of a man could be cut open without his feeling any pain by the use of chloroform. In this way science has relieved the misery of men tremendously. Another very important discovery has been that, water, without which life cannot exist, sometimes contains the elements of destruction as well. impure water could spread disease and death at tremendous speed. This knowledge has led people in all parts of the world to use only pure water tor all domestic and other purposes. Water is considered so important a factor in public health that all the governments of the world control its use for drinking purposes. All these discoveries have indeed promoted public health during the last hundred years. New words:
Water is important for all living things. Do you agree or disagree? Give your reasons. Without water no living thing on the earth could survive. We need water To quench our thirst. water our lands to grow crops or to keep the animals and fowls in our homes alive. Even the plants and insects in all parts in the world need water to live. We also need water to produce electricity and to carry our goods or trade. Electricity is very important for our comforts today. Almost everything that we use in our homes today depends on the use of electricity. In the same way, water also helps to transport many or the goods that we need for our homes. Ships, rafts and boats carry many things from distant lands and help to exchange goods between one country and another. Transport by water is easier and cheaper than by air or land. But water has also caused much sorrow and hardship in all parts of the world floods and heavy rains have destroyed crops, lives and property through the centuries and caused much sorrow everywhere. Yet, water is so important that all living things, including the tiniest of creatures, will continue to struggle to get it whenever or wherever they can. New words:
The value of education Briefly, education means the acquisition of knowledge and abilities, and the development of one’s character and mental powers by systematic training and instruction. Education is therefore of great value to any person. It has been realized that a person without education is deprived of many benefits. He not only lacks the knowledge of human affairs but also the ability to appreciate the value of many of the things that concern his own welfare. Thus, he is not able to contribute his full share to the progress of society and the world. Neither is he able to develop his personality to the fullest extent. One of the greatest benefits of education is that it helps a person to understand the position that he occupies in society. It helps him to speak and conduct himself with confidence and dignity which earn him the respect and admiration of others. Thus, he occupies an important position in society, and people look up to him as their leader. Another benefit of education today is that it helps one to secure lucrative employment. In the world of today, almost every kind of employment requires some understanding of a few basic principles of science, mathematics, economics, engineering, accountancy or some other subjects on the part of the worker. Thus, the better education a person has better prospects he has of securing attractive positions in the various professions. Finally, education makes a person sympathetic and considerate towards others. He is helpful to those who need his advice and guidance, and is not critical of those who commit offences or mistakes out of ignorance or necessity. Further, he does not like to hurt the feelings of others. Even if he is extremely provoked, he tries to express his displeasure or anger in words which give the slightest offence to others and yet express his outraged feelings adequately. As a result of all these qualities that a person acquires through education, he becomes a very pleasant person to associate with. He thus lives a fuller life in socially. New words:
4 . dignity ( n ): phẩm giá, nhân cách, lòng tự trọng
An interesting story I have heard An interesting story that I have heard is about a deserted house in a remote village somewhere in India. The house had not been occupied for several years after the death of its owner. For some reason no one liked or cared for the owner. Therefore, when he died, he was not buried. His dead body remained in his bed until it was reduced to its skeleton. One evening a traveller was passing by this house when it suddenly began to rain heavily. Looking for shelter , he ran into this house, where, to his surprise and terror, he saw a human skeleton. But the rain had not stopped and it was rapidly growing dark. He has therefore no choice but to sit there, in the hope that somebody like him might come in to keep him company. But no one came. It was now too dark to see anything outside. He therefore decided to spend the night in that dark and lonely house. The rain continued to fall unabated. The wind was strong and there was much lightning. The traveller lay on the floor but he could not sleep with the skeleton inside the house. After several hours, there was a sudden very cold crawling over his body. he was now too frightened to move. After a while, he heard another strange cry. Just at that moment, a lightning flashed across the sky when he saw a large animal jump out of the house through a window which had been open. He now began to pray for his safety. While he was in this position, some robbers happened to take shelter in the verandah of the house. They began to talk and laugh loudly. Hearing the voices, the traveller began to ask some questions from inside to make sure that there were some people outside. But the robbers were now frightened. They thought that it was the voice of ghost. They ran away as fast as they could. when morning came. The traveller rushed out of the house and never returned to that part of the country. New words:
My most favorite subject My most favourite subject is English which is today one of the most important languages in the world. It is spoken and understood in all parts of the earth. English has become an international language for a variety of reasons. One of the most important of them is that the English people have been well-known for their knowledge of science medicine, engineering, government and all other matters that are useful for the progress of the human race. It is because of the scientists of England that the motor- engine has become the most important machine in the world today. In the same way, English scholar have studied the past and discovered many things of great value to the peoples of the world. Some of the things which were useful to men in the early days were later forgotten by others. Such things are now again being used, owing to the work of English scholars. The insatiable thirst for knowledge of the English scholars has contributed to the progress of man in almost all fields of his activity. Thousands of books have been written by such scholars on almost every subject that one can think of. Thus, people whose native tongue is not English have learnt English with great interest as a means of acquiring knowledge of all human affairs. As a result or this interest English is used almost everywhere in the world. It is used in all the important meetings and conferences and debates such as in United Nation. It is also used in all the leading universities in the world and in international trade and commerce. As it is used so widely, English has indeed become a very rich language. People of all the countries of the world have contributed new ideas and thoughts to this language. Thus, more and more new words are being coined to make this language more and more useful tor the communication of ideas and information among the peoples of the world. It is for all these reasons that I like to study the English language. New words:
Describe an unpleasant dream you have had Everyone dreams. Some dreams are pleasant and some are not. One of the most unpleasant dreams that I have had concerns a wild creature which used to visit a village every night in search of blood and flesh. It is difficult for me to give a proper description of the creature. It was tall, black and hairy. Its legs and hands resembled those of a man, but its face was like that of a leopard. It walked like a man but it could also run like an animal when it wished. Its home was not on land but in the sea. However, its thirst for blood was insatiable. Every night when all the people in the village that it used to visit went to bed, it would come out of the sea and quietly go into the village. It would look for a man who might be outside. Such was its luck that it found at least one man every night. Its method of attack was simple. As soon as it saw a man, it would put its powerful hands round his neck and strangle him. At the same time it would sink its teeth into the flesh and drink his blood. This unfortunate man would have no time to shout, for death came swiftly. In this way, the creature had killed a lot of people, but no one could explain their disappearance. As the foot prints of the creature were similar to those of a tall and big man, no one could distinguish between the foot prints of the creature and those of a man. Then, one night, I happened to be in the village. The creature, however, did not see me when it came. I was at first frightened. but when I saw it had caught and killed a man, 1 felt brave. I knew that it would now not bother to kill me. I therefore decided to follow the creature. Not suspecting that it was being followed, the creature stopped at a place and began to eat the man. When it was satisfied, it picked up the remains of the man and slowly walked back into the sea which was only a short distance from the village. All the while I moved very cautiously. Then, I ran back to the village and told the people what had happened. On the next day, the villagers waited near the sea with all the weapons that they had. The creature came out for its usual meals, but this was an unfortunate day for the creature. As soon as it was on the land, the villagers surrounded it and killed it. Its cries of pain and anger before it died were such that I suddenly woke up to find that I was only dreaming. I felt greatly relieved. New words:
Describe your last holiday During my last school holidays. I spent a few days at my cousin’s house at Morib, a well-known sea resort. I shall never forget that visit. On the day I arrived at Morib, my cousin told me that he would do to make my stay there a very interesting one. He said that he would first make a raft to use it in the sea. Then he would buy fishing net to catch some fish in the shallow waters near the coast. When I heard all this, I was very delighted because it was for these reasons that I had decided to visit my cousin. We then walked up to the beach which is near his house. While we were there, sometime in the evening, the sea looked extremely beautiful. I saw the islands and hills in the distance, the birds in the air, and a few boys and girls playing on the beach. I also saw some fishermen coming out of the water with their catch. All this was indeed very interesting to look at. On the next day, my cousin and I collected some tree trunks from the forest nearby. As my cousin’s house is close to the sea, we decided to make the raft on the beach itself. It took us almost the whole morning to make the raft. We then had our lunch and went to Banting, the nearest town, to buy fishing net. After that we returned to my cousin’s house. In the evening we put the ran on the sea. The water was still high, but the raft floated quite well. My cousin and I sat on it and began to row it by using the oars that we had made ourselves. We felt very happy indeed and continued to row it. We remained on it for a long time, but as it was already getting dark we did not go far. We returned to the shore and tied the raft to a tree. On the next day, we went out to catch some crabs and fish. We used the net that we had bought and caught a lot of fish. Then, we had our lunch and went out again on the ran. we continued to row it as far as we could. It was really a pleasure to be away from the shore. The sea was calm and we could row with ease. My cousin told me many interesting things about Morib. We then returned to the shore. In this way, I spent my holidays happily at Morib, a place I shall never forget. New words:
Journalism as a career Almost everyone who can read and write sometimes feels the urge to write on some favourite topic. But some people love writing so much that they spend much of their time in writing something on various subjects for the sheer pleasure of writing. Such people usually become skillful writers; and if the ability to write with ease and facility was enough to achieve success in the field of journalism, many people would make journalism their career. In countries like England and Japan, where there are hundreds of newspapers and journals, journalism is an attractive profession. It is a very good source or income to many. But in Malaysia there are so few newspapers and journals that journalism offers almost no prospect of success. Even in England and Japan, however, many people have failed to achieve any success in this field. To be successful in journalism, one must have many other qualities, besides the ability to write effectively. One of the most important qualities is the ability to judge what the average reader likes or dislikes. If one writes for a political journal, one should have a fair knowledge of what the readers of that journal expect from it. If one writes for a women’s journal, one should know almost instinctively what its readers prefer. Accordingly, the journalist should gather information from all possible sources for his articles and stories for publication. He may even have to distort or omit certain facts and information, which in his judgement may appear unpleasant to his readers. Further, if certain unpleasant facts have to be revealed to his readers, he has to employ words with such skill that his readers will take almost no offence. All these require great intellectual qualities. Besides, to collect information, the journalist has to travel extensively and meet many people, far and near. As too much travelling involve great physical activity, the journalist has to pay sufficient attention to his health to keep himself strong. He has also to cultivate pleasing habits to meet all sorts of people. He must also he prepared to work under very unpleasant circumstances. For example, if he is working for a popular newspaper, he may have to be at the scene or a battle and risk his life to send his report to his newspaper office. All this involves great personal sacrifice. Finally, a good journalist should have a good grasp of the constitutional rights of the citizens of his country and the policies of his government. He should also know the laws of libel and slander. Ignorance of any or these may lead him to make unfair criticisms and disclosures which may cause serious troubles in the country. Thus, success in journalism is not easy to attain, and only a few people make it their career. New words:
4 . judge ( v ): xét đoán, phán đoán, đánh giá
Beauty in nature Beauty is hard to define but easy to recognise. In nature beauty may be discerned in all things and places, even in the most unexpected regions of the earth. There is beauty in the infinite variety of flowers, birds, animals and plants, many of which are vividly colourful. There is beauty in mountains, valleys and hills, and in the skies. Thus, beauty can be found in all the creations of God. Then hunter who scans the forests for his quarry is often fascinated by the beauty that he finds in objects, which conceal beautiful flowers from human sight, suddenly reveal their secrets to him when he stumbles over them. The fisherman who turns to the sea for his livelihood is fascinated by the beauty of the multitudinous creatures that swarm in the seas. Many of these creatures are found even on the shore. But the oceans often conceal the beauty that lies below their surface, and to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the world below the sea, hundreds of divers everywhere explore the bottoms of the oceans, even at the risk of losing their lives in the unknown regions of the world below. Even the farmer and the traveller appreciate the beauty that is found in nature. The farmer finds beauty in the variety of the plants that he grows. The traveller is impressed with the beauty of distant hills and mountains, and the beauty of meadering rivers in large valleys. He is also appreciative of the beauty of the night. As he travel in the moon-light, he looks at the landscape and is lost in admiration of it. The beauty in nature is also appreciated by others. Almost every one delights to see the rushing streams and the numerous birds and animals that may be found in every part of the earth, for these are part of the ornaments of nature. Even the tiniest of creatures has a beauty of its own. In search of this beauty in nature, men in all parts of the world are travelling great distances and spending a great deal of money, even in some cases, even their life savings. It is this appreciation of natural beauty that impels men to visit distant lands which have a beauty of their own. Men have also visited the islands that are spread throughout the world in search of the natural beauty. Many have seen visited the cold deserts in the Artics as well as the hot deserts where few plants grow, in search of the beauty that may be found in these regions, despite the lack of vegetation and animals life. The deserts are indeed the home of many beautiful plants and animals which find sufficient refuge in these pans, and many of the birds too, here are remarkable for their beauty. But the person who is most appreciative of natural beauty is the poet who finds music and beauty even in the movement of the clouds and winds. His deep appreciation of the beauty that he finds around him impels him to give utterance to it in the most expressive language, which is itself often of imperishable beauty. New words:
Do you agree that the study of Mathematics is essential to the progress of the human race? Though the study of Mathematics had occupied the attention of Egyptian and Greek scholars centuries ago, yet it was only after the advent of the Industrial Revolution that the importance of the subject was fully realised by scholars and educationists everywhere. Today, Mathematics is one of the most important subjects in all the schools and universities of the world. Before the Industrial Revolution, men lived very simple lives. Agriculture, hunting and fishing were then their main sources of livelihood. It did not occur to them that their lives could be made more comfortable if they only exercised their mental faculties a little more and organised a system of knowledge, which we now call the Science, and applied it to practical purposes. Thus, they turned to nature for sustenance, and were satisfied with what they could acquire from nature with their skills. This simple mode of existence was, however, disturbed by the inventions of a few men, sometime in the eighteenth century, which caused people everywhere to think of new ways of improving their conditions of living. The inventions revealed new sources of comfort, and power for the production of goods. Thus, the Industrial Revolution began. More and more machines were invented for the rapid production of goods, and the study of Mathematics began to receive great encouragement, for it was realised that machines function on mathematical principles. The intensive study of Mathematics revealed its potentialities. It was soon applied not only to invent new machinery but also to explain abstruse subjects such as Physics, Logic and many others. In fact, Mathematics is now used to teach and explain almost every important subject in schools and universities. Even the construction of buildings and bridges requires a deep knowledge of Mathematics. The study of Mathematics has also helped to increase the mental powers of men. They are not only able to think more clearly than they could before but are also able to understand and explain many of the things which they could not understand earlier. Sometimes, however, Mathematical principles have been applied for tragic consequences. In battles and wars, bombs and cannon-balls have been released with remarkable accuracy to destroy the enemy. This fact reveals how knowledge of Mathematics could be used to hinder human progress. But such a situation develops only when men have lost their patience and their capacity for compromise and fortunately the leaders of the world today are trying their utmost to remove the causes for war. In general, however, men have a natural impulse to live in peace and harmony with others, and almost every invention is aimed at promoting the welfare of the peoples of the world. Thus, the human race has benefited from the efforts of those who have made the fullest use of Mathematical principles for all their inventions. I therefore agree that the study of Mathematics is essential to the progress of the human race. New words:
What contributions can writers make to the promtion of goodwill among the people of a country? Since remote antiquity writers in every country have exerted a profound influence on the minds of the people. The writings or political philosophers, like Rousseau and Voltaire, have even caused revolutions and diverted the course of history. Such is the power of writers who express their ideas and views with lucidity and cogency. Most writers who dwell upon the affairs of their countries are deeply conscious of their responsibility towards their countries and compatriots. This consciousness not only impels them to avoid issues which tend to divide the people but also to express their views on delicate issues in the most temperate language. Their main aim is to promote goodwill among the people of the country, and this they try to achieve in various ways. In a country dominated by people of the same race and language, writers can promote goodwill among its people by clarifying political and economic issues which the people understand only vaguely. If the people are divided by ideological differences or by differences of economic status, writers can exercise their influence to remove the resentment and prejudices among the people. Even those who write on social problems can emphasise the issues that tend to unite the people. They can also suggest ways and means of removing the causes of resentment and frustration that exist among the people. As the written word is more effective than the spoken word, people tend to accept the views of writers more readily than those expressed verbally by various people. But it is in countries in which people of various races reside that writers can make the greatest contribution to the promotion of goodwill among the people. In a country like Malaya, for example, writers can concentrate on the issues that tend to unite the people. They should not be too critical of the attitudes of one race to gratify the emotions of another race. If they do so, they will incite racial discord and even violence which may affect the whole country adversely. If short speeches to a small group of people can cause riots and racial conflicts in all parts of the country, writers can do greater harm, for the written word circulates more extensively for a longer period. This power of the written word, however, could be used by writers for the benefit of the whole nation. By giving prominence to the social aspects of life that affect the people as human beings and as individuals of a particular race, writers can help in the development of a common outlook among the people. They could also help in making the people realise the benefits in peace and harmony. A study of the history of many countries reveals how the ways and habits of its people are influenced by the pen of distinguished writers. Even the leaders of the country are often guided by the opinions of noted writers. Indeed, in times of great discontent in a country, writers advise the people to exercise patience and moderation in expressing their grievance. There are many examples of how writers in various countries have been able to remove feelings of hatred among the people. The newspaper, for example, which is the product of the combined effort of many writers, is able to exert a restraining influence on people who are easily provoked. This is the best example of what writers could do to promote goodwill among the people of a country. New words:
Which language do you think has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of better understanding among the peoples of the world? The human race is divided by a multiplicity of languages, many of which have come to play an important part in the affairs of the world. A little reflection reveals that the importance of a language is associated mainly with the ideas and knowledge it contains. The more ideas a language can convey to the peoples of the world, the more it will be used by people everywhere. Thus, the language that is used most extensively is the language that makes the greatest contribution to human progress and mutual understanding between peoples. It cannot be denied that today the most widely used language is the English language. There are few countries in which this language is not understood or used. Even the countries which preached hatred for everything English, including the English language, during their struggle for independence from British rule such as India, found it difficult to dispense with this language after they became independent. Therefore, they not only continued to use English in all spheres of public activity but also began to encourage the use and study of the English language as means of achieving national progress and unity. These efforts on the part of the various countries of the world convey an idea of the importance of the English language. It would be instructive, however to consider the reason for the extensive use of the English language. One of the reasons is that several countries in the world have been occupied mainly by immigrants from England such as the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. It is therefore not surprising that the people of such countries have continued to use the English language, though they have severed their political connexions with their mother country and acquired independent status, for one cannot discard one’s language easily. Another reason is that, in the course or history, a large number of countries throughout the world came directly under British rule, where English was made the main language for administrative, commercial and all other purposes. As the leading colonial power in the world, England has indeed exerted a profound influence on the affairs of the world, though her colonial possessions are rapidly becoming independent one after the other. Concomitantly, the English language too has come to play a leading role in international communication. Thus, many people whose native language is not English have studied English and become more conversation with English than with their own languages. This is especially true with the leaders of the people to whom English is a foreign language. As a result, the English language is used by them not only in the administration of their countries but also in all their institutions of higher learning. The most important reason for the pre-eminence of the English language, however, is that it is the source of all knowledge. The Industrial Revolution that began in England and spread to other countries revealed the English genius for invention. Even the political and social institutions of England, which were affected tremendously by the Industrial Revolution, have evoked the admiration of all countries. The knowledge, ideas, experiences and profound thoughts of the English people have made a deep impression on the minds of the people of other countries. Innumerable books have been written in the English language on all branches of study, and such is the thirst of English scholars for knowledge and their desire to communicate it, that they have even translated books of great value from other language to English for the benefit of all. Writers of other nationalities too have written a great number of books in English and made a substantial contribution to the enrichment of the English language. As a result of all these efforts, the English language has become the main avenue to the greatest storehouse or information. Therefore, people everywhere have developed a special respect for the language and they continue to learn it with avidity. As the English language is used so extensively it is mainly in this language that the peoples of the world communicate with and understand one another. No other language has such a wide appeal or popularity. I am therefore of the opinion that it is the English language that has made the greatest contribution to the promotion of the better understanding among the peoples of the world. New words:
Liberty Since his appearance on the earth, man has instinctively longed for liberty, an ideal which has inspired revolts and revolutions throughout the long history of the human race. The yearning for liberty or freedom is not restricted to man alone. Even animals, birds and all living creatures love the freedom that God has given to them. Like men, these creatures will never submit to captivity without resistance. Neither will they cease to make tenacious efforts to escape, once they are captured. In the early days of their existence, men were free to pursue their own affairs, within the limits of their own ability. They moved from place to place in small isolated groups and families, in search of food, which consisted of edible plants. fruits and the flesh of animals. The pursuit of the means of survival was their only occupation, and the things that restricted their freedom of movement, to some extent, were their own fears of the unknown and natural barriers such as mountains, dense forests, and rivers. These were no restraints imposed upon them by human institution and they enjoyed their liberty. Gradually, men learned to live in communities and various institutions were established, which soon curtailed their liberty to a great extent. Rules were made for the cohesions of each community and obedience to those rules was secured by the threat of punishment. This element of compulsion imposed upon the conduct of the individuals in the community restricted the liberty of the people; but the greater security that men enjoyed in community life provided the incentive to partial sacrifices. Soon, however, conflicts developed among the various communities. The stronger one conquered the weaker one and in the contest for power and domination, hundreds of people lost their liberty completely. The enslavement and suppression of one group of people by another provided the stimulus for numerous revolts and revolutions for liberty which have not ceased till this day. Even in the same community. Sometimes, there were divisions. The rulers, who came to be known as kings, with the development of the communities into countries, were at variance with their subjects. To maintain their status and to assert their authority, kings developed their own theories of kingship, and many of them ruled in the most despotic manner. Defiance of the king’s authority was punished by death and imprisonment. What constituted defiance was decided arbitrarily by the king or his ministers, and thousands or people were deprived of their liberty. Eventually, however, despotism aroused the fury of political thinkers and writers in many countries. A crusade then began against oppression and despotism, and the cry for liberty was heard everywhere. Revolutions erupted; despotic rulers were overthrown, and new rulers were compelled to rule with the consent of the people. The French Revolution of the eighteenth century is the best example of the extremity to which people were prepared to go to retain or regain their liberty, which is claimed to be the birth-right of every man. But liberty does not mean licence. In other words, men’s liberty of action should not be excessive. The French Revolution is, unfortunately, also the best example of how men may lose their sense of proportion and justice, in their attempts to assert their liberty. In that revolution hundreds of innocent men, women, and children lost their lives at the hands of those who took full advantage of the anarchy that then prevailed in France, to assert their liberty of action. Such actions are indeed licentious . Thus, it may be argued that liberty will remain the battle-cry of all the people, but those who have it should not use it to hurt or offend others or to deprive others of their liberty. New words:
Discuss the role of the police force in society The police force plays a vital role in the maintenance of law and order in society. It is a source of moral strength, confidence and happiness to all individuals who seek to live a good life in society. The ideal of a police force has been conceived centuries ago, when lawyers acts were committed everywhere; but it was only in the nineteenth century that effectual steps were taken to build up a strong police force in almost every country. Life, before the introduction of the police force, was indeed insecure. Violent acts such as murder were committed with impunity by cruel and reckless men. Even those who were weak and feared revenge by stronger men nevertheless found it safe sometimes to commit lesser crimes such as theft and robbery. Without the restraining influence of a powerful organization such as the police force, the passions of men were aroused easily, and lawlessness prevailed everywhere. Individuals grouped themselves together and terrorized whole villages and towns, and there were wars between rival groups. This state of affairs caused great sorrow and acute anxiety to whole communities and everyone lived in constant fear, uncertain even about his immediate future. The establishment of the police force, however, has changed the state of affairs in society. The police force has enabled the law courts, which have existed since ancient times, in certain countries even before the introduction of the police force, to function more efficiently. Criminals are apprehended and punished, with the help of the police force, to deter others from committing acts injurious to innocent citizens. Most people therefore have learned to control their criminal tendencies. The alertness of the police force in the detection of crimes has not only discouraged most people from breaking the laws of society but also compelled them to exercise restrain and self-discipline. Consequently, society as a whole is more peaceful than what it was before the establishment of the police force. As the aim of the police force is to promote the welfare of society, it is constantly engaged in creating the conditions in which people can live and pursue their own affairs without interference from thoughtless individuals. The rights of every member in society are protected by the courts through the agency of the police force, which is therefore a source of inspiration and hope to all law-abiding citizens. Any interference with the rights of one citizen by another is frowned upon by the police force. In their efforts to promote the welfare of society the police force extends its activities even to the remotest regions of the country. If a man is lost in a dense forest or at sea by his own fault or otherwise, members of the force do their utmost to find and bring him back to his family, however unpleasant the effort may prove. Seldom do they give up their search if they are certain that the man still survives. Dedicated to the service of society, they are prepared to work under any conditions to protect a person, sometimes even at the risk of losing their own lives. The knowledge of the activities in which the police force is engaged has increased the confidence and moral strength of people in society. Even the cripple and invalid are given every protection. Thus, people today can live in greater security and happiness than they could before. Society therefore owes a great debt of gratitude to the police force. New words:
5 . rival (adj ): đối địch, cạnh tranh
Discuss the view that tolerance is essential for peace and harmony in any community or country The progress of any community or country depends largely on the conduct of the people who reside in it. Discontent, jealousies, prejudices, and intolerance among a few of the people can cause great damage to the whole community or country. Gregarious by nature, men hate to live in isolation. The urge for association, therefore, enables men to tolerate the views and habits of others, to great extent. Most men have come to realise that the cohesion of society cannot be secured without the exercise of tolerance on the part of its members. A community or country is composed of various types of people, whose psychological social an temperamental attitudes and needs are not the same. In a great number of cases, there are fundamental differences even in race, language and religion among the people. This is the result of the economic and social necessities of the modern age, which have compelled people to leave their original homes and live among people of foreign descent. These diversities in a community or country necessitate the maintenance of a tolerant attitude on the part of the people towards one another. They have to respect the cultural and social habits and beliefs of one another and refrain themselves from doing, or saying things which might offend the susceptibilities of some people. The racial and religious clashes that have occurred in various parts of the world indicate the damage that the expression of hatred and prejudice can cause in a country. Even differences in the colour of the skin can cause trouble and violence in a community, and when passions are aroused, men lose their reason and sense of proportion and indulge in the most barbaric acts. Innocent lives become the victims of insensate cruelty. That tolerance is essential for peace and harmony in a country could be illustrated by reference to the people in Malaysia, a country in which people of various races reside. Despite cultural, racial and religious differences among themselves, the people here have lived for generations in peace and harmony. They have also helped one another in various ways at various times. It must be admitted, however, there have been a few incidents from time to time caused by communal differences in certain localities, yet they can hardly be attributed to the general uprising of the races against one another. In fact, the goodwill that prevails among the different races of people here has contributed to the development of a new nation, which has become the envy of many countries. The racial unity among the people is the main factor that has contributed to the progress of the country in all spheres of activity. Another country that deserves mention is the United States of America. The people of this country too are made up of a diversity of races and cultures. Yet, by tolerance, co-operation and goodwill among the people as a whole, it has become the richest country in the world. All this proves what could be achieved by the people of a community or country who exercise tolerance among themselves. New words:
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having too many university graduates in your country University education confers many benefits on the individual. It develops his intellect and broadens his outlook on life, and enables him to discriminate between the good and the bad. Thus, in the past, only those who sought to acquire these benefits proceeded to the various universities in the world. Today, however, men are usually driven to the universities by economic necessity. Few of them seek the true benefits of education, for the growing competition for positions in the various professions has made it difficult to secure proper employment without some university degrees. As a consequence, there are a large number of university graduates today in almost every country. The advantages of having too many university graduates in a country, however, are many. In my country, for example, the presence of a large number of graduates would enable the government of my country lo find sufficient men to assume responsible positions in the various administrative departments. It would also raise the status of the country in the eyes of the world, as one with a high literacy rate. The efficiency of the administrative organs of the state would also be increased, and in time of national crises, the government could draw on the intellectual resources of the people. Even the younger generation of men would benefit from the contacts with university graduates. They would draw inspiration from the work of the graduates and themselves develop, consciously or unconsciously, some of the mental abilities of the graduates. In other words, the presence of a large number of university graduates would create an atmosphere conducive to the mental development of the younger people in the country. The various private firms and industries too would benefit from the presence of large number of university graduates in my country. It would facilitate the selection of suitable men for positions of responsibility in the firms and industries. This would contribute substantially to the progress and productivity of the business concerns. There would, however, also be certain disadvantages in having too many university graduates in my country. The worst of them would be that people without university qualifications would find themselves in a precarious position. Good positions in the various professions would be closed to them. Thus, they would have to be content with humble positions and meagre incomes, Without any prospects of promotion in their respective places of work. Besides, the general drop in salary scales owing to the competition among graduates for position, would further add to the misery of those without university training, for employers would always look for university graduates, even for low positions. Another disadvantage would be that those without university degrees would be regarded as ignorant and of no consequence. They would receive little respect, unless they were wealthy. Though the university graduates may not deliberately adopt such an attitude towards them, yet they would always remain sensitive to any remarks upon their abilities. Such a situation would produce a group of disgruntle men, and there would be much unemployment among those without university education, thus giving rise to many problems in the country. New words:
War and peace Since the time men learned to live in communities, in the remote past, wars have been fought at regular intervals in various parts of the world. In fact, the history of the human race is mainly a record of the battles and wars fought in the past between communities and nations. Wars are caused mainly by human greed and ambition. In the early days of men’s existence, many communities lived a very hard life, owing perhaps to the lack of geographical advantages or intellectual ability. As a result, the prosperity of other communities aroused their greed and envy, and wars between communities became inevitable. One side fought to conquer the prosperous communities in order to gain control of the means of prosperity, and the other side fought to defend its independence and way of life. With the passage of time, the communities developed into nations, and wars were fought on a bigger scale; but the basic causes of war remained the same. It was only occasionally that battles were fought with other aims such as the capture of a woman to satisfy the sexual of a conqueror or ruler. However, success in wars stirred the ambition of many nations. Wars were then fought for domination and extension of power. Several small nations soon came under the dominion of a powerful country, which then developed into an Empire. The Roman Empire, for example, was created mainly by conquest. Even the personal ambitions of some individuals have been the cause of wars at times. The ambitions of Napoleon and Hitler for world conquest caused many battles, in which millions of people, young and old, gave their lives. The devastation caused by wars, however, has always aroused the conscience of several nations, and attempts have been made by such nations to prevent wars in the future. Their leaders have met at various times, in the course of history, to discuss peace and to find a way of removing the causes of war. It is this urge that led to the creation of the United Nations, after the failure of the League of Nations, which today is doing its utmost to maintain peace between nations. But the desire peace has instead led to further wars, for peace often demands the destruction of the ambitions of those who begin wars. The wars begun by Napoleon and Hitler could be ended only by fighting further wars to destroy these men, who have been responsible for the greatest sufferings in the history of the world. Human ambition, however, is indifferent to the lessons of history. In times of wars, men seek peace; but when there is peace, there are attempts to begin wars. Once a war is begun, however, those responsible for it are crushed in the end. Yet ambitious countries and individuals are still trying to extend their power. but they are being opposed by those who love peace. Thus, wars will continue to exist, while at the same time attempts will be made to attain peace in the world. New words:
4 . conquer (v): chinh phục, xâm chiếm
12 . failure (n): sự thất bại, cố gắng không thành công
1S. crush (v): tiêu diệt địch, dẹp tan, làm tiêu tan
Courage Courage, like all human qualities, is an abstract thing; but it is this quality in man that has enabled him to advance against all natural obstacles through the centuries. Endowed with intelligence and manual skills man’s courage, even in the early days of his existence, enabled him to accept the challenges of nature. He not only lived in the midst of wild animals but also began to domesticate many of them for his own advantage. Soon, even the most ferocious and largest of animals learnt to respect his courage. They began to avoid him as far as they could. Indeed, without courage man would never be able to advance from the primitive stage. He would never try to reach the skies or explore the depths of the oceans; but impelled by courage, he left his immediate confines to defy nature, and soon made the world more hospitable and secure for himself. It is this irrespressible energy of man, aided by his courage, that has contributed to the comfort and happiness that people everywhere enjoy today. Courage is therefore indispensable to almost all human activities. Men need courage to face their enemies and the uncertainties of life. They need courage to operate machinery, to fly aeroplanes, to construct tall buildings. In fact, they need courage to meet all the dangers that constantly threaten them in all their pursuits. Even to accept the responsibilities of a family requires extreme courage. Human courage and valour have been displayed most strikingly in all the battles that have been fought in the history of mankind. Men have fought against men with deadly weapons to protect themselves their countries, families and home. For the protection and comfort of their families, men have also faced other dangers. They have defied dangerous currents in rivers to bring food for their families by boats and rafts. They have also defied storm and battled the waves of the oceans to extract food from them. Courage, however, does not assert itself always. The instinct of self- preservation usually impels men to seek safety in fight or concealment whenever there is a threat to personal security. It is in moments of desperation that courage asserts itself and enables one to meet all threats; and it is in such moments that men also discover their own physical strength, and other advantages of resistance. For instance, a man who is attacked by an animal will fiercely in an effort to avert tragedy to himself, and in the process discover his own strength and the advantages of using certain weapons to overpower his adversary. Feelings of loyalty and devotion too have often aroused the courage of amen. A person who is devoted to his family fights tooth and nail to protect his family from destruction or extinction, whatever the consequences to himself. Similarly, a loyal servant may give his life for the protection of his master. Thus, courage is the most important quality in man. He needs it for his own advancement and to meet all the challenges of his existence. New words:
Do you think that literary education is preferable to scientific education today? A literary education has always been regarded as indispensable to the development of character and a broad outlook on life. Whether such an education is preferable to a scientific education is, however, a moot question. Before the advent of the Scientific Age most scholars pursued a literary education which conferred many benefits on them. It not only gave them an insight into the affairs of the world but also equipped them with a vocabulary that enabled them to express their views and feelings with cogency and facility. Besides, it developed their mental ability and intellectual powers, and many of the achieved distinction in public life as forcible speakers and writers or even as lawyers and political thinkers. Having discovered the benefits of such an education, ambitious men in all countries proceeded to the universities or other institutions of learning to acquire the advantages of a literary education, and this tendency is discernible even today, though a scientific education is being considered more advantageous to the needs of the present day. The inventions of the modern age have indeed revolutionised society. Numerous goods are being produced, with rapidity unknown before in various parts of the earth with the aid of science and scientists of all countries are continuing to exert their brains to extend the realms of science. Every invention has helped to increase the leisure and convenience of men everywhere, and the demand for goods is increasing everyday. As a consequence, more and more machines are being invented to increase the production of goods within the shortest time possible. Every mechanical invention, however, has to be operated by skilled men. The larger the machine the more complicated its operation, and any mechanical faults in it can be detected only by men with a scientific education, who are but few in number compared with those with a literary education. It is this scarcity of men with a scientific education that has led to the assumption that a scientific education today is preferable to a literary education. The large factories require men to operate machinery, dealers in motor-vehicles require men for all types of work in the industry, and there are a diversity of other industries which are looking for men with a scientific education. The demand for men with a scientific education is, therefore, great, and this serves as an incentive to young men to acquire industrial and technical skills, for the possession of such skills will not only enable them to secure remunerative occupations but also enable them to manage their own factories or workshops in the future to increase their earnings. All this, however, does not imply that the man with a literary education is losing his importance rapidly. In truth, he is an indispensable person even today in various departments of human activity. He provides the managerial skill in an industry, contributes his literary abilities to the promotion of literacy in the country, provides ministerial and judicial services in the state, and performs a host of other functions. Thus, it is not possible to say with finality that a certain type of education is preferable to another. It is for the individual to make the best of the type of education that he has received. New words:
Communicative EnglishAnh Van Giao Tiep Bien Hoa ♦ 04.09.2015 ♦ Contents
\======================================== Article 1 First Snow FallToday is November 26th. It snowed all day today. The snow is beautiful. The snow finally stopped. My sister and I are excited. My Mom doesn’t like the snow. My Mom has to shovel the drive way. My sister and I get to play. I put on my hat and mittens. My Mom puts on my scarf. My Mom zippers my jacket. My sister puts on her hat and mittens. My Mom puts on her scarf. My Mom zippers her jacket. My sister and I go outside. We begin to make a snow man. My Mom starts to shovel the snow. My sister and I make snow angels. My sister and I throw snowballs. It starts to snow again. We go inside for hot chocolate. ——————————————————————– Article 2 Jessica’s First Day of SchoolToday is Jessica’s first day of kindergarten. Jessica and her parents walk to school. Jessica’s Mom walks with her to her classroom. Jessica meets her teacher. His name is Mr. Parker. The school bell rings at 8.45 A.M.. Jessica hugs and kisses her Mom goodbye. Jessica’s Mom says “I love you.” At 9.00 A.M., Jessica stands for the National anthem. Mr. Parker calls out children’s names. Each child yells back “Here.” Mr. Parker teaches them about letters. Mr. Parker teaches them about numbers. At 10:15 A.M. the students have recess. Recess is fun. The students get to play and eat. At 10:30 A.M. the students go to gym class. At 11:15 A.M. the students return to Mr. Parker’s classroom. Mr. Parker tells the students to sit on the carpet. Mr. Parker reads the students a story. Mr. Parker teaches the students a song. The lunch bell rings. Jessica’s first day of school is over. ——————————————————————– Article 3 My Flower GardenMy name is Anne. I love flowers. I have a flower garden. My garden is in front of my house. My neighbor has a garden too. My garden has different types of flowers. I have roses in my garden. I have tulips in my garden. I have petunias in my garden. My garden has different colors. I plant red flowers. I plant orange flowers. I plant blue flowers. I plant purple flowers. I take care of my garden. I water my garden every day. I kill the weeds in my garden. I kill insects that eat my flowers. I love my beautiful garden. ——————————————————————– Article 4 Going CampingThe Bright family went camping on the weekend. The Bright family went to Silent Lake. The Bright family left on Friday. They camped for three days. The Bright family brought a big tent. They brought a lot of food. They brought insect repellant. The Bright family had a campfire on Friday. They roasted marshmallows. They sang campfire songs. On Saturday they went canoeing. On Saturday they went fishing. On Saturday they went swimming. They went hiking on Sunday. The Bright family saw many birds. They saw blue jays. They saw hummingbirds. The Bright family saw many animals. They saw a raccoon. They saw a squirrel. But they didn’t see a bear. The Bright family had a fun vacation. ——————————————————————– Article 5 My HouseI live in a house. My house is small. My house has two bedrooms. My Mom and Dad sleep in one bedroom. My sister and I share the other bedroom. My house has a kitchen. My Mom and Dad cook dinner there every night. My house has a living room. My family watches television there every night. My house has a big bathroom. My house has a lot of closets. My house has a basement. My Dad has a workshop in the basement. My Dad makes wood furniture. My house does not have a second floor. My house has a garage. My house has a big backyard. My backyard has a maple tree. My backyard has a swimming pool. My backyard has a vegetable garden. My family likes our house. ——————————————————————- Article 6 My First PetMy name is Sarah. I am 14 years old. I have a pet cat. My cat’s name is Milo. My cat is black and white. Milo’s paws are white. Milo’s body is black. She is very cute. Milo’s fur is very soft. Milo was a very small kitten. Milo is a very big cat. Milo cannot have kittens. She is fixed. Milo likes to eat. Milo likes to play outside Milo likes to hunt for birds. Milo likes to hunt for mice. She likes her ears scratched. Milo likes to sit in my lap. Milo likes to sleep on my bed. Milo is a good pet. ————————————————————- Article 7 Jennifer the FirefighterJennifer Smith is a firefighter. She is one of the first female firefighters. Jennifer works hard every day. Jennifer exercises every day. She lifts weights. She wants her muscles to be very strong. She saves people’s lives every day. She is very strong. Jennifer is married. Her husband is a school teacher. Jennifer’s husband is proud of her. Jennifer is a mother. She has two daughters. Jennifer’s daughters are proud of her too. Jennifer is happy being a firefighter. Jennifer is happy being a wife. Jennifer is happy being a mother. —————————————————————– Article 8 Mark’s Big GameMark’s favorite sport is hockey. He is 15 years old. Mark practices three times a week. Practices are two hours long. Mark plays one game a week. Mark is a good hockey player. He plays on Friday nights. Friday night hockey games are popular. Mark’s family watches him play. Mark’s friends watch him play too. There are always many fans. Tonight is the big game. Coaches are coming to watch Mark play. Mark wants to play in the National Hockey League. Mark wants to make a lot of money. It is very hard to play in the NHL. Mark’s parents want him to go to college. They want him to have an education. They want Mark to be successful. They want Mark to be happy. ——————————————————————- Article 9 The Easter Egg HuntSamantha is going to an Easter egg hunt. Tracey is going to an Easter egg hunt. The Easter egg hunt is at Sydney’s house. It is going to be fun. Sydney’s mom hid chocolate eggs. Sydney’s mom hid chocolate bunnies. Everybody is here. Everybody has an Easter basket. The Easter egg hunt can start. Everybody must close their eyes. One, two, three, go! Samantha finds an Easter egg. The Easter egg is behind a table. She puts it in her basket. Tracey finds a chocolate Easter bunny. It’s under the couch. Tracey puts in her basket. Sydney finds a chocolate Easter bunny too. It’s in front of the television. She puts in her basket. Everybody finds lots of chocolate. Everybody shares their chocolate. Samantha, Tracey, and Sydney love Easter. ———————————————————— Article 10 Joe’s First CarJoe is 18 years old. Joe works at McDonald’s. Joe saves all his money. Joe has $2500.00 in the bank. He wants to buy a sports car. Joe starts to look for a new car. Joe looks in the newspaper. Joe looks in magazines. Joe finds a car he likes. Joe goes to see the car with his dad. He really likes it. Joe doesn’t have enough money. Joe’s dad tells him to keep saving his money. Joe wants this car a lot. Joe asks his dad to help him. Joe and his dad make a deal. Joe’s dad will lend him the money. Joe must work hard. He must pay the money back to his dad. Joe is very happy. Joe owns his first car. ————————————————– Article 11 Summer VacationToday is the last day of school. It is summer vacation. Grace is very excited. This summer will be fun. Grace is going to visit her Grandparents. They have a cottage. The cottage is on Lake Erie. It is a lot of fun. Grace is going to swim. She is going to play board games. She is going to talk with her grandparents. Grace is going to have fun. Grace is going to a summer camp. She will sleep in a cabin. She will make lots of new friends. Grace will learn campfire songs. Camp will be fun. Grace is going to Cape Cod with her parents. We are going for two weeks. We are going to drive. Grace will see the ocean. Cape Cod will be beautiful. Summer vacation is fun. —————————————————- Article 12 Cleaning Up LeavesThe leaves are changing colors. I see red maple leaves. I see orange maple leaves. I see yellow maple leaves. The leaves are beautiful. It is starting to get cold. The wind is strong. Winter is coming. The leaves fall off the trees. On Saturday we will clean them up. The whole family helps. My Dad gets the rake. My Mom gets the garbage bags. My brother and I help too. We gather leaves with our hands. We make a big pile. My brother and I jump in the leaves. We make a big mess. Our parents don’t mind. Our parents fill our coats with leaves. We look really big. Everyone laughs. Play time is over. Back to work. —————————————————- Article 13 Susan’s Wedding DaySusan is getting married. Her fiancée’s name is Michael. They are in love. They are getting married today. Susan wakes up early. She is getting her hair done. Susan is having her make up done too. Susan looks beautiful. She puts on her white wedding dress. She puts on her veil. Susan needs something blue. Her garter is blue. Susan needs something old. Her grandmother’s ring is old. Susan needs something borrowed. She is wearing her mother’s jewelry. Susan needs something new. Her shoes and dress are new. Susan needs a penny for her shoe. It will bring her good luck. Susan is ready to get married. —————————————————- Article 14 Remembrance DayMy grandfather fought in World War II. My grandmother was a nurse in World War II. Today is November 11th. Today is Remembrance Day. Today we celebrate soldiers. Everyone wears a poppy. Poppies are red flowers. Poppies remind me of my grandparents. Poppies remind me of their sacrifice. At 11:00 AM there are two minutes of silence. People remember their friends and family. People recite the poem “In Flanders Field.” It is a sad poem. It helps us remember. Today we wish for peace in the world. —————————————————- Article 15 Halloween NightHalloween is fun. My mom buys candy. My Mom buys potato chips. My Mom buys chocolate bars. It is for the trick or treat. My Mom buys me a costume. It is a ghost costume. I am going to be scary. My sister is going to dress up as a princess. She will have a wand. She will have a crown. She will look beautiful. My Dad buys a pumpkin. It is going to be a Jack Lantern. We draw a face on the pumpkin. We carve the face with a knife. Our Jack Lantern looks funny. We go trick or treating. We knock on the neighbor’s door. We say, “trick or treat.” Our neighbors give us candy. We say thanks. We go to many houses. We go home. Our parents check our candy. It’s safe. We eat lots of candy. We don’t feel very good. We go to bed. —————————————————- Article 16 Christmas EveBen and Melissa are getting ready for Christmas. Ben and Melissa’s house has lots of lights on the roof. The lights are many colors. Inside they listen to Christmas music. Ben and Melissa drink eggnog. Eggnog tastes good. Ben and Melissa hang stockings on the fireplace. They string popcorn. Ben and Melissa put the popcorn string on the Christmas tree. They put Christmas lights on the tree. They put tinsel on the tree. Ben and Melissa put ornaments on the tree. They put a star on top of the tree. They get ready for Santa Claus. They leave milk and cookies for Santa. Ben opens one present. Melissa opens one present. They go to sleep. Ben and Melissa wake up early. They run down stairs. There are a lot of presents under our tree. They wake up their Mom and Dad. Ben and Melissa open their presents. They love our presents. Everyone cleans up the wrapping paper. It is time for breakfast. —————————————————- Article 17 ThanksgivingWe are having Thanksgiving at our house. My whole family is coming. My parents bought a turkey. It weighs 30 pounds. It takes a long time to cook. My Mom wakes up early to cook the turkey. I clean the house with my Dad. The house smells good. We help Mom in the kitchen. I peel potatoes and carrots. My Dad makes pumpkin pies. My Mom cooks squash. I help my Mom make stuffing. I mix the bread and spices. We make good stuffing. It goes inside the turkey. We put on nice clothes. I set the table. My Dad carves the turkey. My Mom makes the gravy. Our relatives arrive. We say “thank you” for all we have. We eat and eat. It is a good Thanksgiving. —————————————————- Article 18 Learning How to DriveAmy is 16 years old. She lives in a small town. Amy is learning how to drive. Amy’s dad is giving her lessons. Amy’s dad’s name is Howard. Amy has had three lessons. Amy and her dad argue during the lessons. Amy’s mom is giving her driving lessons. Amy’s mom’s name is Jane. Jane has given Amy a lesson. Jane has decided to stop giving Amy lessons. Jane and Amy argue during the lessons too. Amy’s parents call a driving school. Amy is going to get lessons from a professional. The classes cost $300 for 10 lessons. The lessons are very good. Amy learns how to drive. Amy gets her license. —————————————————- Article 19 HouseworkThere is always housework to do when you live in a house. You have to wash the windows so that you can see outside. The floors and the carpets need to be vacuumed. The floors also need to be washed, and some of them need to be waxed. The furniture has to be polished. The bathroom has to be kept clean. After you have a bath, you need to clean out the bathtub. Laundry needs to be done regularly, or you will run out of clothes to wear. The clothes go into the washing machine, and then they have to be dried in the dryer. Sometimes, we hang the clothes out on the line to be dried. Some of the clothes need to be ironed. You have to buy groceries and put them away. Meals need to be made. You can’t let the dishes pile up in the kitchen. The dishes have to be washed, and the counters need to be wiped. The stove needs to be cleaned, and sometimes the refrigerator and the cupboards need to be cleaned out. You can dust the furniture and sweep up the dirt. You can make the beds. The beds have to be changed too. They need to have clean sheets put on them. There are just so many things to do. Household chores take up a lot of time. —————————————————- Article 20 Working OutsideToday I was working outside. It was a sunny day, and I was very hot. I wore a hat on my head. I watered all the plants. I weeded the flower beds. I cut back all of the plants that were growing too big. I gave some of the plants plant food. I cut the lawn. I raked the lawn. I filled up the bird baths with water. I swept the sidewalks and the paths. I took out the garbage. I filled the car up with gas. I washed the car. I hung out the clothes on the clothesline. I washed down the lawn furniture. I washed all of the windows on the house from the outside. I was so tired. So I had a glass of lemonade. I talked to my neighbor, and I helped her trim a tree. I planted some bulbs, and then I went into the house. I was exhausted. —————————————————- Article 21 Daily ScheduleI wake up every morning at seven o’clock. I take a shower. I eat my breakfast. I usually have toast or cereal. I brush my teeth. I put on my clothes. I catch the school bus. I ride to school. In my class, we have math and English before recess. At recess time, the girls skip, or walk around and talk. The boys play in the playground or play baseball. After recess, we have physical education and geography. We eat lunch, and then we play outside. When the bell rings, we line up to go back into the classroom. After lunch, we have history and science. At recess, we play ball again. Some of girls play ball too. In the winter, we build snowmen. If it is too cold, we stay indoors and talk to each other. After recess, we have music and health. We get out of school at three thirty. I sometimes walk home with my friends, or I take the bus. I have a snack and change my clothes when I get home. I change into my pajamas. If it is raining, I watch television. If it is nice outside, I play with my friends. I have supper at five thirty. On some nights, I help my mother to do the dishes. After supper, I do my homework. I wash my face and hands, and brush my teeth. —————————————————- Article 22 MealsBreakfast is very rushed at our house. My brothers and sisters and I have toast or cereal. We also have orange juice. On weekends my mother makes bacon and eggs for us. My father just has a cup of coffee for breakfast. My mother packs a lunch for all of us. We usually have a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a drink of juice or milk. My favorite sandwiches are egg salad, tuna, roast beef and ham. My brother always wants peanut butter and jam sandwiches. My mother sometimes packs a treat for us. Today we had cookies with our lunch. At supper time, the family sits around the table and talks about what they did all day. My mother makes good suppers. We sometimes have spaghetti. My mother makes a roast of beef with potatoes and vegetables quite often. She makes many different dishes out of chicken. She makes soups or stews. She also makes casseroles. My brothers and sisters and I have milk with our dinner. My parents sometimes have wine with their dinner. Sometimes we have salad before our dinner. I set the table for my mother. I put out the forks, the knives and spoons. I also put out glasses and fill them full of milk or water. For dessert, we sometimes have ice cream, cake or pie. My mother said that it is better to have fruit because it is better for you. Tonight I ate a peach for dessert. My favorite fruits are apples, peaches, plums and bananas. After supper, my mother always has a cup of tea with sugar and cream in it. After dinner, I help my mother with the dishes. Usually she washes the dishes, and I will dry them. —————————————————- Article 23 SeasonsThere are four seasons. Winter is the cold season. It snows in the winter. The winds blow, and ice forms on the water. We play hockey on the ice. We play in the snow. After winter is the spring. That is when it begins to get warmer. Trees get buds on them. Flowers start to bloom. It rains a lot in the spring. Spring is followed by the summer. It can get very hot in the summertime. The sun shines brightly. We go swimming in the summer. We spend a lot of time outdoors. Many people go on vacations in the summer. We get a summer vacation from school. Summer is followed by the fall or autumn. The leaves on the trees change colours. They change from green to red, orange and brown. The leaves fall off the trees. The weather gets cooler. The days get shorter. We go back to school in the fall. Then, winter comes again. The seasons follow one after each other. —————————————————- Article 24 WeatherYou can watch the weatherman on TV, to find out what the weather will be like. It might be a nice clear day with no clouds in the sky. The sun might be shining. It could be a cloudy day. Sometimes, cloudy days are just dull. On some cloudy days, it begins to rain or snow. Some days are rainy. You need a raincoat, umbrella and boots on a rainy day. Rain makes the flowers and grass grow. The weather forecast might say that it will be windy. You could have a gentle breeze. It might be very gusty so that the wind pushes you. It is dangerous if the wind is very strong. A hurricane or tornado is very dangerous. Once in a while, the weatherman says there will be hail. Hail stones are hard cold pellets of ice that fall from the sky. Sometimes, the weatherman will say that there will be snow flurries. Sometimes, there is just a light dusting of snow. Sometimes, there is a blizzard or a snowstorm. It can be dangerous driving through a blizzard. If there is a lot of snow, the streets have to be plowed. You need a hat, coat, mittens and boots on a very cold day. Sometimes, the weather forecast is wrong. The weatherman might say that it will be a sunny day, but then the clouds come in and it rains. That is not good if you are planning a picnic. I prefer sunny days that are warm but not too hot. I like to feel a gentle breeze to cool me down. ————————————————— Article 25 HouseA house is divided into different rooms. In my house, there is a living room. There is a couch, two chairs, a coffee table and a television set in the living room. In the kitchen, there is a stove and a refrigerator. There is also a sink and a dishwasher in the kitchen. There is a kitchen table and chairs. We eat most of our meals at the kitchen table. We have a dining room. There is a dining table and chairs in there. There is a washroom or bathroom. There is a toilet, sink and bathtub in the bathroom. There is also a shower in the bathroom. We have three bedrooms. The bedrooms are upstairs. My brother’s room, my room and my parent’s room all have beds in them. We also have dressers in our rooms. There are closets in all of the bedrooms. We keep our clothes in the closets. There is a basement in our house. We store things in the basement. There is a laundry room in the basement. There is a washing machine and a dryer in the laundry room. This is where we wash and dry our clothes. There is a garage attached to the house. We keep the car in the garage. You drive up the driveway and into the garage. We also have a front yard and a back yard. There is a vegetable garden in the back yard. There are some flowers and a tree planted in the front yard. —————————————————- Article 26 SchoolThere are different types of schools. There is an elementary school. The children at the elementary school are young. There is a playground for them to play in. The classrooms are bright and airy. There are blackboards in the classrooms. The children sit in desks to do their work. There is a parking lot for the teachers to park in. There is a cafeteria for the students to get food. The principal has an office. Nobody wants to go to the principal’s office. It usually means that you are in trouble if you have to go to the principal’s office. When you finish elementary school, you go to high school. Most of the students in high school are teenagers. There is a parking lot outside the high school. There is also a football field outside. The students go to classes in different classrooms. They move from classroom to classroom for each subject. There is a cafeteria where they can get their lunches or eat the lunches that they have brought from home. There is a gymnasium where students have physical education. Dances are also held in the gymnasium. Some students go on to university from high school. Students at the university are older. Some of the students are even senior citizens. People come from all over the world to attend the university. There are lots of different things at the university. There is a theater where plays and concerts are held. There is a bookstore where students can buy their textbooks. There is a physical education building that has a swimming pool in it. The parking lot at the university is very big. They call the land that the university is on a campus. Some of the students live on campus in residences. —————————————————- Article 27 SubjectsThere are many subjects that you can take at school. My favorite subject is music. I like to sing and to play the clarinet. I also like art. I am quite good at drawing and painting. History is a good subject. I like learning about the past. Geography is very interesting. We look at many maps in geography. We learn where there are deserts and mountains. I know the names of all the continents and all the oceans. Mathematics is my least favorite subject. I am not very good with numbers. I am good at addition and subtraction, but I am not good at division and multiplication. In my school we learn to speak French. We learn French because Canada has French and English-speaking citizens. English literature is a good subject. I enjoy reading books. I also like to write compositions and poetry. Science is my brother’s favorite subject. He is interested in plants, and he likes to do experiments. We also take drama at my school. I like to act. I got the lead role in the school play. —————————————————- Article 28 International StudentsWe have many international students at my school. Some of the students come from England. They speak English, but they have an accent that is different from a Canadian accent. Many students are from Japan. They are learning our language and our customs. We have students from Germany, Italy, China, Korea and Iran. We try to make those students feel welcome here. The students like to see what is here. They go sightseeing. They visit all the places that the tourists like to go to. Niagara Falls and Toronto are interesting places to visit. The students practice their English by talking to Canadians. When they first get here, we show them around. They do many exercises to learn the language. They listen to English songs. They read story books that are written in English. They listen to English language tapes. The best way to learn the language is to talk to other people. It is good to ask questions in English. Canadians try to be helpful to international students. Some of the international students live with host families. The host families have the students living in their homes. It is a good way for the host families and the students to make friends. Many of the international students stay in contact with their friends and host families even after they have gone back to their homelands. The international students learn a lot from their host families because they eat Canadian foods, and they learn what it is like to live in a Canadian household. —————————————————- Article 29 Interests and HobbiesIt is very rewarding to have different interests and hobbies. Some people like to play computer games. Other people spend a lot of time watching television. There are people who would rather watch movies. Some people prefer more physical things. They would rather play a sport like baseball, hockey or basketball. Some people do exercises at a gym, or they just go for walks. There are many ways to exercise. You can ride a bicycle or lift weights. There are people who like to collect things. They can collect all kinds of different things. You can collect stamps, coins, dolls, postcards, movies, rocks or posters. Some people even collect bugs or leaves. Some people are lucky enough to be able to travel. You can travel to a nearby place, or you can travel far away to a different country. There are people who like to listen to music. People have different tastes in music. Some people like rock music, rap, classical music, or folk music. There are many different types of music. Some people would rather play music than listen to it. You can play an instrument, or you can sing. Many people learn to play the guitar or the piano. Some people join bands or orchestras. There are people who like to read books. There are a lot of different hobbies. It depends on what you consider to be fun. You can have more than one hobby or interest. It is good to be interested in a lot of different things. ——————————————————————– Article 30 MoviesI go to the movies almost every week. Sometimes, I rent movies from the video store. My favorite films are action films. I like to watch car chases. I like it when the bad guy has a shootout with the good guys. I like the good guys to win. I also like science fiction movies. I like things that take place in the future. I like movies that have aliens from different planets in them. Some of the science fiction movies can be silly and unbelievable. I don’t like those ones. My mother likes dramas. She has a lot of favorite actors and actresses. She sometimes watches sad movies that make her cry. She also likes comedies. She laughs out loud if a comedy is very funny. My father likes horror movies. He likes movies with monsters in them. He also likes thrillers. I have watched some thrillers that keep you tense and on the edge of your seat. Sometimes, I have to shut my eyes if the movie gets too scary. My brother likes animated films. In animated films, there are no actors, just cartoon characters. My brother goes to the movies on Saturday afternoons with his friends. He goes to the matinee. He gets popcorn, candy and pop. He usually comes back with a stomach ache because he eats so much. Sometimes, my father watches documentaries. Documentaries are about real things. You can learn a lot from watching a documentary. I watch documentaries with him sometimes, but I would rather see a good action film. —————————————————- Article 31 FlowersI go to the movies almost every week. There are hundreds of different types of flowers. Most people like roses. Roses grow on bushes, and they smell beautiful. You have to be careful that you don’t prick your finger on a rose thorn. Roses come in many colours. There are red, pink, yellow and white roses. In the spring, tulips are in bloom. In Ottawa, there are many tulips. Some people go there just to see all the tulips in the spring. Forget-me-nots are also spring flowers. They are tiny and blue. Lilies of the valley look like white bells. Many of the trees have blossoms on them in the springtime. The apple and cherry trees look particularly beautiful when they are in blossom. We have a blossom festival in my town. My neighbors like to plant geraniums, petunias and marigolds in the summer. Some people plant sunflowers. Sunflowers grow very tall. Sometimes a girl will get an orchid for her date. They have bright yellow petals. All of those flowers grow best in the sunshine. If your garden is shady, you have to plant different things. Hostas grow well in a shady garden. Chrysanthemums are fall flowers. Chrysanthemums come in many colors also. There are purple, yellow and white chrysanthemums. Flowers are good to give as gifts. Women like to receive a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day. Carnations also make a nice gift. They have a very sweet smell. Many people give away lilies for Easter. Poinsettias are very festive at Christmas time. If someone goes to a dance, they often give their partner a flower to wear. If you go to a wedding, you will probably see a lot of flowers there. Flowers help to make places beautiful. —————————————————- Article 32 The Shopping MallThere are many different stores in the shopping mall. There are ladies’ wear stores. They sell dresses, blouses, and many kinds of clothes for women. In the men’s wear stores there are suits, ties, shirts and slacks. There are also clothing stores that appeal just to teenagers. Some clothing stores only sell children’s’ clothes. There is even a store that just sells bathing suits and cover-ups for the beach or pool. There are lingerie stores that sell ladies’ underwear and nightwear. There are hardware stores that sell tools. There are shoe stores. You buy shoes and boots in a shoe store. There are bookstores. You can buy a book on almost any topic at the bookstore. There are stores that sell compact discs. Those stores also have tapes and videos. There are sports stores that sell special shoes and clothes for sports. They also sell sports equipment, and t-shirts and hats with the logo of your favorite teams. There are gift stores that sell all kinds of things that someone might want for their house. There are kitchen stores where you can buy utensils and pots and pans. Those kinds of stores also sell aprons and napkins, and anything you might need for your kitchen. There is a movie theatre at the mall. There is a jewelry store that has a lot of gold and silver jewelry. There is a hairdresser in the mall. Sometimes, I go in there to get my hair cut. There are fast food places in the mall. You can get a quick lunch like a hamburger or some French fries. There are also fancier restaurants in the mall. You can sit down for a nice meal. There is a furniture store in the mall. You could buy a new sofa or bed at the furniture store. There are bulk food stores. At a bulk food store, all the foods are in bins. You take as much as you want and pay for it at the counter. There is even a telephone store and an electronics store at the mall. My brother’s favorite store is the toy store. He could spend hours in there. There are also department stores at the mall. Department stores sell all kinds of things. They sell perfume, clothes, shoes, kitchen utensils, or just about anything you might need. You can get almost anything you want at the shopping mall. —————————————————- Article 33 TravelIt is fun to take a trip to a faraway place. My brother just went to Italy and France. He got on a plane at Toronto Airport. He took a flight to France. He stayed there for a couple of days. He visited the Eiffel Tower. He was in Paris. He said that he enjoyed the food in France. He then traveled to Italy. He saw many towns and villages in Italy. He went to Rome and visited many of the tourist attractions. In Venice, he saw the canals. He tried to speak Italian, but he is not too good at it. He said that the people were very helpful. They tried to understand him. He bought souvenirs for us when he was in Italy. He ate Italian food. He said that pizza in Italy is quite different from the pizza we eat here in Canada. He saw many streets that were made of cobblestones. He saw many old buildings. A lot of people in Italy travel around on scooters. He stayed at a very nice hotel in Italy. He was sorry when it was time to come home. My brother likes to travel. He likes to fly in airplanes. The airlines lost his luggage once. He was not too pleased about that. Next year, he would like to travel to England. —————————————————- Article 34 The FarmMy uncle is a farmer. He lives on a farm. He has many different types of animals. In the barn, there are horses and cows. The cows swish the flies away from themselves with their tails. It sounds very loud if a cow says “moo” when you are standing there. The cows eat the grass from my uncle’s field. He gets milk from the cows. I put a saddle on one of the horses and went for a ride. There are pigs in the pigpen. He has goats. He says that the goats will eat just about anything. He has a chicken coop with chickens in it. The chickens lay eggs. Have you ever seen baby chicks? They are very cute. My uncle collects the eggs every morning. There is a rooster too. The rooster crows when the sun comes up. My uncle also has a goose. The goose makes a honking noise. I don’t think that the goose likes me. It nips me when I go near it. Many cats live in my uncle’s barn. They are stray cats, but he lets them stay there because they keep the mice away. My uncle feeds the cats. My uncle says that he would like to get some sheep for his farm. You can get wool from sheep. There are a lot of animals on my uncle’s farm. ——————————————————————– Article 35 Transportation (1)Every family that I know has at least one car. Some families have two, or even three cars. Most people get their license to drive when they are sixteen. In my house, we just have one car. If my father takes the car to work, my mother will take the bus. I ride in a school bus to school. My sister works in another town. She gets on the train to go to work. The train station is not far from my house. The train tracks run right by my house. My grandfather from Ireland came to visit us. He came over by boat. He had to cross the ocean. We went to Florida last year. We flew on a plane. The plane flew right through the clouds. My friend’s brother drives a motorcycle. He wears a helmet. I rode on his motorcycle once. I had to sit on the back and hold on tight. I ride my bicycle when the weather is nice. I also have a scooter that I use to travel around. I took a helicopter ride once. The helicopter’s propellers were going around when I got on. It went straight up in the air. I enjoyed the ride. I would like to learn how to fly a plane or a helicopter. I like flying through the air. —————————————————- Article 36 HolidaysIn Canada, we have many different days that we celebrate. On the first day of January, there is New Year’s Day. That is when we ring in the new year, and say goodbye to the old year. In February, there is Valentine’s day. That is the day when you tell your girlfriend or boyfriend that you love them. You can buy them flowers or candy, or take them out to dinner. In March, there is Saint Patrick’s Day. Everyone pretends that they are Irish on Saint Patrick’s day. They all wear green. Easter comes in the spring. Easter is a religious holiday. Some people celebrate by going to church. Some people think that the Easter bunny comes and leaves chocolate eggs for them. In May, there is Victoria Day. We celebrate this day in honor of England’s Queen Victoria. There are fireworks on Victoria Day. July the first is Canada Day. In September, there is Labor Day. This is the day that we honor the working man or woman. In October, there is Thanksgiving. We give thanks for all the things that we are fortunate enough to have. We usually have a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day. On the last day of October, there is Halloween. The children dress up in costumes, and go from door to door collecting candies. Remembrance day is in November. People wear red poppies, and they remember all the people that died for their country. Christmas comes in December. Christmas is also a religious holiday, but many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. They believe that Santa Claus fills up their stockings with toys and goodies. He gets in and out of people’s houses through their chimneys. We don’t get off work or school for all of these days, but many of them are holidays from work and school. —————————————————- Article 37 DiseasesSome diseases are very deadly, and some are not so serious. Most people catch a cold sometimes. A cold makes you cough and sneeze. Colds can be passed on from person to person. Some people get the flu. With the flu, you get chills and a fever. A fever is a high temperature. If you have the flu, you will feel very bad. You have to stay home in bed. There are diseases that children get. The mumps makes you have lumps in your neck. Chicken pox and measles leave you with red itchy dots on your skin. Older people sometimes get arthritis. Their bones get stiff and sore. There are people who get heart disease. In many cases, a healthy lifestyle can prevent heart disease. Cancer can attack different parts of the body. Many smokers get lung cancer. Some diseases are treated with pills or medicine. Other diseases need to be treated in the hospital. Sometimes doctors need to give you tests to find out what kind of disease you have. The doctor might have to do a blood test or an x-ray to find out what is wrong with you. Most diseases can be cured by a doctor. —————————————————- Article 38 JobsThere are many different jobs that you can choose from. You can be a doctor or a nurse. You could work in a hospital or doctor’s office. You might be a firefighter and put out fires. A policeman enforces the law. An actor plays roles on stage or in the movies. You could drive a taxi or be the pilot of an airplane. What kinds of things do you like to do? You might want to be a sales clerk in a store. Maybe you are good at a sport. You could be a baseball player or a hockey player. Being a dentist is a good job. A dentist fixes teeth. If you are good at arguing, you might want to be a lawyer. Do you like to fix people’s hair? You could be a hairdresser or a barber. If you are good with your hands, you might want to be a carpenter or a mechanic. If you like to travel, you could be a stewardess or a travel agent. You could be a teacher or a photographer. Are you artistic or creative? You might want to be an artist or a writer. You could work on construction and build houses. You could look after animals and be a veterinarian. If you like to cook, you could be a cook or a chef. There are so many places to work, and so many jobs to do. Maybe you could fix computers or work in a library. You could wash windows or be the captain of a ship. There is no limit to what you can be. —————————————————- Article 39 My BodyOn the top of my head, I have hair. Below my hair is my face. I have two eyes. I have eyebrows and eyelashes. Below my eyes, I have a nose. My mouth is below my nose. I have lips. If I open my lips, you will see my teeth and my tongue. Below my mouth is my chin. On the sides of my head, I have two ears. My cheeks are on either side of my nose. My neck holds up my head. My neck attaches my head to my chest. On either side of my chest are my shoulders. My arms hang down from my shoulders. I have wrists on my arms. My hands are attached to my wrists. My fingers are part of my hands. I have ten fingers and ten fingernails. My back is at the back of me. Further down, there is my waist. If I wear a belt, I put it on my waist. My hips are below my waist. My legs come down from my hips. My legs are made up of my thighs, my knees and my calves. My knees can bend. My ankles are below my legs. My feet are attached to my ankles. My toes are part of my feet. I have ten toes and ten toenails. I am me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. —————————————————- Article 40 ClothingI change my clothes a lot. If I am going somewhere fancy, I wear a dress. I wear stockings on my legs, and I wear a pair of nice shoes. If I am going to play sports, I wear a sweatshirt and jeans. If I am going to the beach, I wear a bathing suit or a bikini. My brother wears swimming trunks to the beach. At work, I wear a skirt and a blouse. Underneath my clothes, I wear underwear. A lady wears a bra and panties as underwear. A man wears boxer or jockey shorts as underwear. Today, I am wearing a blouse and a pair of jeans over my underwear. I have socks and shoes on my feet. In the summer, I often wear sandals on my feet. In the summer, the tops that I wear are usually sleeveless. I usually wear shorts in the summer. Sometimes, I wear a sweater or a jacket if the weather is cool. I wear a cap or a hat on my head. I wear a belt to hold up my jeans or my slacks. Women sometimes wear a dress or a skirt. Men wear a pair of slacks and a shirt. Some men wear a suit and a shirt and tie. If it is very cold outside, I wear a winter coat. If it is cold, I like to wear gloves or mittens on my hands. Sometimes, I wrap a scarf around my neck to keep warm. I wear a toque on my head in cold weather. I wear boots on my feet in the winter. If it is raining, I wear a raincoat. The way that I dress depends a lot on the weather. —————————————————- Article 41 ColorsRed is a vibrant color. Roses are sometimes red. Blood is red. White is the color of snow. Clouds are very often white. Blue is the color of the sky and the ocean. Black isn’t really a color at all. Tar is black. A crow is black. Green is the color of grass. It is also the color of leaves on the trees in the summer. Brown is the color of dirt. Many people have brown hair. Yellow is a bright color. Most people use yellow when they draw a picture of the sun. Orange is an easy color to remember, that is because an orange is orange. Pink is the color that we dress baby girls in. We dress baby boys in blue. Purple is the color of some violets. The Canadian flag is red and white. What color is your flag? —————————————————- Article 42 Wild AnimalsSome animals are wild. They don’t live in homes or cages. They live in jungles or on plains. The lion is the king of the beasts. He is very mighty. He roars loudly. The giraffe has a long neck. He eats leaves from the tallest trees. The elephant is very large. He has a trunk and two tusks. A tiger has stripes. Some bears are black, and some are brown. There are even white bears called polar bears. A kangaroo lives in Australia. That is the only place that you would find a kangaroo, except in a zoo. It might be frightening to run into a wolf or a fox. Monkeys run and play in the trees. In Canada, we don’t see lions, tigers, giraffes or monkeys running wild. There are squirrels in my back yard. Sometimes, I see a raccoon or a chipmunk. In northern Ontario, you might see a moose or a bear. I have seen a deer in the forest. There are many wild animals. You can see wild animals if you go to the zoo. —————————————————- Article 43 MonthsThere are twelve months in the year. January is the first month of the year. It is usually cold in January. February is the second month of the year. It is still winter when February comes. They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. That means that it is still usually cold, and sometimes stormy when March begins. By the time that March ends, the weather is starting to get a little better. April is the rainy month. April showers bring May flowers. Many of the spring flowers bloom in May. The weather can be quite mild in May. June is usually a nice warm month. Many people get married in June. July can be hot. People have vacations in July. It is a month to do summer things. It is still summer in August, but the summer is winding down. August is the time to have last minute vacations. In September, we go back to school. The autumn winds begin to blow. October really feels like autumn. October is Halloween time. November is when we really start to feel the chill. December is the Christmas month. Most people do a lot of Christmas shopping in December. They spend quite a bit of time getting ready for Christmas. All of the months are different. Which month were you born in? —————————————————- Article 44 Days of the WeekThere are seven days of the week. Sunday is a day of rest for some people, but many people still have to work. Quite a few people go to church on a Sunday. On Monday morning, we go back to school after the weekend. Many people say that they don’t like Monday because it is the beginning of the work week. Tuesday is a school day and a working day. I don’t think that there is anything special about a Tuesday. Wednesday is the middle of the work week. On Thursday, many of the stores and malls stay open later. It gives you a chance to run some errands on a Thursday night. On Friday, you feel like the work week is nearly over. Some people say, “thank goodness it is Friday.” They look forward to the weekend. On Saturday, many people can sleep in late. People get errands done on Saturday. You see a lot of people in the grocery store on a Saturday. Most children look forward to Saturday so that they can play with their friends. Then, Sunday comes again. The weeks turn into months, and the months turn into years. Time goes by quite quickly. There are seven days of the week. Sunday is a day of rest for some people, but many people still have to work. Quite a few people go to church on a Sunday. On Monday morning, we go back to school after the weekend. Many people say that they don’t like Monday because it is the beginning of the work week. Tuesday is a school day and a working day. I don’t think that there is anything special about a Tuesday. Wednesday is the middle of the work week. On Thursday, many of the stores and malls stay open later. It gives you a chance to run some errands on a Thursday night. On Friday, you feel like the work week is nearly over. Some people say, “thank goodness it is Friday.” They look forward to the weekend. On Saturday, many people can sleep in late. People get errands done on Saturday. You see a lot of people in the grocery store on a Saturday. Most children look forward to Saturday so that they can play with their friends. Then, Sunday comes again. The weeks turn into months, and the months turn into years. Time goes by quite quickly. —————————————————- Article 45 Describing ThingsSome things are different shapes. They can be described by their shape. A circle is round. A compact disc is a circle. A square has four equal sides. A rectangle is similar, but two of the sides are longer. A triangle has only three sides. Have you ever seen anyone play a triangle in an orchestra? The word “triangle” can stand for an instrument or a shape. An oval is rounded, but it is not round. An egg is an oval shape. The floor is flat. If something is smooth, it has no bumps or lumps Silk is smooth. Some things are rough. Sandpaper is rough. If something is dull, it is not sharp or pointed. A dull knife will not cut bread because the blade is not sharp. If something is pointed, it has a sharp end. A sharp pencil has a pointed end. A pencil that has been used a lot, and hasn’t been sharpened has a dull end. Some things are soft. A teddy bear is soft. It feels good to touch. Some things are hard. A rock is hard. Soft can also represent a noise level. If you have a soft voice, it is not very loud. If someone tells you to speak softly, they want you to speak quietly. “Loud” is the word used to describe noises that hurt your ears. A big truck will make a loud noise. Sometimes your mother will tell you that your music is too loud. —————————————————- Article 46 FruitSome fruit grows on trees. Apples grow on trees. You can get red, yellow or green apples. Some apples are green until they ripen; then they turn red. Peaches grow on trees. Peaches have a fuzzy skin. Cherries grow on trees. You can climb a ladder and pick cherries from the tree. Cherries and peaches have pits inside them. The pits are not edible. Pears also grow on trees. Lemons grow on trees. They are very sour. Have you ever picked strawberries? Strawberries do not grow on trees. You have to bend down to pick strawberries. Have you ever tried strawberry shortcake? It is very good. Grapes grow on vines. People use grapes to make wine. There are many types of berries. There are blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries, just to name a few. Some fruits are more exotic. There are mangos and papayas. They don’t grow in Canada. Bananas and oranges don’t grow in a Canadian climate either, but we are able to buy them here. Some fruits have to be peeled, and some can be eaten as they are. It is always a good idea to wash fruit before you eat it. The farmers spray the crops with pesticides to kill bugs, so it is good to wash that off. —————————————————- Article 47 BugsMany people are afraid of bugs. Some bugs do bad things like eating crops or clothes. Some bugs, such as termites, even eat wood. Other bugs can be good. Spiders catch flies. Flies are not good because they carry germs. Insects get caught in the web that the spider builds. Ants get into homes and eat food. Bees are good because honey comes from bees. It is not good if you get stung by a bee. A caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Butterflies can be very beautiful. You can find grasshoppers outside on a sunny day. Grasshoppers hop through the grass. Crickets make a noise by rubbing their legs together. Dragonflies usually live near water. They have large, colorful wings. Ladybugs are red with little black dots. There are many types of beetles. Nobody wants to have cockroaches in their house. Centipedes have many legs. Fleas get onto your pets and bite them. They make your dog or cat itchy. Mosquitoes can make you itchy when they bite you. Have you ever had a mosquito bite? —————————————————- Article 48 The KitchenThe kitchen is where we make and eat our meals. There is a stove in the kitchen. Inside the stove there is an oven where you bake things. You can put a cake into the oven to bake. On top of the stove are burners. The burners get hot. You put pots or pans on the burners. The refrigerator is where we store the food that needs to be kept cold. We keep milk, eggs, cheese and vegetables in the refrigerator. At the top of the refrigerator is the freezer. The freezer keeps things frozen. We have frozen vegetables, ice cream and ice cubes in the freezer. We have a toaster in the kitchen. You put the bread in the toaster, and it turns into toast. We have an electric kettle. We boil water to make tea in the kettle. There is a double sink in the kitchen. That is where we wash the dishes. We turn on the hot tap, and put some dish detergent into the sink to wash the dishes. Sometimes we put the dishes into the dishwasher, and the dishwasher washes the dishes. There are other things in the kitchen. There are utensils like knives, forks and spoons. There are tea towels and dish clothes. There are oven mitts and pot holders to take hot things out of the oven. There are pots to cook and boil things in. There are pans to fry things. We have dishes that we eat from. We have plates for our dinner, and bowls that we can put our soup in. We drink from cups, or coffee mugs, or glasses. We keep our juice in a pitcher or a jug. There is a timer that you can set when you are cooking. The timer buzzes when the food is ready. We also have a microwave oven in the kitchen. If we are in a hurry, we cook our food in the microwave. —————————————————- Article 49 VegetablesVegetables are very good for you. They say that you should have three servings of vegetables every day. I like green peas. Peas come in pods. I also like snow peas. You eat the pods on the snow peas. I like corn when it is on the cob. Carrots are good to eat raw. Beans are good for you. There are many different types of beans. There are string beans, kidney beans, baked beans and lots of other types of beans. Some people don’t like green vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. I like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. You can make a salad and put lots of different vegetables into the salad. In my salads, I like lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, radishes, cauliflower and spring onions. I try to have a salad with dressing on it every day. My dad likes root vegetables like beets and parsnips. My brother will only eat potatoes. He likes his potatoes baked. My mother likes to buy her vegetables at the market. She says they are fresher there. My mother buys a lot of onions. She puts onions in almost all the meals that she cooks. Some children won’t eat their vegetables. I didn’t like some vegetables at first, but I have become used to them. I like having vegetables with my meals. —————————————————- Article 50 PetsThere are many different animals that you can have for pets. The most common pets are cats and dogs. I think the second most common pets are birds and fish. You can hug a cat or a dog. You can play with a cat or a dog, but it is difficult to play with a bird or a fish. Some birds are very smart, and they can be taught to do things. Parrots are very clever. Some of them even talk. Birds usually stay in birdcages. Fish have to stay in the water in a tank or a fishbowl. Some people have gerbils or guinea pigs as pets. There are even people who have ferrets as pets. I have a friend who has a lizard for a pet. She has to buy live crickets for her lizard to eat. Another friend of mine has a pet snake. I don’t think I would like to have a pet snake. There are different types of dogs. Some dogs are very big, and some are small. A Labrador retriever is a big dog. A poodle is usually a small dog, although there are some large poodles. Some dogs are noisy, and they bark a lot. Other dogs are quiet and obedient. I once had a dog. It was a cocker spaniel. I used to take it for walks. There are different types of cats too. My favorite type of cat is a Siamese cat. Siamese cats have blue eyes. My mother had a Persian cat. It was very furry. My mother said that it used to shed fur all over the house. Pets are a lot of fun, but they are a lot of work too. To be a good pet owner, you have to be very responsible. —————————————————- Article 51 PartiesParties can be a lot of fun. People get invited to parties. You can have a party because it is a special occasion, or just because you want to have a party. Sometimes, people wear paper hats at parties. These are called party hats. Some people decorate with streamers and balloons. At some parties, there is a cake. Sometimes, there are just snacks and drinks. At some parties, people play games. There are also parties where people just stand around and talk. People wear different things to parties. You can go to some parties in casual clothes. At other parties, you need to be dressed up in good clothes. There are other parties where you are supposed to wear a costume. There are many different kinds of parties. There are Christmas parties, birthday parties, going away parties, and parties for no reason at all. I have been to parties for people who are retiring, or for people who have just had a new baby. There are hundreds of reasons for having a party. At some parties, you take a gift. If it is a birthday party, then you take a gift and a birthday card to the person who is having the birthday. Sometimes, people will ask you to bring food or drinks to the party. All parties are different. It is nice to be invited to parties. —————————————————- Article 52 Grocery ShoppingWhat do you see when you go to the grocery store? The aisles are filled with food. There are also refrigerators and freezers filled with food. There are sometimes things in bins in the middle of the aisles. There are different departments in the grocery store. There is the bakery. In the bakery, there are sweet things such as cakes, pies, cookies and tarts. There are also things that you would eat with your dinner like bread and buns. There are other things in the bakery department like bagels and biscuits. The baker works in the bakery. There is the canned goods section. This is where you might find sauces and soups. Vegetables and fruits also come in cans. There is the section for dairy products. Here you would find milk and cream. The dairy section would also have cheese and butter. Yogurt is also found in the dairy section. In the meat department, there is beef and pork. Poultry is also found in the meat department. Poultry is chicken, duck and goose. There are also cold cuts in the meat department. Cold cuts are the meats that are sliced up for sandwiches. Some examples of cold cuts are ham and baloney. The butcher works in the meat department. The produce department is full of fruits and vegetables. Clerks spray water on the fruit and vegetables to keep them fresh. There is a section in the grocery store for personal hygiene. This is where you would find shampoo and toothpaste. Soap and skin products would also be in this section. There is even a section for your pets. You can buy cat food and dog food. Grocery Shopping There are toys for cats and dogs. —————————————————- Article 53 DifferencesAre you tall or short? Are you big or small? People come in many different shapes and sizes. Some people wear size small clothes. Other people wear size medium clothes. There are people who wear large size clothes. Some people even wear extra large clothes. Some people are thin. Some people are fat. Some people are in between. There are people with short hair. Other people have long hair. Some people have no hair at all. No two people are exactly alike. Some people have long legs. I have short legs. I don’t walk as fast as a person with long legs. I am not a tall person. In fact, I am quite short. My feet are a size seven. My mother has size five feet. My father has size twelve feet. We are all different sizes. It is not a bad thing. It is a good thing that we are all unique. —————————————————- Article 54 The RestaurantWhen you go to a restaurant you might see a sign that says, “Please wait to be seated.” A host or hostess will ask you how many people are in your party. Then they will want to know if you want to sit in the smoking or non-smoking section. The host or hostess will take you to your seat. You might sit at a table or at a booth. The host or hostess will give you a menu to look at. Sometimes, there are different menus for different meals. There can be a breakfast menu, a lunch menu and a dinner menu. Sometimes, there is also a wine list and a dessert menu. The food and the prices of the food are listed on the menu. On your table, there will be cutlery. Cutlery is the knives, forks and spoons. There will also be a napkin. You are supposed to put your napkin on your lap when you eat. Your waiter or waitress will take your order. You might want an appetizer before your meal. Some people want a salad or soup before their meal. After your meal, you might have a dessert, or tea, or coffee. When it is time to go, you will pay your bill and leave a tip for the waiter or waitress. —————————————————- Article 55 TrafficTraffic moves along on the streets and highways. There are rules that drivers must follow to make the traffic flow smoothly. You must wear a seatbelt. The seatbelt helps to keep you safe. You must stop at all stop signs. You must also stop at a red light. A green light means go, and a yellow light means to be careful. If you see a sign that says school crossing, you have to be careful because you are near a school, and children might be crossing the street. Some places are crosswalks. Those are places where people cross the street. People who are walking have the right of way. If you hear a siren behind you, you must pull over. An emergency vehicle like a police car or an ambulance might need to get somewhere fast. When a school bus puts on its flashing signals, you have to stop. You can’t go past the school bus because children may be crossing the street from the bus. You should always obey the speed limit. It is not good to drive too fast. People should never drink and drive. Driving is a serious business. You have to obey all the rules to be a good driver. —————————————————- Article 56 Music (1)If you were in an orchestra, what would you play? Would you play a tuba, a trumpet or a saxophone? Perhaps you would prefer a stringed instrument like a violin or a cello. Maybe you would enjoy percussion more. You could play the kettle drum. There are instruments that have keyboards. A piano and an organ have keyboards. There are instruments that have strings on them. A guitar, banjo and mandolin have strings on them. There are instruments that you blow into. A flute, a French horn and a harmonica are all instruments that you blow into. There are instruments that you hit with a stick. A drum and a cymbal are two things that you would hit with a stick. If you are in an orchestra, you have to watch the conductor. He will lead you through the piece of music. You might just want to be in a band for fun. You could join a rock band or a dance band. Some people learn to read music. Music notes are written on a staff. Each note represents a sound. There are whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes. Each one of these is held for a different number of beats. It is good to learn about music. You have to learn your scales, and learn about sharps and flats. If you want to learn how to play an instrument, it is best to take music lessons. —————————————————- Article 57 Who, What, Where and Why?These are important words. They are all words that begin questions. “Who” is about a person. Who is the girl with the blue dress on? Who stole my watch? Who will come with me to the game? Who is driving us to the party? “What” is about a thing. What is that big thing on the sidewalk? What should I do when I get to your house? What kind of clothes should I wear to the party? What shall I buy you for your birthday? “Where” is about a place. Where are you going for your vacation? Where did I leave my glasses? Where did my brother go? Where on earth is Timmins? “Why” is the word that asks for an explanation. Why did you take the last piece of pie? Why is the world round? Why should I give you any money? Why did the chicken cross the street? They say that you should answer all of these questions if you are writing a story. You have to give the who, what, where and why to write a good story. —————————————————- Article 58 Which Direction?Which direction should I go in? Should I go up? If I go up, I will head toward the sky. I can go up the stairs. Should I go down? I can go down the stairs to the basement. I can climb down into a hole. Should I go left or right? I am right-handed, so I know which way right is. Should I go backwards? I would be going away from the things that I am facing now if I went backwards. If I went backwards from the thing that I am facing, I would go away from it. If I went backwards from the thing that I am facing, I would go away from it. Should I go forward? I will just go straight ahead if I go forward. If I am facing something and I go forward, then I will go toward the thing that I am facing. Maybe I should go sideways, but which side, left or right? It sounds very complicated, but it is not. Directions are very easy to follow if you just stop and think about them. —————————————————- Article 59 The OfficeSome people work in an office. There are special tools that people in an office need to do their work. There is a computer in the office. There is a telephone. Most of the time, the secretary answers the telephone. The secretary sits at a desk. The secretary has pens and pencils on the desk. The secretary writes on a note pad. Some other things that you would find in an office would include the following: a stapler to staple pages together, a photocopier to copy pages, a pencil sharpener to sharpen pencils, a water cooler where the employees could get a drink of water, a hole punch to make holes in sheets of paper, and liquid paper which is used to blank out errors on a page. Some offices have many employees in them. All of the employees have their own desks. Other offices just have one person at a desk. In some offices, there is a secretary or a receptionist, and then there is the boss in another room. There are often many important papers in an office. Important papers can be called documents. You might have to sign a document or fill out a form in an office. Some offices have bookshelves filled with books. The books are filled with information that the people in the office need. You will have to visit an office sometime. Maybe it will be a doctor’s office or a lawyer’s office. There are many different types of offices. —————————————————- Article 60 MoneyI keep my money in the bank. I have saved up my money. I saved all my pennies in a jar. A penny is only worth one cent. I have nickels. A nickel is worth five cents. A dime is worth ten cents. A quarter is worth twenty-five cents. A quarter is a quarter of a dollar. Four quarters make up a dollar. A dollar is worth one hundred cents. I saved up all of my dollars. Our dollars used to be paper, but now they are coins. We call our dollars loonies. It is a funny name. We also have two dollar coins. We call those toonies. We have five dollar bills and ten dollar bills. If you are lucky you will have twenty dollar bills, fifty dollar bills and even hundred dollar bills. Our bills in Canada are different colors. That makes them easy to recognize if you go somewhere to spend them. It is wise to save your money. If you save enough, you could have hundreds or thousands of dollars. —————————————————- Article 61 MannersIt is good to be polite. People like you more when you are polite. Always say please and thank you. If you ask for some milk, you should say, “Please, may I have a glass of milk?” When someone gives you the milk, you should respond with “Thank you.” It is not difficult to be polite. You should not push or shove people. You should cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. You should address people properly. If you are trying to get someone’s attention, you would say, “excuse me.” You wouldn’t say, “hey you.” There are table manners. That is where you eat properly and politely at the dinner table. You don’t shove food into your mouth. You don’t reach over other people’s plates. You don’t talk with your mouth full. All of these things are common sense. Being polite is mostly thinking about how you would like to be treated. You wouldn’t want people to be impolite to you. It is not polite to point at people. It is not polite to burp out loud. It is not polite to use someone else’s things without asking first. Being polite just comes naturally if you have been brought up in a home where everyone was polite. —————————————————- Article 62 The Two SexesThere are two sexes or genders. There is the male gender, and there is the female gender. Males and females are different, both physically and mentally. Humans are both male and female, and animals are both male and female. If you have a dog, it is either a girl dog or a boy dog. Boys grow up to be men. Men grow hair on their faces. Men are usually more muscular than women. Men dress differently then women. Men are males. Males are masculine. Girls grow up to be women. Only women can have babies. Women are females. Females are feminine. Another word for women is ladies. It is good that we have males and females. Your father is a male. Your grandfather, brother and uncle are males. Your mother is a female. Your grandmother, sister and aunt are females. —————————————————- Article 63 MeI am special. Nobody in the world is exactly like I am. They might have the same color hair and eyes that I do, but they are not exactly like me. I am the only person in the world who thinks my thoughts. No two people in the world are exactly alike. It is good to be your own person. It is good to be creative and be natural. People have to follow the laws and the rules. People should always be kind to others. I try to follow all the rules. I am kind to others. I am a lot like many other people, yet I am different. I am like my friend Jane, but she has red hair and I have dark hair. She has a loud voice, and I have a soft voice. She likes to eat vegetables, and I do not. Jane and I are the same height. We both like movies, and we are both afraid of spiders. We wear the same size shoes, and we both have the same favorite color. We are best friends, but sometimes we disagree about things. We are alike in many ways, and different in many ways. If we were all exactly the same, the world would be a very boring place. I am myself, and I am glad that I am special. You are special too. Use your own special talents, and take the time to meet other people. The world is made up of a lot of different people; that’s what makes life exciting. —————————————————- Article 64 My CatI got my cat when she was just a tiny kitten. I named her Puff because her fur is soft and fluffy. She has white fur, but her tail, paws and ears are black. She has a little pink nose and yellow eyes. She says “meow” whenever she wants a bowl of milk. I feed her cat food and treats. She washes her face with her paw when she is finished eating. My whole family loves her, and we can tell that she loves us. She loves to curl up in our laps. She purrs whenever we pet her. She is very playful. We sometimes roll up a piece of paper and throw it to her. She loves to chase the paper and hit it with her paws. She also chases bugs. Last night she chased a spider, but she was afraid to touch it. At night she curls up in my bed with me. She likes to be warm. I have given her a blanket of her own, but when I put her on it her tail twitches. Her tail twitches whenever she is upset or angry. I know that she doesn’t want to be on her blanket. She wants to be in my bed. I let her into my bed, and she falls asleep purring loudly. —————————————————- Article 65 Music (2)My family is very musical. My father plays the guitar. He plays in a band. The band plays country music. My mother is a singer in the band. She also plays the piano. I took the flute in music class at school. I play the flute in the school band. I also sing in the school choir. I have a low voice. My sister has a high voice. She is a soprano. At home I like to practice the drums, but my mother says that it is too loud. Sometimes I play so loudly that I break a drumstick. I practice whenever she goes out. I would like to be in a rock band. Some of my friends and I are thinking of starting our own rock band. My sister is a very good piano player. She has won many awards at music festivals. She likes to play classical music, but sometimes I get her to play rock music with me. She is also a very good singer. I like to sing with her. We sing in harmony. I listen to music all the time on the radio. I know a lot of songs. I can sing along with most of the songs that come on the radio. I memorize the lyrics of the songs. My sister and I sometimes get together and sing our favorite songs. Maybe someday we will start our own rock band, and I will be the drummer. —————————————————- Article 66 SpringIt rains a lot in the spring. The trees are full of buds, and the flowers are starting to bloom. My favorite spring flowers are tulips and daffodils. The birds come back from the south. I can always tell that spring is here when I see my first robin of the season. The robins pull worms from the wet ground. When it isn’t raining, my friends and I go outside and toss a ball around. We look forward to the summer, but we are glad to get outside after the long winter. The air smells so fresh in the spring. My mother always tells me not to track mud into the house. It’s very muddy in our yard in the springtime. I wipe my muddy feet before I go into the house. There are a lot of puddles in my yard. I sometimes splash in the puddles, and I get wet and cold, so I have to go into the house. I like it when the snow has melted, the rain has stopped, and the sun comes out. On sunny days I always get together with my friends. On those days we either ride our bikes or play ball. My parents like to go for walks on spring evenings. They also like to clean up the yard in the spring. Everyone seems to be outside. The springtime brings people out of their houses. —————————————————- Article 67 The Birthday PartyYesterday I went to a birthday party. My friend Jane had her tenth birthday. Her house was decorated with balloons and streamers. Her mother had baked a big birthday cake. The cake had “Happy tenth birthday Jane” written on it. There were ten candles on the cake. Jane blew out the candles and made a wish. I wonder what she wished for. Your wish won’t come true if you tell anyone what it was. We sang “Happy birthday to you.” At the party we played some games. I won one of games so I got a prize. We also swam in Jane’s swimming pool. Jane opened her gifts. Her gifts were wrapped in bright paper and bows. She got lots of nice gifts. She got some compact discs, some clothes and some computer games. Jane thanked everyone. We ate a lot of food at Jane’s party. We had hot dogs. I put mustard and ketchup on my hot dog. Then we ate cake and ice cream. We had pop to drink. I think I had too much cake and ice cream. I was very full by the time the party was over. We thanked Jane and her mother before we all went home. It was a very good party. Everyone had a good time. I hope Jane had a happy tenth birthday. —————————————————- Article 68 My ClassroomMy classroom is a large room. It is full of brightly colored pictures. My teacher hangs pictures up all over the walls. There are blackboards at the front of the room. My teacher always has writing all over the blackboards. Sometimes the chalk squeaks when she writes on the blackboard. We cover our ears when that happens. Our classroom is full of desks. There are a lot of students in our class. Our desks are full of books, notebooks and pens. I try to keep my desk neat, but I have a lot of things in there. My ruler and pencils are always falling out of my desk. At the back of the room is a bookcase full of books. We can sign those books out and take them home to read. I have read a lot of the books. I like mysteries and biographies, so I have taken many of those home. There are also tables at the back of the room. That is where we do our artwork. We spread out big sheets of paper, and we use paints or crayons to make pictures. Sometimes we cut things out of magazines with scissors and we glue pictures to the paper. I like art class. After school, my friends and I often erase the blackboards for the teacher. Then we take the erasers outside and clap them together to get the chalk dust out of them. My friends and I walk home together and talk about what we did in school and what we’re going to do after supper. —————————————————- Article 69 VacationMy family and I went on vacation to Lake Huron. The water is beautiful and blue there, and the sand is nice and white. The week that we were there was very hot. The sun was hot, but the water was still very cold. I went swimming and tried to catch little fish in my hands. I was careful not to get sunburned. We stayed at a hotel that had a pool and a game room. I played pinball and video games sometimes. I liked to swim in the hotel pool, but I liked the beach better. I would lie on a big beach towel and get warm; then I would jump in the water and cool off. Sometimes I would just lie on the sand and watch the waves roll up on the shore. I found some seashells, and I saw a crab walking on the sand. At first I was a bit lonely because I didn’t know anyone there. It wasn’t long before I met some other kids my age. We built sandcastles together and swam in the lake. The other kids were from different towns, so we told each other stories about our schools and friends. We found that we had a lot in common even though we were from different places. Our families got together and went to restaurants together. We played volleyball on the beach, and we sat around a campfire at night and sang songs. At the campfire we would roast marshmallows on a stick. I always burn my marshmallows. That is okay. I like them that way. Mostly we just swam in the lake until we were very tired. I was sorry when our vacation was over. I had a good time at Lake Huron. I met some very good friends there. We still write to each other. Maybe we’ll see each other next summer. —————————————————- Article 70 My House (1)I live in a two-Stoney house. The bottom of the house is painted white. The upper part of the house is made of red brick. The chimney is also made of red brick. If you go through the front door and turn right you’ll see the living room. The living room is very large and comfortable. There are easy chairs, a coffee table and a sofa in there. I like to sit in there and relax. Next to the living room is the dining room. There are a dining table and chairs in there. We use this room whenever we have visitors over for dinner. Beside the dining room is the kitchen. The kitchen has a stove and a refrigerator in it There is also a kitchen table with some benches at it. Most of the time we eat in the kitchen. Upstairs there are three bedrooms. My parents’ bedroom is very big. They have a large queen sized bed in there, and there are two closets for their clothes. My room is smaller. My room is painted pink, and I have ruffled curtains on the windows. From my bedroom window you can see the front yard. There is a pine tree in the front yard. My brother’s bedroom is painted blue. He has blinds on the windows. He has a bunk bed in his room. If he has a friend stay over, one of them can sleep on the top bunk, and the other one can sleep on the bottom bunk. He can see the back yard from his bedroom window. There are rose bushes and a picnic table in the back yard. There is also a white fence that has gate in it. In the basement there is a recreation room. This is where we watch television and have friends over to visit. The laundry room is also in the basement. There are a washing machine and a dryer in there. Beside our house is a garage. We keep the car in the garage whenever the weather is bad. Our house is just the right size for our family. Friends are always welcome at our house. —————————————————- Article 71 My FamilyMy grandparents are coming to visit us from Calgary, Alberta. My father is very happy because they are his parents, and he is glad that he will see them. We don’t see them very often because Calgary is a long way from Toronto. My grandparents have two sons: my father and my Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill is married to my Aunt Susan. They have a daughter who is my cousin. My cousin is a lot older than I, so we do not have a lot in common. They also have a son who is the same age as me. He is my favorite cousin because we both like the same television shows and the same games. I have two brothers and one sister. My brothers are both younger than I. They are twins, so they have the same birthday. My sister is one year older than I. People say that my sister and I look alike. We both have blonde hair and blue eyes. My mother’s parents live near us. They are the grandmother and grandfather who visit us often. My mother does not have any brothers or sisters. She is an only child. I like it when all my family is together. I don’t have a lot of cousins like some people do, but I have fun with my relatives. My uncle will often take my cousin and me to the movies. I like to take my grandparents for walks so that they can see my school, and they can meet my friends. My parents talk to my brothers, my sister and I a lot. We are a very close-knit family. People who have close families are very lucky. —————————————————- Article 72 WinterOnce the fall is over and the snowflakes start to fall I get very excited. I can hardly wait for the ground to be covered with a blanket of white snow. I put on my mittens, my scarf, my hat, coat and winter boots, and I run out into the fluffy snow. I have to be careful not to slip on the ice. It can get very icy and cold in the winter. The first thing that I do is to build a snowman. I sometimes build a snow fort too. My friends and I like to have a good snowball fight. We laugh a lot, and our cheeks and noses get very red. When we get too cold, we go into the house and have a cup of hot chocolate. My father fills the backyard with water that freezes and turns into an ice rink. When the ice is hard enough, my friends and I get our skates and we go out on the ice to play hockey. All of my friends own hockey sticks. I am usually the goalie, and I have to keep the puck from going into the net. My sister and her friends don’t really like to play hockey. They would rather just skate around on the ice. I took skating lessons, so I don’t usually fall down. My little brother is just learning to skate, so he falls down a lot. My father has to shovel the snow off the paths and the driveway in the winter. I help him. Shoveling snow is hard work. When my Dad and I finish shoveling the driveway, we go into the house and warm our hands and feet in front of the fireplace. There is probably nothing more beautiful than fresh fallen snow on the trees. In the morning, when the sun shines on the snow, it glistens. I like to leave my footprints in the snow. Winter can be very beautiful and exciting. —————————————————- Article 73 AutumnSome people call autumn the “fall.” You can call it either one. Autumn is the time when the leaves change color. They change from green to beautiful shades of gold, orange and red. It looks like an artist has come along and painted all the trees. The air starts to get a little cooler in the autumn. We begin to wear jackets or sweaters. We go back to school in the autumn. The teacher sometimes gets us to make leaf collections. We collect different types of leaves and make a display of them. Autumn is the time when old friends get back together and talk about what they did on their summer vacations. Halloween comes in the autumn. We dress up in costumes. Some of them are scary, and some of them are funny. We go from door to door and say “Trick or treat” and people give us candies. We wear masks on our faces, and we have a lot of fun. The autumn winds start to blow. The wind blows the leaves right off the trees until the trees have bare branches. My friends and I like to have a lot of fun outside before the winter leaves us shivering. We play football and soccer at school. After school, we ride our bikes through piles of dry leaves. The leaves go flying through the air as we drive through them. My parents rake the leaves up and put them in big pile. I like to jump in the big piles of leaves, but then my parents just have to rake them up again. The skies get a little cloudier in the autumn, and we know that soon there will be snow, so we enjoy the brisk autumn weather while we can —————————————————- Article 74 SummerYahoo! School is over! We are free for the summer. My friends and I run out on the last day of school into the bright summer sun. We sing a song about “no more pencils, no more books.” We can hardly wait to do all the summer things that we like to do. We go swimming, we play baseball, we ride our bikes and we go to the beach. We go on vacations, or some of us go to summer camp. It is just nice to run barefoot through the grass or lie on your back and look up at the clouds. Summer days are lazy days. We don’t have to do school work. We listen to the buzzing of the bees. We watch the birds as they fly from tree to tree. We go down to the pond and toss rocks into the water. We eat ice cream, and we have barbecues. Some of my friend’s parents have boats, so we go for rides in their boats. Some of my friends go to their cottages. They have cottages on lakes. Some of my friends even have summer jobs. My best friend works at the supermarket. My father pays me to do jobs for him. I cut the grass, take out the garbage and wash the car. I like to be outside in the sunshine. On Sundays, my mother will pack a picnic lunch, and we go down to the park. Sometimes we play baseball. There is also a tennis court at the park. I am a very good tennis player. My sister just likes to swing on the swings and slide down the slide. We eat our sandwiches and watch out for the ants that always seem to be at picnics. After we have our lunch, my sister and I run off to play with the other children. My Dad has a nap, and my Mother reads her book. My skin gets brown from the sun in the summer. Summer is my favorite season. I like the sounds, smells and feelings that come with the summer sun. Summer is a lot of fun. I wish summer could go on forever. —————————————————- Article 75 The DoctorI didn’t feel very well last week. I had a sore throat and a fever. My mother took me to see the doctor. When we got there, the nurse took my name and said that the doctor would be with me soon. The doctor was a very nice man in a white jacket. I had seen the doctor before when I had my tonsils out at the hospital. The doctor took a light and looked in my ears. He put a stick on my tongue, and he shone his light into my mouth. He looked at my throat. He said that my throat was a bit swollen and red. He felt my neck and said that my glands were swollen. He took my temperature and said that it was quite high. He listened to my heart, and he made me cough. He asked me some questions. He said that he might have to do some tests. He sent me to get some blood taken out of my arm. I was scared, but it didn’t really hurt. The doctor gave me some pills and told me to take one in the morning and one at night. He told me to drink a lot of fluids. He told me to get plenty of sleep. I did exactly what the doctor told me to do. It wasn’t very long before I was feeling well again. I think that I might like to be a doctor when I grow up. I would like to make people feel better. —————————————————- Article 76 The DentistMy friend’s father is a dentist. He has an office near my house. I went to see him on Thursday. His nurse told me to sit in a very big chair. She tied a bib under my chin. The dentist came in. He examined my teeth with some shiny silver tools. He looked at my front teeth and my back teeth. He told me that the back teeth were called molars. He told me to “open wide.” He had a little mirror that he used to look at my teeth. He said that I had good strong teeth. He told me that I didn’t have any cavities. I told him that I didn’t eat a lot of candies and that I always brushed my teeth after every meal. He said that was very good. He asked me if I flossed my teeth, and I said, “Yes, I use dental floss every day.” He told me that my teeth were healthy because I took very good care of them. He left and told me to keep up the good work. The dental hygienist came in, and she said that she would clean my teeth for me. She scraped my teeth with a sharp tool, and then she put some polish on my teeth and began to clean them. When she was done, she told me to spit into a bowl, and then I rinsed my mouth out with water. I looked into a mirror and saw that my teeth were very shiny and white. If I take care of my teeth, I’ll have them forever. I would like to keep my teeth healthy and white. I like to smile. —————————————————- Article 77 The School PlayWe are putting on a play at school. Some of the students are actors in the play. Some people are building the sets. Some people will sew costumes, and some people will be makeup artists. The teacher is the director of the play. The play will be held on a big stage in the gymnasium. The curtains will open, the lights will go on, and the play will begin. It will be very exciting. All of our families will come to see the play. They will clap when the play is over. My friend is very good at cutting wood and building things. He is helping to build the set. My other friend, Michael, is an artist, so he is painting the set so that it looks like a forest. My friend Marie likes to put makeup on people, so she is a makeup artist. She will put makeup on me so that I will look like an old woman. Some of the mothers helped to sew the costumes. The play is called “Hansel and Gretel.” I will play the part of the witch. The boy who plays Hansel has to wear shorts and a shirt. I wear a witch’s hat and a black dress. I also carry a broom. Some of the people in my class will be dressed like trees and flowers. This is a musical play, and the trees and flowers will sing to Hansel and Gretel as they walk through the forest. I can hardly wait for opening night. I want my family and friends to see me acting on stage. I hope that they like the play. We have all learned our lines and worked very hard at making this play a success. —————————————————- Article 78 EmotionsDo you ever think about your emotions? What kinds of things make you sad? I get sad when I get a bad mark in school, or when someone that I like moves away. I sometimes see sad movies that make me cry. I don’t like to be sad. I don’t like to have a frown on my face. I like to be happy. I am happy most of the time. Parties make me happy. Being with my friends makes me happy. Lots of things make me happy. If someone tells me a joke, I laugh. I enjoy laughing. Funny movies make me laugh. I think that people look the best when they smile. What kinds of things make you mad? I get mad when my brother breaks one of my toys. I try not to show it when I get mad. My parents get mad at me if I come home late. I don’t think anger is a good emotion. It is best to stay calm and talk things over. Emotions come from inside you, but they show on your face. People can tell when you are mad, or sad or happy. I prefer to look happy. Sometimes I even smile when I am feeling sad, and the smile makes me feel a little better. —————————————————- Article 79 My First JobI just got a job at the grocery store. This is my first job. I will receive a pay cheque every two weeks. I wear a uniform. The uniform has the name of the grocery store on it. I have many jobs at the grocery store. I have to collect all the carts from the parking lot and bring them back into the store. I have to put all the produce out for the people to see. I will be putting out the vegetables. There are carrots, lettuce, cabbages, cucumbers and beans to put out this morning. I also have to put the fruit out on the stands so that it looks nice. The oranges roll away when I put them out, so I have to be careful. I put out the apples, bananas and grapes. I stack boxes up so that people can buy cereal and cookies. I have to be careful, or the boxes will fall. There are cans of things which also need to be placed on the shelves. —————————————————- Article 80 The LieYesterday I told a lie. I don’t feel very good about it. I was bouncing a ball in the kitchen, and the ball bounced up and broke a cup. It was one of my mother’s best cups, so I was afraid that she would be mad. I put the broken cup back on the table, and I didn’t tell anyone that I had broken it. That night, my mother asked who had broken the cup. My brother said, “not me.” My sister said, “I didn’t do it.” I said, “I didn’t break the cup,” but I was lying. My mother said that we would all be punished, if someone didn’t tell the truth and say who broke the cup. I still did not tell her that I had broken it. She gave us one more chance, and said that she wasn’t mad about the cup; she just wanted us to be honest. I still didn’t say anything. My brother, sister and I all got sent to our rooms. We had to stay in our rooms all morning. My brother said that it wasn’t fair. I felt very bad because my brother and sister were being punished because of me. I went to my mother and told her that I had broken the cup. She said that she was not upset about the broken cup. She knew that it was an accident. She was disappointed in me because I hadn’t come forward and told the truth. She said that she wouldn’t have punished me if I had been honest with her. I told my brother and sister that I was sorry. I felt bad because they were punished because I was dishonest. I told my mother that I was sorry that I had lied to her. I told her that I had learned a lesson. Honesty is the best policy. It is better to tell the truth. It is not a good feeling when people don’t trust you. I have learned that lying just hurts people. Sometimes it is hard to be honest, but it is the best way to be. Article 81 HobbiesA lot of people have hobbies. Hobbies are interesting things that people like to do in their spare time. My father has a hobby. He has a model railroad set that he put together. A tiny electric train runs through make-believe villages and travels through tunnels and over mountains. My father also enjoys sailing. He has a real sailboat that he takes us out on. He is teaching me how to sail. I like to collect things. I collect comic books, stamps and coins. I trade comic books with some of my friends, and sometimes I buy comic books at stores. Some of the very old comic books are worth a lot of money. I have stamps from all over the world. Whenever any of my friends get a letter from a faraway place, they save the stamps for I have stamps from England, Japan, Australia and even Russia. I use a magnifying glass to look at the stamps, and I keep them in a special album. I don’t have too many coins yet, but I have a very old dime from Canada, and I have a coin with a hole in it from Africa. My mother used to collect dolls when she was a little girl. The dolls wore costumes from different countries. My friend John’s hobby is painting. He does oil painting. He has even sold some of his paintings. He is a good artist. My friend Linda sews. She has made clothes for herself and some of her friends. Maybe Linda will be a fashion designer when she gets older. Sometimes people’s hobbies lead them into their careers. —————————————————- Article 82 ChristmasIn December, Christmas comes. We get a holiday from school, and our parents get a few days off from work. Our family gets ready for Christmas by decorating the house. We decorate inside and out. On the outside of the house we put up lights that twinkle and glow. We have a wooden Santa Claus and reindeer set that my father puts up on the roof. Inside, we put up a Christmas tree. Some years we have a real tree. Real pine trees smell nice, but you have to be careful that they don’t dry out and start a fire. This year we have an artificial tree. We hang tinsel and ornaments on the tree. We also hang strands of lights on the tree and put a star at the top. Everyone thinks that the tree is beautiful when we turn on the lights. We place gifts under the tree. There is a gift for me under the tree. It is wrapped in red paper, and it has a big green bow on it. Red and green are the Christmas colors. On Christmas Eve, my brother and sister and I will hang our stockings near the fireplace. Santa Claus comes down the chimney and fills our stockings full of toys and goodies. On Christmas morning, it is exciting to see what Santa has left for you. My mother will make a big turkey dinner for us on Christmas day. We will have lots of vegetables and good tasting foods to go with the turkey. We will have dessert too. Some of my family like Christmas pudding, but I will just have ice cream. Last year some carolers came to the door. It was snowing outside. They stood in the snow and sang Christmas carols to us. My father gave them some money, and my mother gave them some hot chocolate to warm them up. They had lovely voices, and they sang some of my favorite carols. We also collect food, gifts and money for some of the people in town who cannot afford to have Christmas. My family is collecting things for a poor family who live near here. We had fun deciding which toys to buy for the children in that family. It is a good feeling to share with people who do not have as much as you do. My parents have always taught us that Christmas is a time for giving, not receiving. I think they’re right. —————————————————- Article 83 GardenThe garden is very interesting. I sometimes go outside and I watch all the things that go on in the garden. It smells wonderful in the flower garden. There are red, white, pink and yellow roses that have a sweet smell. I watch the bees as they take pollen from the roses. There are tiny bugs that live on the rose bushes. My mother tries to get rid of the little bugs, but it is difficult to get rid of them. She is glad to see the red ladybugs, who eat the little bugs. The birds like the sunflowers. They like to eat sunflower seeds. There is a birdbath in the garden. The blackbirds and swallows go in there to take a drink or have a bath. I sometimes see a robin or a blue jay in there too. In the dirt there are little holes where the ants go in and out. The ants are hard workers. I watch them as they work together as a team to bring food to their nests. There are snails in the garden too. They carry their homes on their backs. They move slowly and leave a silvery trail as they go. They eat the leaves from my mother’s plants. My mother also has vegetables growing in her garden. She grows green peas. We like to pick those and eat the peas raw, right out of their pods. She grows lettuce and tomatoes too. We have so many tomatoes that we always give some to our neighbors. My mother sends us outside to pick lettuce and tomatoes whenever we have a salad. My favorite vegetables are carrots. Their tops grow above the earth, but the carrots are below the dirt. When you pick them, you have to pull the carrots out from under the soil. Weeds also grow in the garden. After a good rainfall, it seems that the weeds just spring up. I pull the weeds out by their roots so that they won’t grow back. Weeds choke the good plants, so we don’t want them in our garden. Gardening is a good hobby. You get fresh air, sunshine and exercise. You even get beautiful, colourful flowers and nice fresh food. —————————————————- Article 84 The Pet StoreOn Saturday, my parents took us to the pet store. They had everything that you would need if you had a pet. They had dog food, collars and leashes for dogs. They had treats to give your dog, and brushes to brush your dog. For cats, they had food, toys, and litter boxes. For birds, they had seed and cages. There was a section for fish. They had fish in big tanks and little bowls. In the big tanks, there were colorful fish swimming around. The girl who worked there said that they were tropical fish. There were goldfish in the smaller fishbowls. I saw the girl get a goldfish out with a little net. She sold it to a boy who said he had another goldfish at home. There was a very large cage with a parrot in it. I walked up to the cage, and the parrot said “hello.” I was surprised that the parrot could talk. It could say a few things. It said, “I love you,” “pretty bird,” and “bye-bye.” I told my mother that I would like a parrot, but she said that parrots need a lot of care and attention. At the back of the store there were some puppies. They seemed glad to see me. I stuck my hand into the cage, and one of them licked my hand. They were very lively. They were running around and chasing their own tails. In the next cage there were two kittens. One of them was playing with a toy, and the other one was asleep. The kittens were very small. The one that was sleeping was curled up into a ball. I couldn’t even see her face. I didn’t want to leave the pet store. I was wishing that I could take all of the animals home with me. —————————————————- Article 85 My First Day of SchoolI remember my first day of school. I was excited, but I was afraid. I held my mother’s hand as we walked to the school. When we got near the school, I wouldn’t let her hold my hand anymore. I didn’t want to look like a baby. We got to the school. The school looked very big and frightening. There were children outside on the playground. They all looked very big. I looked at them, and some of them looked at me. I felt very small. My mother and I went into the school and found the kindergarten room. There were children in there. Most of them were the same size as me. My mother spoke to the kindergarten teacher. The teacher was very nice. She said my name, and she introduced me to some of the other children. I already knew some of the children because they lived near me. I began to play with some of the things that were in the classroom. There were toy trucks, coloring books, and even a doll house. I soon forgot to be scared, and I began to play with the other children. I didn’t even notice that my mother had left the room. In school we sang songs, played some games and listened as the teacher read us a story. I had a lot of fun on my first day of school. I even drew a picture of my teacher. I took the picture home, and my mother put it on the refrigerator. I like school. It is a good place to meet new friends and learn all about the world. —————————————————- Article 86 Transportation (2)People move from place to place. There are lots of ways that you can move around from one place to another. Sometimes you can just move your feet and walk. Walking is good for you. Some places are too far to walk to. You might have to ride a bicycle or ride on a skateboard. Some places are too far away to ride your bicycle to. You might have to drive in a car, or a van, or even a truck. My father has a car. My uncle has a van. I have never been in a big truck. Trucks are usually used to carry big loads from one city to another. I would like to be a truck driver. I would travel all over and sit high up in the cab. I have been in a taxi cab. Once, my mother and I took a taxi to the hospital. There was a special meter in the taxi. When we finished our taxi ride, the driver looked at the meter to find out how much money we owed him. I once rode a horse. I sat in the saddle and held on tight to the reins. The horse ran very fast. It was a bumpy ride, and I was afraid that I would fall off the horse. Not too many people around here use horses for transportation. They used to use horses for transportation in the old days. If you want to travel very far away, you have to go on a train, a plane, or a boat. If you are in a hurry, it is best to take a plane. Planes fly through the air very fast. Trains go along the tracks. Sometimes I can hear the train whistle from my house. Boats take a long time to cross the ocean. Great big boats that cross the oceans are called ships. If you like to take it easy and look out at the water, then ships are a good way to travel. They say that the world is a lot smaller now because of transportation. People can travel to all parts of the world quickly and easily. The world is not really smaller, but it has become easy to get to faraway places. —————————————————- Article 87 TelevisionDo you watch television? My mother says that I watch too much television. I watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. Cartoons make me laugh. My brother and I each have our favorite cartoons. We have trouble deciding which cartoons we will watch. On Saturday afternoons we like to watch sports. My brother really likes to watch baseball, but usually my mother tells us to go out and play on a Saturday afternoon. On week nights we have our own favorite shows. I like shows about outer space and monsters. My brother likes comedies. He likes to laugh. My mother likes shows about real life situations. She likes to watch the news. She says that the news is important. She watches the news and weather to find out what is going on in the world. Sometimes she watches real life shows about doctors or policemen. My father doesn’t watch television. He says that he would rather read a good book or the newspaper. My dad gets all his news from the newspaper. My favorite thing is to sit in front of the television with a bag of popcorn and a bottle of pop. I sit there and change the channels with the remote control. I change channels and watch a few different shows at once. My mother won’t let me watch too much television. She doesn’t want me to get lazy. Television is good if you don’t spend too much time watching it. You can learn a lot from television if you watch the educational channels. I learned about dinosaurs and rainforests last week just from watching television. —————————————————- Article 88 My CountryI live in Canada. It is a very large country that is made up of ten provinces and three territories. Most of the provinces and territories are quite unique. For example, in Saskatchewan the land is flat, and it is not surrounded by water. They grow wheat in Saskatchewan. British Columbia has mountains. I have never been to British Columbia, but I hear that it is very beautiful. Nova Scotia is on the Atlantic Ocean, so there are many fishermen out there. The people in the provinces are even different from each other. In Quebec, many of the people speak French. In the Maritime Provinces, the people like to play their own kind of music. They play fiddles and accordions, and many of them dance very well. Nunavut is in the north, so life is quite different there. The people who live in the new territory of Nunavut are very close to wildlife. They do a lot of hunting and fishing. It can get very cold up in the Arctic where Nunavut is. I live in Ontario. Even within Ontario life can be quite different. The capital of Ontario is Toronto. Toronto is a very busy city with lots of apartments, offices and shops. Toronto is an exciting place, and it has a lot to offer. There are theatres and restaurants to suit every taste. The culture in Toronto is very diverse. If you drive a few miles north of Toronto, you will find places that are tranquil and peaceful. Many people leave Toronto on the weekends and drive to their cottages where they find rest and relaxation. Canada is made up of many different cultures. People of many different ethnic backgrounds live in harmony in Canada. That is why I like Canada. In Canada we celebrate our differences. —————————————————- Article 89 FoodWhat kinds of food do you like to eat? I am lucky, because in Canada there are many foods to choose from. I like to eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and steak. These are all meat products. I also like cheese, ice cream and yogurt. These are all dairy products. I like vegetables. My favorite vegetables are broccoli, cabbage, carrots and peas. I eat a lot of fruit. I eat whichever fruit is in season. In strawberry season, I eat a lot of strawberries. In peach season, I eat many peaches. Sometimes, my mother will make a peach pie. Many different crops grow in Canada. We have many orchards and farms. Fresh fruit and vegetables are plentiful in Canada. Meat and fish are also plentiful here. In Canada, we have a lot of different foods to choose from. In my city, there are a lot of Italian restaurants. My favorite food at the Italian restaurant is pizza. My parents would rather have spaghetti or lasagna. There are Greek restaurants, Mexican restaurants and Chinese restaurants; in fact, there are restaurants from most cultures. I can go around from restaurant to restaurant and pretend that I am traveling the world and trying all the different foods from around the world. Sometimes I eat things that aren’t good for me. I eat potato chips and candies. These foods aren’t part of a nutritious diet, but they are fun to eat. —————————————————- Article 90 The ZooMy class took a trip to the Toronto Zoo. I had a wonderful time there. My favorite animals were the lions. They look very powerful and strong. They say that the lion is the king of the forest, and I think that title suits him. The monkeys were funny. They were looking at us just as much as we looked at them. They were swinging from branches and doing tricks to impress us. There was a baby monkey that was clinging to its mother’s back. It was very cute. The tigers were pacing back and forth. They seemed restless. The stripes on a tiger are very beautiful. We watched the tall giraffes as they nibbled leaves off the tallest trees. We spoke to a colorful parrot that spoke back to us. We saw exotic animals that we had never seen before. Some of them were very strange. There were different types of bears there. There were black bears. I saw a black bear once when I was camping up north. We saw polar bears. Polar bears are white. They like the cold. We even saw panda bears. One of my friends bought a toy panda bear from the gift shop because she thought that the pandas were so cute. We saw slithery snakes. Some of the snakes had very bright skins. Most of the girls were afraid of the snakes. The zoo keeper was looking after the snakes, and one of them hissed at him. He has to be very careful when he works with the snakes. The last thing that we saw at the zoo was the elephant. He was enormous. He looked at us; then he raised his trunk and made a loud sound. It made us jump. —————————————————- Article 91 The MuseumThe museum was very interesting. There were so many things in the museum that I would need more time to really see everything. There were clothes from the past. I don’t know how people wore some of those things. They look like they would be uncomfortable. I like to wear my jeans. There were things from wars. There were bullets, and cannons and even uniforms from the soldiers. I don’t think that war is a good thing, but it is good to remember the past and honor the people who died for your country. There was an old fire truck at the museum. This fire truck was pulled by a horse. There were some very old photographs of the firemen putting out fires. There were rooms in the museum that were set up like an old house. There were antique irons and sewing machines. The women used to clean the clothes with a washboard. There were no modern appliances back then. I’m glad that we have electricity and modern appliances. The things that we have make life so much easier. There were mummies from Egypt at the museum. I was fascinated by those. There were artifacts from the Indians. There were arrowheads and cradles that the babies slept in. I tried my best to see everything, but it was almost impossible. The museum is a good place to learn about your past. I tried to imagine my grandparents using some of the things that were on display at the museum. —————————————————- Article 92 The PoliceMy mother always told me that if I was lost I could go up to a policeman and that he would help me to find my way home. I never did get lost, but I always remembered what my mother told me about the police. I think policemen look very nice in their uniforms. I see police officers drive by in their police cars. In my town we even have police officers on bicycles. Policemen and policewomen have a job that can sometimes be dangerous. They have to catch people who break the law. Sometimes, they have to chase people or try to calm people down. To be a police officer you need a lot of training. It is important to be able to deal with people effectively. A police officer came to our school. He had a police dog with him. The officer showed us how the dog could track down criminals. The dog was very smart. He could even find things that were hidden. Criminals sometimes hide things that they don’t want the police to find. The policeman told us that he and his dog were partners. His dog lives at his house with the policeman and his family. Sometimes I see police cars on the side of the road. The police stop people who are speeding or are not wearing their seatbelts. The police officers warn people or give out tickets. Sometimes they even have to arrest people. Police officers are just doing their job when they arrest people. Some people need to be arrested and put in jail to make it safer for the rest of us. —————————————————- Article 93 PretendingI like to pretend. I like to make up things that aren’t real. I use my imagination. I was pretending that I was in a time machine. I set the date for a prehistoric time. I turned on the time machine, and it buzzed and whirred and spun madly. When it stopped spinning, I opened the door and stepped out into a very thick jungle. I listened carefully to the sounds of the jungle. I could hear strange animal noises, and the leaves were rustling. I wasn’t sure if I had gone back in time or had just landed in a jungle somewhere in the twenty first century. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had indeed gone back in time. A very strange bird-like creature with a large beak flew overhead. I had never seen anything like it in my life. I took a few steps out into the long grass and ferns. I didn’t want to go too far away from my time machine. I heard a noise over on my right side. There was a man who looked quite different from me. He was dressed in an animal skin, and he carried a big stick. I didn’t want him to see me, so I hid behind a tree. He didn’t speak any language that I could understand. He grunted at someone who must have been in the distance. Then, I felt the earth shake beneath my feet. I heard giant thumps on the ground as the floor of the jungle shook. The man in the animal skin began to run. I saw why he was running. A giant dinosaur appeared above the tops of the trees. It was bigger than anything I had ever seen. My heart began to pound in my chest. It was coming toward me. I ran toward my time machine and jumped in. I set the dial for the twenty-first century. The machine whirred and buzzed. My time machine landed in the twenty-first century. I got away just in time. —————————————————- Article 94 A BabyMy aunt just had a baby girl. We went to the hospital to visit my aunt and to see the new baby. My aunt was feeling fine, although she was just a bit tired. She walked with us to a big window that had lots of babies behind it. She pointed to a crib with a baby in it. The baby was wrapped in a pink blanket. We all said how pretty the baby looked. I couldn’t believe how tiny the baby was. She was asleep, so we couldn’t see her eyes. When the baby went home, we went to visit her. We heard the baby. She was crying. My aunt said that the baby was hungry. My aunt had a baby bottle full of warm milk. She fed the baby with it. The baby was happy after that. My aunt patted the baby on the back until the baby burped, and then the baby fell asleep. I held the baby. I looked at her tiny fingers and tiny toes. I was very careful with her. She opened her eyes and looked at me. I spoke to the baby, but I knew that she could not understand me. Babies have to learn to walk and talk. My aunt changed the baby. Babies wear diapers, so they need to be changed often. The baby has a lot of toys, but she is still too young to play with them. My aunt says that it won’t be long before the baby is crawling and trying to talk. Babies are cute. I have seen pictures of myself when I was a baby, and it’s hard to believe that I was once that small. —————————————————- Article 95 A WeddingThe church bells are ringing. I am inside the church waiting for my cousin to walk down the aisle. Today is her wedding day. She is a bride. The organist is playing a song on the organ. We all stand up and watch my cousin walk down the aisle. She is arm in arm with her father. She is dressed in a long white dress and a veil. She looks so beautiful. She looks like a princess. The man who she is going to marry is standing at the front of the church. He is the groom. He looks nice too. He is wearing a suit, and he has a flower in his lapel. The minister says words to the couple which will make them man and wife. The bride and groom smile at each other, but they seem to be a little bit nervous. The give each other gold rings to wear to symbolize that they are married. They kiss each other and walk out of the church as the organist plays joyous music. Some of the people in the church cried at the wedding, but not because they were sad. Everyone in the church is very happy for the couple. A photographer takes pictures of the happy couple. We wish them well and look forward to the reception where we will have a dinner, and we will dance and have a good time until it is very late. The bride will throw her bouquet of flowers, and it is said that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next bride. The next day, the bride and groom will leave for their honeymoon. My cousin and her husband are going to Mexico for their honeymoon. —————————————————- Article 96 My DadMy dad is the man whom I respect the most in my life. He works very hard to make the money that supports us. My mother has a job too, and she also works very hard. My dad is the principal of a high school. He works at the school all day, and often has to go to meetings at night. He deals with parents, students and staff. There is always something that he has to deal with. He has a lot on his mind. It doesn’t matter how much work my dad has to do; he always has time for my brothers, my sister and me. If I go to him with a problem, he will sit down and discuss it with me. He doesn’t yell. He is always very logical, and he tries to think of the best way to deal with things. My dad is a very patient man. Once, I spilled some ink on some papers that he was working on. I thought that he would be mad, but he didn’t get angry. He said that it was okay. He takes time out to do things with us. He has taken my brothers fishing. He takes me to the arena to skate, and he helps my sister to write her essays and assignments. He always makes us laugh, and he makes us feel like we are very special to him. He is a very good father, and on Father’s Day I always buy him a card that tells him just how much he means to I think it is important to have good parents. I hope that when I have children I will be a good parent like my parents are to me. Parents give children the foundation that they need to live good lives. —————————————————- Article 97 My MotherMy mother does so many things. She has a job at a dress store; she cooks our meals; she cleans the house; she feeds the pets, and she still finds time to spend with us. My mother is always busy, but she says that her favorite time is time that she spends with us. My mother works from Monday to Friday. When she comes home from work, she makes something for supper. We usually do the dishes, so that she won’t have to do them. After supper she helps us with our homework, or she sits down to watch television. Some nights she goes shopping, and she takes whoever wants to go with her. Mothers are a little bit of everything. My mother is like a teacher when she helps us with our homework. She is like a nurse when she looks after us when we’re ill. She is like a cook when she makes meals for us. She says that cleaning the house is her least favorite thing. She says that the house gets dirty again right after you clean it. She gets my father, my brothers, sister and me to help her with the cleaning. My mother washes all our clothes, and sometimes she irons them if they need it. My mother says that there are not enough hours in a day. We try to help my mother as much as we can. There is a lot of work involved in keeping a home neat and organized. Most of my friends’ mothers work. Mothers are the people who you go to when you need to be comforted. Mothers are the people who can make you feel better. I’m glad that I have the mother that I have. My mother is caring and funny. She is fun to be around. —————————————————- Article 98 A SurpriseLast Friday my dad came home from work and said that he had a surprise for us. We tried to guess what the surprise might be. My brother guessed that we were going out for dinner. My dad said “no.” My other brother asked if my father had tickets to a hockey game. My dad said “no.” My sister asked if we were going on a trip. My dad said “no.” My mother knew what the surprise was, so she just stood and smiled at us. I guessed that we might be getting a swimming pool. My dad said “no.” We were getting very frustrated trying to guess what the surprise might be. My brother asked how big the surprise was. My dad said that the surprise was quite small. We were not sure what the surprise could be. “Will we all like it?” I asked. “Yes” my dad replied. Every one of you will love this surprise. We heard a noise. It was a crying noise. “Your surprise wants to see you,” my dad said. He opened the door to the bedroom, and a tiny puppy came running out. We were all very excited. Our surprise was a puppy. It was a little baby spaniel. The puppy loved all of us. She ran around and licked all of our faces. We had always wanted a dog. We take turns feeding the puppy and taking her out for walks. She is growing quickly and will soon be an adult dog. We all agree that the puppy was the nicest surprise that my dad could have given us. —————————————————- Article 99 Rhyming WordsSometimes my friends and I play a game. It’s something we made up, so it doesn’t have a name. We like to take words that rhyme. We put them together line by line. Do you get the picture now? We’re playing the game, and this is how. I might say I like to drive a car. I really don’t like to go very far. If I decide to take a walk, I’d go with a friend so that we could talk. Do you see that these lines rhyme? Play the game if you have the time. We could talk about school or even playing. Do you know what I am saying? Rhyming words is easy to do. It’s fun for me; it can be fun for you. Just join in and say something Or make it into a song that you can sing. There are so many words that rhyme with others. Like “smile” and “mile” and “mothers” and “brothers.” I could spend all day just making up these things. I could let my imagination fly on wings Up to the clouds and back to my mind. There are so many rhymes that I can find. There are some words that are hard to find rhymes for. I don’t use those words anymore. I like to choose words that are easy to rhyme. Like “cat” and “bat” or “lime” and “time.” So give it a try, I know you’ll have fun. I’ll say “goodbye,” my rhyming is done. —————————————————- Article 100 HomeworkSometimes, my teacher gives us homework. I don’t mind doing my homework except when the weather is really nice, and all my friends are outside. On those nights, I’d rather be outside with them, so I try to get my homework done quickly. Tonight, I have some English homework. We have been reading a book. We have to read a chapter of the book and answer the questions at the end of the chapter. It is an interesting book, so the homework for this is quite easy. My math homework is not so easy. I have to do some addition and subtraction. I don’t mind that, but there are some problems that need to be solved. The problems involve addition, subtraction and multiplication. I am not too good with numbers. I need to work harder on my math. I just finished a project for history. I had to make a map of Canada with diagrams showing the routes of all the explorers. It was an interesting project because I have been to some of the places that the explorers went to. I don’t have any science homework. At school, we are growing bean plants. We go in every day and see how the plants have grown. We write down all the changes that occur in the plant every day. The only other homework that I have is geography. I have a map of Canada, and I have to write the names of all the provinces and their capitals on it. It won’t take me long to do that because I know all the provinces. When my homework is all done, I will go outside and play ball with my friends until it is time to come in. I am a good student. I get good marks because I like school. My favorite subjects are physical education, English and history. Math is my least favorite subject, but I’m trying to improve my marks in that. —————————————————- Article 101 OppositesSome things are opposites of each other. The opposite of black is white. The opposite of happy is sad. If I am at the opposite side of the room from you, it means that I am at the other side of the room than you are on. The opposite of up is down and the opposite of left is right. Do you know what the opposite of young would be? Old is the opposite of young. What is the opposite of dirty? Clean is the opposite of dirty. Big is the opposite of small. Man is the opposite of woman. Boy is the opposite of girl. Sometimes people think the opposite things than other people. Someone might be wrong and someone might be right. The opposite of mother is father. See if you can think of some opposites. It is cold in the winter, and it is hot in the summer. My father is very tall, and my brother is very short. A rock is hard, but a pillow is soft. An ocean is deep, but a puddle is shallow. I might tell the truth, but I might tell a lie. All of these things are opposites. The morning is bright, but the night is dark. A feather is light, but an elephant is heavy. Sugar is sweet, but a lemon is sour. A jet plane is fast, but a turtle is slow. I can go out in the day, or I can go out at night. I might love to swim, or I might hate to swim. It is interesting to see how many opposites you can think up. I could say hello, but I think it’s time to say goodbye. Article 102 The Smart PaperboyIn my town there is a paperboy who just got an award for his actions. This boy delivered the local newspaper every morning. One of the people to whom he delivered the paper was an elderly man. This man lived alone. The paperboy had often spoken to the man, so he knew that the man lived alone. The paperboy always left the newspaper in the man’s mailbox. One morning the boy noticed that the man had not picked up his newspaper or his mail from the day before. The boy felt that something was not right. All day at school the boy had a feeling that something might be wrong with the man. After school, the boy went back to the man’s house to see if he had taken his mail and newspapers. The newspapers and mail were still in the mailbox. The boy knocked on the man’s door. He could hear a faint voice, but could not hear what the person was saying. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. The boy knew that something wasn’t right, so he went home and called the police station. He explained to the police that the man lived alone. He gave the address of the man’s house to the police. The police knocked on the door, and they also heard the faint voice. The police got into the house and found the man lying at the bottom of the stairs. The man had fallen and broken his hip. The man had not been able to get up. He had been afraid that nobody would find him. He was very grateful to the paperboy for caring enough to get the police. The boy got an award. The man said that the boy was a hero. The police said that the boy was an example of a very good citizen. The paperboy and the man are very good friends. The man will never forget what the paperboy did for him. —————————————————- Article 103 Niagara FallsI live in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is a famous place. A lot of tourists visit here every year. Most of the tourists come to see the waterfalls. The waterfalls are very beautiful and powerful. At night they shine lights on the falls that make them even more dramatic. Tourists line up against the railings to watch the water as it tumbles into the Niagara River. There are other things in Niagara Falls that the tourists like to visit. There are a lot of gift shops and museums. There are many hotels that the tourists can stay at. Tourism is very important to Niagara Falls. Many people work in the tourism industry. There are many jobs in the tourism industry. You can take a special bus and tour Niagara Falls. You can ride in a horse-drawn carriage in Niagara-on-the-Lake, or you can take a balloon ride over the falls from the American side. You can even ride in a helicopter over the falls. Niagara Falls is very busy in the summertime. Summer is the time when most tourists visit here. Sometimes the tourists think it raining near the falls, but it is only the mist that rises from the mighty waterfalls. There are many legends and stories connected to Niagara Falls. There is a special legend called “The Maid of the Mist.” There are stories about the daredevils who thought that they were more powerful than the falls. Some of them went over the falls in barrels, and others walked on tightropes over the falls. Both of those things are very dangerous. I stay behind the railings when I look at the falls. I know just how powerful the falls are. It is interesting to discover all the stories that there are about Niagara Falls. —————————————————- Article 104 The LibraryOne of my favorite places is the library. I go there to get books for school, and I go there to get books for pleasure. I often read mysteries for fun. In the summer, I read lots of mysteries. I like to sit outside and read. In the winter, I have to read books for school. I go to the library to find out things for my projects. I often use the dictionary and the atlas. Some of my friends go with me, and we sit at the tables and do our homework. We can’t make a lot of noise in the library. People have to be quiet when they are in a library. When I first went to the library, I was confused about how to find books. The librarian showed me how to use the computer to find books. Now I am able to do all my research myself. I have read some very interesting books. I have learned a lot from library books. I always bring the books back on time so I don’t get a fine. I am collecting books at home. People often give me books for gifts. Soon I will have my own library. Reading is a good hobby. Everyone in my family likes to read. The library has other things besides books. There are videos at the library. There are also compact discs at the library. I have a library card so I can get books, videos or compact discs whenever I want to. My mother sometimes goes to the library to look at the magazines. She gets some good recipes from the magazines. My father looks for books on how to build things. He is building some bookshelves for me at the moment. He found the instructions in a book. My little brother reads children’s books. He likes books about trains. I have liked books ever since I was very small. My mother says that reading is a good habit to get into. —————————————————- Article 105 When I Grow UpI have been thinking about what I’d like to be when I grow up. There are so many choices. I could be a principal like my father. I could be a teacher. I like animals. Maybe I should be a veterinarian. My cat just went to the veterinarian to get her shots. I don’t think my cat was too happy to be there. I could be a farmer and grow vegetables. Maybe I could be a doctor and cure people. If I was good enough, I could be a famous sports person or a singer. I could be an actor on television or in the movies. Maybe I would like to be a policeman or a fireman. I could rescue people. I can play the piano. Maybe I should be a musician. I could be a lawyer. I sometimes watch shows about lawyers defending people. Lawyers have to be able to speak well. I could be a carpenter and work with wood, or I could be a welder and work with metal. There are just so many jobs. I could work in a restaurant. I could cook food, or I could serve food. I could be an airline pilot or the captain of a ship. I could be a repairman or an artist. The world is full of jobs. Some of the jobs require a lot of education. Some require a little bit of training, and some require a lot of training. It’s all up to me. I can be whatever I want to be. —————————————————- Article 106 Favorite ColorsMy very favorite color is purple. There are not a lot of things that are purple. Some grapes are purple. Sometimes the sky looks purple. My second favorite color is blue. Some things are blue. The sky is blue, and water is blue. Many people have blue eyes. Green is a very common color in nature. Trees are green in the summer. Some trees are green all year long. Grass is green. Sometimes water looks green. Many People have green eyes. Many vegetables are green. Broccoli, cabbage, beans, lettuce, peas, and cucumbers are all green. Green vegetables are very good for you. Yellow is a bright color. The sun looks yellow. Bananas are yellow. Some people have yellow hair. Daffodils and dandelions are yellow. White is a common color, especially in the winter. Snow is white. Clouds are white. Polar bears, some dogs and some cats are white. There are white flowers that grow. Some flowers are red. Roses can be red. Blood is red. Sometimes the sky is red at night or in the morning. Artists use all these colors to make beautiful paintings. Nature used all these colors to make the beautiful earth. We are fortunate to be surrounded by beauty. We should do our part to make sure that nature stays beautiful and clean. —————————————————- Article 107 Making FriendsI used to be very shy. I would not go up to someone that I did not know and say hello. I was afraid that people would not want to talk to me. I have changed. I have become less shy. I have learned that making friends is easy to do. All you have to do is say hello. Most people will respond to a smile and a friendly hello. People will begin to talk to you about little things in their lives. You will soon realize that you have something in common with that person. Whenever I start talking to a new person I find that there is some interest that we share. Maybe we know some of the same people, or we went to the same school. Often we find that we like the same music or the same movies. It is easy to have a conversation with someone once you find a topic that you both can relate to. The most important part to making friends is to listen to what the other person says. If you take an interest in them, they are sure to take an interest in you. I have learned many things from meeting people. I have had many fascinating conversations, and I have made a lot of good friends. One day a girl came up to me and said that she was lost. She couldn’t find her way to her English class. I said that I was going to that class too. I told her to come with me. We began talking, and we became very good friends. That was a few years ago. She is still one of my best friends. Just think, if she hadn’t been lost we might never have become friends. —————————————————- Article 108 Getting OldMy grandfather is getting old. When I was younger, my grandfather would carry me on his shoulders, and we would go for a walk. Now, my grandfather cannot put me on his shoulders. He has a hard time walking, and he uses a cane. My grandfather used to have lots of hair. Now he is bald. His skin doesn’t look like it used to. It is more wrinkled. My grandfather takes more naps than he used to. He goes to the doctor’s, and he takes pills for his heart. I love my grandfather very much. I don’t like the fact that he is getting older, but my mother says that growing older is just a fact of life. She says that we will all get older. Sometimes my grandfather forgets things. My mother says to be patient. I am patient. I try to help my grandfather as much as I can. I sometimes go for walks with him. I help him to walk when he has trouble. I cheer him up if I think he might be sad. I get things for him, and I even read to him at night. He used to read to me when I was little. Now his eyesight is bad, and he can’t see very well. My grandfather tells me stories about when he was a boy. The world was a very different place then he tells me. His stories are interesting. Sometimes I wish we could trade places for a day so that I would know what it felt like to be old. My grandfather doesn’t complain. He jokes about his old bones. I spend a lot of time with my grandfather. I hope that he is around for a long time. —————————————————- Article 109 TimeTime is something that you should never waste. Once an hour is gone, it is gone forever. You should make the most of every minute. Time is a funny thing. Some days go by so slowly. Those are the days that you do things that aren’t fun. When you are having fun, time just flies by. Time is made up of different units. Seconds turn into minutes. Minutes turn into hours. Hours turn into days. Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months, and months turn into years. We measure our lives by time. We are very concerned with time. Even little children are very conscious of time. Little children often want to appear older, so if you ask a three-year-old how old he is, he will often say three and a half. Many of our sayings are based on time. “Give me a minute.” “Hold on a second.” “I’m running out of time.” “Time’s up.” “I just want an hour of your time.” All of these are common things that we say, and they’re all based on time. We are a society that lives by the clock. We almost all wear watches, and we glance at our watches a lot. Time is something that we can’t see, but it is a big factor in our lives. How many times a day do you look at a watch or a clock? I bet you’d be surprised at just how many times you do. Article 110 AmyAmy was a girl who came into our classroom. She had many things wrong with her. Amy was in a wheelchair, and she couldn’t talk. She couldn’t make her hands and feet do what she wanted them to do. We wondered why Amy would even be in our class, because she really couldn’t do much of anything. Amy had a teaching assistant who had to stay with her all the time. One day the teaching assistant got called away. I had to look after Amy. I was afraid to look after her. I really didn’t know what to do. I sat beside Amy, and I smiled at her. She smiled back at me. I never realized before that she had such a nice smile. Amy made a noise. It seemed like she wanted a crayon that was lying beside her. I put the crayon into her hand. She had trouble holding it, but eventually she got the crayon into her hand well enough so that she could make marks on the paper that was on the tray in front of her. Amy spent a long time making marks on the paper. She tried so hard to create whatever it was that she was drawing. She worked for a long time. I just watched her, and I gave her a lot of credit for not giving up when she obviously had so many problems. When she was finally done, she picked up the paper with great difficulty. With a look of pride on her face, she handed me the picture. It was for me. I was very touched that she spent all that time drawing something for me. I thanked Amy and smiled at her. I told her I loved the picture. I still have that picture, although I’m not sure what it is a picture of. I learned a lot from Amy that day. I saw a brave girl who wouldn’t give up. Whenever I think my problems are too big to handle, I think of Amy and I remember her smile. Article 111 MemoriesSomebody once asked me what the most valuable things that I owned were. I thought about that for a long time. Then I realized that most of the things that I had could be replaced. What I would not be able to replace were the photographs that I had of my friends and family. Photographs are memories that are captured on film. Some of the photographs are of people who are no longer with us. I would hate to lose them. Memories are precious. They are all we have sometimes to link us to days gone by. I remember the good times. I try to relive them in my mind sometimes. I remember the sad times. Some of the sad memories are painful, but they are all a part of my life, and I don’t want to lose any of my memories. People come into our lives and people leave our lives, but most people leave a memory for us. I have lots of memories, and when I look at my photographs, the memories come flooding back into my brain. I remember what people were like when they were younger. I remember vacations that I took. I remember days that seemed ordinary at the time, but you never get to relive even the ordinary days. Memories are so precious. Cherish your memories, and keep them in a place close to your heart. Article 112 Roommate WantedSpacious two bedroom apartment with kitchen facilities. On the bus route to Brock University. Looking for quiet female roommate. Must be a non-smoker. Available from Sept. 1. $300 a month. Hydro is included. Call Barb after 5. 905-111-1111 For Sale Ten speed men’s bike for sale. Excellent condition. $100 or best offer. Call Fred 905-111-1111 Apartment for Rent Three bedroom apartment in the downtown area. $450 a month. Within walking distance to stores and bus route. Utilities not included. Call (905) 111-1111. Please leave a message on the machine, and I will get back to you. Roommate Wanted Responsible, quiet roommate wanted to share two bedroom apartment. Some furniture included. First and last month’s rent required. $300 a month. Utilities included. Call before 6. 905-111-1111 Ask for George. Help Wanted Friendly reliable person wanted to work part time hours at shoe store. No experience necessary. We will train you. Please leave resume at Friendly Feet Shoe Store, 34 Main Street, Niagara Falls. For Sale Textbooks for sale. Included are 2nd year English and American history texts. Excellent condition. For complete list of texts, call Marie at (905) 111-1111 anytime after 5. Upper Half of Duplex for Rent Within walking distance to Brock University. Two bedrooms and balcony. Laundry facilities in basement. Very spacious and clean. Hydro not included. References required. $700 per month. Call 905-111-1111 and ask for Mr. Bridges. Article 113 Places to LiveI live in a house. My house is in a town. My uncle lives in an apartment building. His apartment building is in a busy city. My cousin lives in a dormitory in a school. He shares his room with a classmate. My uncle lives out in the country. He lives on a farm. The police caught a criminal. Now the criminal lives in prison. When I go to summer camp, I live in a tent. When my parents go on vacation, they live in a motel or a hotel. A motel only has one or two floors. A hotel usually has many floors. My aunt and uncle live in a trailer. They like to move around from place to place. My friends live in a cottage by a lake. My grandfather lives in a retirement home. Many people who are about the same age as he is live there. I would like to live in a palace. I think you have to be a king or a queen, or a prince or a princess to live in a palace. Article 114 The BathroomThere is a bathtub in my bathroom. On the wall over the bathtub there is a shower head. We have a shower curtain hanging on the rod over the bathtub. If we want to take a shower, we close the curtain. There is soap and shampoo in the bathroom. The soap is used for washing yourself, and the shampoo is used to wash your hair. Towels are hanging on racks. There are washcloths or face cloths to wash yourself with. The sink has hot and cold taps. There is a plug for the drain. When you pull the plug, the water runs out of the sink. There is a toilet in the bathroom. When you flush the toilet, the water swooshes out of it. There is toilet tissue hanging beside the toilet. We keep other things in the bathroom too. There is a medicine cabinet which holds pain killers, toothpaste and makeup. My mother likes to wear a lot of makeup on her face. There is also hair spray and gel. There are brushes and combs for our hair. There are toothbrushes and dental floss for our teeth. We only have one bathroom, so we line up to use it. It is good to have more than one bathroom in a house. Article 115 The BedroomMy bed is nice and soft. I have a pretty bedspread on my bed. I have sheets and a blanket on my bed also. I use two feather pillows. My pillows have pillowcases on them. My dresser has a mirror on it. I have a lamp on top of my dresser. I also have some picture frames with pictures of my friends and family on top of my dresser. There is an alarm clock beside my bed so that I can wake up on time in the morning. I keep many clothes in my dresser drawers. The drawers are nice and deep. My closet is large. It is a walk-in closet. I have my clothes hanging in my closet. All of my clothes are hung on hangers. My shoes are all lined up on the floor of my closet. There are shelves at the top of my closet. I keep games up there. There is a rug on my bedroom floor. My bedroom window looks out over the back yard. There are curtains on my bedroom window. My bedroom is very cozy. At night, I turn off the lamp and get under the covers. I set my alarm clock for seven o’clock. I lay my head on the pillow, and I fall asleep. Article 116 The AlphabetThe English language is written using an alphabet. In an alphabet, there are many letters. Each letter means a different sound. The English language uses the Roman alphabet. Other languages use this alphabet too. This alphabet has twenty-six letters. Here are the letters, and a word that begins with each letter. A is for apple. B is for bird. C is for car. D is for day. E is for evening. F is for flower. G is for grass. H is for house. I is for ice. J is for jump. K is for kitchen. L is for laugh. M is for mountain. N is for nail. O is for ocean. P is for purple. Q is for queen. R is for run. S is for sun. T is for train. U is for umbrella. V is for vest. W is for water. X is for X-ray. Y is for yellow. Z is for zipper. The letters A, E, I, O, and U are vowels. The letter Y is sometimes a vowel. The other letters are all consonants. In the English language, some letters can have more than one sound. Article 117 Numbers (1)0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 21 9 14 19 31 58 41 26 50 62 39 74 17 89 39 98 100 Article 118 Numbers (2)101 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 2,000 3,000 9,000 10,000 10,100 10,001 99,999 83,250 54,621 100,000, 1,000,000 10,000,000, 100,000,000 1,000,000,000 56, 98, 48, 60, 65, 97, 52, 29, 37, 41, 101, 205, 309, 356, 489, 581, 691, 789, 837, 992, 1,001, 2,469, 3,590, 5,698, 6,890, 7,008, 8,109 10,890 25,369, 98,520, 70,002, 10,890, 1,000560, 8,006,890, 9,000,560 —————————————— Article 119 MoneyAmerican money and Canadian money Dollar 1 dollar 5 dollars 10dollars Cent A quarter 25cents A dime 10cents A nickel 5cents A penny 1 cent 100 dollars 200 dollars 1000 dollars 125.23 562.07 1,000.98 50,000.21 98,006.89 25.25 288,456.39 458,000.74 1,020.85 89,000.24 10.65 1.87 —————————————— Article 120 Phone Number689-7890 454-6935 387-5687 791-6057 449-3562 354-6999 22285-6690 3641-9805 (02)6080-9078 (054)653-5106 (02)773-7600 (518)474-8390 (905)941-3068 (623)934-7566 (364)8880-3388 Mobile phone number 011-9078-8801 018-483-6017 017-6057-6640 010-9960-8870 080-6648-7000 —————————————— Article 121 Clock timeHours 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 Half Hours 12:30 1:30 2:30 3:30 4:30 5:30 6:30 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:30 11:30 Quarter Hours 12:15 1:15 2:15 3:15 4:15 5:15 6:15 7:15 8:15 9:15 10:15 11:15 More Quarter Hours 12:45 1:45 2:45 3:45 4:45 5:45 6:45 7:45 8:45 9:45 10:45 11:45 Minutes 12:05 1:10 2:20 3:25 4:35 5:40 6:50 7:55 8:59 9:07 10:26 11:38 5:40 is Twenty to Six 6:50 is Ten to Seven 7:55 is Five to Eight 8:59 is One to nine ———————————— Article 122 Days of the week1 day is 24hours 1 week is 7days 1 month is usually 30days 1 year is 12 months 1 generation is 30years 10 years are 1 decade Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Months of the year January February March April May June July August September October November December January has 31days February has 29days March has 31days April has 30days May has 31days June has 30days July has 31days August has 31days September has31days October has 31days November has 30days December has 30days 01-Jan 06-Feb 17-Mar 25-Apr 05-May 09-Jun 23-Jul 26-Aug 12-Sep 31-Oct 22-Nov 25-Dec ———————————— Article 123 U.S.A. and Canadian CitiesWhere Did You Grow Up? I grew up in Atlanta. Atlanta Boston Chicago Denver Edmonton Fort Worth Green Bay Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas city Los Angeles Miami New York city Ottawa Portland Quebec Richmond San Francisco Toronto Washington, D .C Youngstown Vancouver ———————————— Article 124 World CitiesMontreal Atlanta Mexico City Rio de Janiero Buenos Aires Madrid Moscow London Paris Rome Cairo Abidjan Kinshasa Nairobi Tokyo Seoul Delhi Beijing Bombay Bangkok Hong Kong Taipei ———————————— Article 125 Continents and SeasNorth America South America Europe Africa Asia Australia Antarctica Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean Mediterranean Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea ———————————— Article 126 ColorsRed Green Purple Blue Yellow Indigo Orange Black White Ivory Pink Ruby Gold Olive Coffee Brown Chocolate Buff Silver Gray Emerald Rose Slate Lavender Bronze Copper Maroon Khaki Chestnut Tan Turquoise Beige Rainbow Spectrum Camouflage ———————————— Article 127 ShapesTriangle Square Round Oval Star Mound Globe Dome Diamond Curve Wavy Rectangle Sphere Helix Arch Cone Cylinder Disc Peak Octagon Hexagon Pyramid Point Pentagon Spiral Surface Cube Blob Arc Horseshoe Tip Straight Arrow Heart ————————————- Article 128 Most common first NamesGirls: Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Jennifer, Sarah, Stephanie, Nicole, Brittany, Heather, Melissa, Megan, Elizabeth, Amber, Lauren, Danielle, Michelle, Christina, Crystal, Laura, Kimberly Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, David, Daniel, Joshua, Andrew, James Robert, Ryan, John, Joseph, Brandon, Jason, Justin, Jonathan, Nicolas Anthony, William, Eric, Steven Common Women’s names: Alice, Alison, Ann, Anita, Barbara, Carol, Catherine, Claire Deborah, Diane, Donna, Ellen, Gail, Hannah, Helen, Jackie, Jane, Janet, Jean, Jill Common Men’s Names: Albert, Alexander, Allan, Arthur, Benjamin, Charles Dennis, Donald, Douglas, Edward, Frank, Fredrick, George, Gerald, Henry, Lawrence, Louis, Mark, Patrick, Paul Article 129 Zoo AnimalsAlligator Crocodile Gorilla Leopard Rhinoceros Bear Elephant Hippopotamus Lion Zebra Monkey Buffalo Giraffe Tiger Flamingo Goat Panda Kangaroo ———————————— Article 130 Wild AnimalsBadger Cougar Fox Skunk Squirrel Whale Wolf Otter Elk Bobcat Bear Deer Coyote Moose Porpoise Possum Raccoon Wild cat Beaver Chipmunk ————————————- Article 131 Domestic animalsCat Donkey Horse Ox Pony Cow Goat Mule Pig Sheep Rabbit ———————————— Article 132 FishBass Cod Guppy Perch Trout Sunfish Shark Monk Goldfish Catfish Bluegill Eel Herring Pike Sturgeon ———————————— Article 133 SectBee Ant Butterfly Worm Mouse Hamster Rat Bat Snail Snake Frog Turtle Oyster ———————————— Article 134 FoodCorn Bread Muffin Celery Cheese Carrot Tomato Apple Eggs Ice cream Hamburger Hot dog Coffee Fish Banana Pear Potato Tortillas Orange Bean Milk Strawberries Rice Squash ———————————— Article 135 The bodyEyes Nose Mouth Face Shoulders Elbow Fingers Arms Legs Back Neck Ear Foot Toes Hand Knee Teeth Hoof Head Palm Forehead Lips Jaw Pupil Cheek Mustache Eyeball ———————————— Article 136 ClothesCoat Sweater Gloves Jacket Shirt Cap Vest Scarf Blouse Pants Socks Shorts Slip Suit Bra Skirt Overcoat Pajamas Pants Muffler Belt Tie Hat Shoes Boots Stockings ———————————————————————————————————————— Article 137 RelativesHow many people are there in your family? In my family, there are many people. The people in my family are my relatives. My parents are my mother and my father. My mother’s name is Mary. My father’s name is Bill. I have one brother and one sister. My brother’s name is Bob. Bob is two years younger than I am. My sister’s name is Beth. Beth is three years older than I am. Beth is the oldest. Bob is the youngest. I am in the middle. Bob’s wife is named Jen. She is my sister-in-law. Beth’s husband is named Tim. He is my brother-in-law. Bob and Jen have a son named Steve. Steve is my nephew. Beth and Tim have a daughter named Sally. Sally is my niece. I also have two aunts and two uncles. My uncle Joe is my mother’s brother. His wife is Sarah. She is my aunt. My aunt Anne is my father’s sister. Her husband is Dave. He is my uncle. My aunts and uncles have many sons and daughters. Those children are my cousins. I also have four grandparents. My mother’s mother is my grandmother. My father’s mother is also my grandmother. My mother’s father is my grandfather. My father’s father is also my grandfather. My grandparents have many grandchildren. They have grandsons and granddaughters. Article 138 Time Of DayPeople like to measure time. They want to know what time of day it is. Every day has twenty-four hours. Every hour has sixty minutes. The day is divided into AM and PM. AM means morning. PM means afternoon, or evening. Six AM is early in the morning. Six PM is late in the afternoon. Noon is the middle of the day. Midnight is the middle of the night. Twelve o’clock is called “noon” during the day, and “midnight” during the night. When it is exactly three AM, we say it is three o’clock in the morning. When it is exactly nine PM, we say it is nine o’clock in the evening. When it is thirty minutes after four o’clock, we say it is four-thirty. We also say it is half-past four. When it is fifteen minutes after eight o’clock, we say it is eight-fifteen. We also say it is quarter-past eight. When it is forty-five minutes after ten o’clock, we say it is ten-forty-five. We also say it is quarter to eleven. |
