Section A
[30 marks]
[Time suggested: 60 minutes]
Read the following passage about The Lessons. Question 1 is summary.
1 A few weeks ago, I was rushing through my work while holding a cup of coffee
in one hand and an important document in the other. What began as a typical Monday morning,
became a day I would remember because of the lessons I learned.
2 My uncle from Australia dropped in to see me. I was surprised to see him as it had been
quite a while since we met. He looked a little older but otherwise was bright and cheerful. He had 5
that twinkle in his eyes that seemed to light up his whole face and when he spoke, it was in a deep
baritone voice. You know the kind of voice that sounded like he should be in the broadcasting
business. We talked about the usual things and exchanged news about the family. I told him that
the children were busy with school and that I hardly had any time to be with them. Luckily my
efficient wife took care of everything and I could concentrate on the business. My work took me 10
away from the family but I was working for their sakes, I told him. My business was flourishing
and I
was making good money. He looked at me quietly as I chatted.
3 He asked me if I had time to listen to his philosophy of a thousand marbles. I was
intrigued and asked him to explain. “Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your job. I’m 15
sure you are doing well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so
much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or
seventy hours a week. Too bad you missed your daughter’s participation in the school concert.
That was a shame.”
4 He continued, “Let me tell you something, Tom, something that has helped me keep a 20
good perspective of my own priorities.” And that’s when he began to explain his theory of a
thousand marbles. “You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.
The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know. Some live more and some live less, but
on average, folks live about seventy-five years.
5 Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of 25
Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I’m getting
to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any
detail,” he went on, “and by that time I had live through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I
got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only
had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. 30
6 So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit
three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put
them inside of a large, clear plastic container right there in the room next to my gear. Every
Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and throw it away.
7 I found that by watching the marbles reducing in numbers, I focused more on the really 35
important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to get
your priorities straight. Now let me tell one last thing before I leave. This morning, I took the very
last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a
little extra time. And the one thing we can all
use is a little more time. It was nice to see you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your 40
family, and I hope to see you again.”
8 I saw him to the door and sat down quietly in the room. I put aside my papers and decided
to call my wife. I think I will take her out for a meal and spend a little more time with the children
too. Everything else can wait.
(Adapted from “Menguasai Soalan Bertopik SPM English 1119 : Penerbitan Sasbadi)
1
1. Based on the passage given, write a summary on
Tom’s lifestyle and
the lesson the uncle shared with him through the story on thousand marble.
Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.
Your summary must
be in continuous writing form (not in note form)
use material from lines 8 to the end
not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows:
Tom was always busy with his work and did not ______________________________
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(15 marks)
2
2.The following are the novels studied in the literature component in English Language.
Dear Mr. Kilmer - Anne Schraff
Captain Nobody - Dean Pitchford
Sing to the Dawn - Minfong Ho
Choose anyone of the novels above and answer the question below.
Based on the novel that you have studied; describe in which way you can relate a character from a
novel to your own life. Provide a close reference to the text.
(15 marks)
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-KERTAS SOALAN TAMAT-
