School Life Is The Most Difficult Time But It Also Keeps Many Joys For Us

School life is the most difficult time but it also keeps many joys for
us. Do you agree?
School life is the most interesting period in one’s entire life. Bit the students generally hold quite a
different view. They are tired of the cares and worries of their school work. They long to be grownups. They think that they have to follow some hard fast rules in schools. At home they have to
obey their parents. They greatly dislike this. They have to work hard to pass examination if not
they get scolding.
But I look at things from quite a different angle. I am a student and as such I have some duties and
responsibilities. I have to do as my parents bid me to do. I have to learn my lessons reading and
writing a lot. I have to please my teachers by my study and good behaviour. I have to work hard. If
I do my duty diligently, I have nothing to be afraid of. I know that my parents at home and the
teachers at school are all my well wishers.
I feel very proud of myself when I see that my parents take care of me. The love of teachers is a
rare thing and I know that I have to live up to their expectation.

Talk about the subject you consider most important

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 various countries of
the world. 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 realize 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.

The subject I enjoy learning

The outline:
1. What subject
2. What it deals with
3. Why I like it
4. The end
I learn many subjects in school. But the one I enjoy learning is History.
History helps us know what people did and how they lived ages ago. It also tells us how men had
to manage to make their lives better and better.
Many learners, however, do not like to read History. They say that there are too many names and
dates to remember. But they do not understand that if we know nothing about the past, we cannot
have a good knowledge of the present. For example, if we wish to know how men learnt to use fire
or clothes, we have to know what men did in the past to travel at night or to keep themselves
warm. In fact, only a study of History will make us realize that what we do today is the result of
what our ancestors did in the past. History therefore is a long story of man’s struggle through the
ages. As we read the story, we are learning many interesting things.
I enjoy learning history. I have a large number of history books in my house. Some day, I might
even write a history book myself.

Write about the kind of work which you hope to do when you
leave the school.

It is very interesting to speculate as to what one could do after leaving the school. Normally it is


too early for one leaving the school to decide upon a definite career. One is not mature this stage
to decide upon a future course. Everything is temping and attractive and it is tough making a
decision.
A career depends on many factors. The occupation of one’s parents, a successful neighbour or
even an imaginery ideal, may influence the kind of work which one hopes to do. If one’s parent is a
doctor or a lawyer one may decide to follow the same path. A book one has read or a popular
movement may also influence one’s future.
I have made up my mind to become a doctor. With all the science’s achievements, man is not able
to overcome diseases. He has found out medicines and ways to combat diseases but there is no
way to eradicate them. As far as humanity is there, there will be diseases. Rich or poor, man
suffers from diseases and the number of hospitals is a glaring witness to the presence of diseases.
So there is more pleasure for me in serving the suffering humanity.
I got the inspiration from Mother Theresa who got the Nobel Peace Prize. What a glorious service
she has been doing for the sick and the dying in the streets of Calcutta. I may not rise to that rare
height.
A medical man is not merely a man who can prescribe a few tablets and give a shot here or there.
In one sense, he plays the role of a helper of the creator saving as many patients as possible. To
be a good doctor requires a lot of insight into the patient’s constitution and mind. A medical man
must be careful in dealing with individual cases and he must be sympathetic. When a doctor
replaces a heart or kidney he saves a patient. It is a challenge which is worthwhile. Since a
medical man deal with humanity, he must be humane. Another fact is that a medical man is
always intimate with his patient so it is also ethical to divulge a patient’s sickness to anybody.
Without fleecing a patient a doctor can earn a tidy sum of money if he has created a good name in
his special field. So, for these reasons, I am attracted to medicine.

Topic: In your opinion, what is the most difficult skill of studying English

Men who learn English as a foreign language often say that writing is more difficult than any other skills. As the
fact of the matter, most native speakers of the language have to make their efforts themselves to write accurately
and effectively even on what they are well aware of. Needless to say, it is not easy at all for a non-native speaker
to do something that an average native speaker usually considers a difficult job to do. Here are three reasons
which, in my opinion, can answer the question why writing becomes the most difficult skills.
Firstly, writing requires good grammar. A non-native person has to remember a large number of rules in structure
which are quite different from their own language. This is a very big problem if he or she learns the grammar with
an English native teacher at the beginning. The teacher cannot help to point out the distinct differences
between the two languages. In this case, the learner must figure out the differences themselves and even outline
some rules to convert from their own language to the target language.
Secondly, people are often known to spend less time to write than to listen, to speak and even to listen. Learners
learning the language in their country are proved to read more than any other skills while learners learning
overseas must listen to the language most of their time. In any cases, they spend little of their time for writing. It
is clearly known that an average person spend the most for listening, the second most for speaking, then reading
and finally writing.
Thirdly, when students of English as a foreign language write something, they have a big question in mind
whether what they write is correct or incorrect. Who can answer the question for them and help them recognize
the mistakes. It is, in many cases, the teacher who is teaching them and is ready to give them a hand. The
problem however I want to mention is that the teacher does not have enough time to correct for all of them if
there are more than ten students in the class. When the teacher corrects the writing for just some of them, the
other students cannot recognize their own mistakes. Without correction, the mistakes may be repeated many times
and become bad habits which are hard to adjust.
In conclusion, writing is the most difficult skill that learners of any foreign language may face. To be good at it,
learners must give much effort.

Why I like to go to school

The outline:
1. what kind of place it is
2. the reason for going to school

3. How a school improves a person
4. Why I like school
School is a good place to learn things. In school, one can meet boys and girls form a variety of
homes. Consequently, school is really an interesting place.


In school, pupils can acquire good knowledge of different kinds of subjects such as, Mathematics,
Literature, Biology, Chemistry and many others. Learning much makes them cleverer and wiser.
When they grow older, they will become good people.
In school, pupils learn how to have good behaviors towards elders as well as one another.
Teachers always explain and give lecture on the importance of good manners. They also talk
about how to develop good manners and behavior.
Again, pupils learn all kinds of games to develop their bodies and minds. They learn to be good,
brave and hard-working and to think for themselves. They also learn to depend on themselves. All
this helps to build up character which is very important to everyone.
As there are many pupils in a school, there is also much to learn from them about the people who
live around us. Each pupil comes from a different kind of home. Some pupils come from poor
families; some come from rich families; some have no parents; some have good parents and some
have careless parents. Therefore, mixing with pupils from such a variety of homes helps one to
learn a lot about human affairs.
It is for all these reasons that I like to go to school.

Talk about your favorite author

My favorite 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 originates from his ability to identify his readers with the characters in his
stories. In most of his stories we find 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 in
these tragedies with such skill where the readers themselves experience all the mental conflicts
and emotions. Thus they get better ideas 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 skilful 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. It will remain so till the end of time. It is for all these reasons that I enjoy reading
Shakespeare.
I do enjoy reading the works of other writers too, such as those of Charles Dickens and Jane
Austen. However, they do not give the satisfaction that Shakespeare does. I find Shakespeare’s
stories so interesting that I have read the same stories several times in last few years. Once I read
the same story, I learn something new about human nature. Shakespeare was indeed a genius.

Describe the things you enjoy doing

I do many things everyday,. The things I enjoy doing most, however, 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 prayer.
I must admit that looking for flowers around my house is a very pleasant exercise. I go to all our
neighbors’ gardens where a great variety of flowers can be found. Our neighbors are very kind and
they allow me to pick as many flowers as I like.
As I look at the flowers, I felt extremely happy. They are so beautiful and colorful 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 flowers 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. I also learn about the people around us as
well as those who are thousand of miles away in different lands across the oceans. Further, I learn
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.

How do you spend your 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 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 lunch quickly in order to have as much time
as possible to read books. Eating quickly is not good for health but I have to do 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 books for about two hours after lunch everyday.
After reading in the afternoon, I have a bath and then a cup of tea. Having done these things, I go
out to my friend’s house near by and discuss our lessons for about an hour. Sometimes we go for a
walk and as we do so, we talk mainly about our lessons. My friend is a good student. 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 when we
expect some visitors. I must admit that I enjoy doing the cooking, for it helps me to learn how to
prepare a good meal. I have already learned how to make some delicious cakes from helping my

mother.
Then, I spend some of my time working in our vegetable garden. My parents have planted many
kinds of vegetables. I help them to water the plants so that they can 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. I can say that my time after
school is spent in a variety of ways.

Why should we have good manners?

Good manners are important to live happily among people. Without good manners we are
only slightly better than animals.
The modern society consists of more people than it did in the past. These people are of various
cultural, racial, religious and professional backgrounds. It therefore requires great powers of
endurance and abilities of mixing with people. Good manners enable one to tolerate the
disagreeable attitudes of others to a great extent. They also help to promote friendship among the
people around.
If one has good manners, that person is respected by those who associate with him or her. Having
good manners, however, does not mean that being polite, understanding, and sympathetic when
not only outside but also inside his or her home. There are many people who are very kind and
polite to people outside their homes, but within their own homes they are worse than the devil
himself. Such people do not really have good manners.
Having good manners means being good to others. Our speech and habits as well as our behavior
should not hurt the feelings of others or cause them any inconvenience. We should not also talk ill
about others or boast about our achievements or personal possessions. We must not laugh at the
weaknesses and failures of others. Further, if we are angry we must try to use words in such a way
that others are not offended.
If we have all these qualities, we will have more friends and well-wishers. We will also have less
trouble from others, and those who associate with us will also learn how to behave well. In this
way, our good manners will help to spread better understanding and good-will among others.

Thus, we can live a happier life. It is for all these reasons that we should have good manners.
Read more: There is one more sample essay on Good manners. Click the link to read it. Good
manners - Talk about the importance of good manners

Talk about the things you 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 traveling 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 classmates 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 watch and listen 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 programs which are very amusing. The television programs become more interesting on a
rainy day. We can then sit in the comfort of our home and watch the television program. 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.

Talk about the film you like best.

The film “Journey to the West” always fascinates me though I have seen it many times. It is a fairy
story about the long journey make by four people to the place of Buddha. They have overcome
eighty-one challenges and beaten many wicked people to get true Buddhism books for saving
mankind from fighting each other aggressively. Above all, it leads us to the realization of human
individual desertions and our long life self-training process to get rid of the selfishness to perfect
ourselves.
The combination of the East’s body of folklores and the book of the same title written by Wu
Cheng'en makes the plot of “Journey to the West”. It is considered a great work of Chinese
filmmakers, gathering over a hundred actors and beautiful actresses. Among them is the talented
Liu Xiao Ling Tong who plays the active and faithful monkeyman Sun Wukong, the hero of the film
besides the exemplary monk - Xuanzang, the pigman - Zhu Bajie and monsterman - Sha Wujing.
The film’s background is set in the year BC with the scences of paradise, hell, the waterworld and
man from other majestic holylands. This famous film shows the good preparation and good
imagination of human beings.
In short, besides its success in art, the film, in fact, advises man to live a nicer life.

Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the cinema

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 or 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 of 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 of
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.

Give an account of a visit to a book exhibition

Last Saturday our teacher, Cikgu Hamid, took our class to town to visit a book exhibition that was
being in the town hall.
We left our school in a chartered bus and arrived at the town hall at about 9:15 a.m. There were


thirty of us including Cikgu Hamid and we were among the first visitors to the exhibition that
morning.
As we entered, I was taken aback by the sheer number of books on display. I have never seen so
many books all together in one place before in my life. I felt thrilled to have the opportunity to take
a look at these books on display. I was sure my classmates were equally thrilled.
Cikgu Hamid told us that we had two and a half hours to browse among the books. We were not to
fool around and if we wanted to buy any book we were to give it to him so that he could get a

better discount. We all promised to behave. Next we plunged among the bookshelves and started
to do what we had come for.
There were so many books on display. There were books on hobbies computers, art and craft,
machines and others of general interests. I was especially fascinated by the books on nature. So I
was more or less glued to this section browsing over the beautifully illustrated books of animal and
plants. Never had I seen such vast amounts of information concerning our precious planet.
Before I knew it, one and a half hour had passed. My goodness, I thought I had only an hour left to
go over the rest of the exhibition. So I promptly got about doing it.
I next came upon computers on display. There was a sizable crowd gathered but I managed to get
in front to have a look. A man was demonstrating the capabilities of a computer. I was astonished
at what the computer could do. So for a good hour I was stuck there, eyes glued to the video
display.
Finally I decided that it was time I had a breath of fresh air and a cool drink. The crowd in the hall
had swelled and the air was getting a bit stifling. So I left the hall for a moment to do the things.
After a refreshing drink I returned to the hall to meet the rest of my classmates. Cikgu Hamid was
already waiting for us. One by one my classmates appeared. After all of us had assembled and
Cikgu Hamid had purchased the books, we headed out of the hall and into the bus.
The bus started and we were on our way home. It had been a pleasant morning at the exhibition.

What in your opinion are the qualities of a good judge?

The judiciary, especially in a democratic state, is well known for its impartiality. In numerous cases
it has taken decisions even against the state for the achievement of the ends of justice. This
impartiality of the judicial system in a democratic state can be attributed to the good qualities of
judges who have always asserted their independence from executive control.
The qualities of a good judge include patience, wisdom, courage, firmness, alertness,
incorruptibility and the gifts of sympathy and insight. In a democracy, a judge is accorded great
respect by the state as well as its citizens. He is not only permitted to assert his freedom and
impartiality but also expected to use all his forensic skill to protect the rights of the individual
against arbitrariness. Though such a state of affairs makes it easy for the judge to exercise his

functions, he still requires many qualities to perform his duties effectively.
In the execution of his functions, a judge has to exercise patience and alertness so that he can
hear all the arguments of the contending parties to a dispute and arrive at a wise decision. An
impatient judge can hardly act with reason, however wise he may be. Patience and alertness are
therefore essential qualities of a good judge.
The decisions of a judge sometimes provoke the anger of certain individuals and he becomes the
victim of revenge. In condemning a person to death, for example, a judge might cause the
relatives of the condemned man to nurse feelings of revenge against him. The life of the judge is
thus exposed to danger, sometimes even after his retirement from judicial service. Therefore, a
good judge is also a man of courage, who is incorruptible and prepared to accept the
consequences of his decisions. A pusillanimous and corruptible judge is no bulwark of justice.
A good judge is, however, not destitute of sympathy. He considers the feelings of all parties with
sympathy and understanding. His knowledge of the law and human affairs is so extensive that he
experiences little difficulty in grasping the main issues of the dispute quickly. His insight into
human nature enables him to detect the criminal almost immediately; yet he is prepared, at times
to set the accused free if the charge against him is not framed properly by the police. This proves
his impartiality, an attribute that inspires the confidence of the citizens in his ability and sense of
justice.
These arguments point to the conclusion that a good judge is a person of many qualities.

Is traveling an educative experience? Discuss.

There are many reasons for travel.
When it involves a short trip or a vacation away from home, it is generally for the purpose of
building up health resistance, or for relaxation, or to escape, temporarily, from the monotonous
rounds of a daily existence in which there is very little time for change from regular schedules. The


human being realizes that variety adds zest to living. Travel supplies variety.
Travel can have its other values. When you travel you see new faces and talk to strangers. Such

experience is a challenge to your ability to mingle with various kinds of people, especially if they
are not of the same type as those to which you are accustomed in your own local environment.
You will meet people about whom you have only vaguely read or heard. It is prophesied that such
experiences will erase many of the misunderstandings and criticisms.
Real acquaintance often dispels petty jealousies, unreasonable, dislikes, intolerant attitudes, and
silly prejudices.

Talk about an adventure in a forest

A few months ago some of my classmates and I made a trip to Borneo with our Geography teacher
to seek adventure in the forests of Borneo.
Soon after our arrival in Borneo, we made all the preparations and began our journey to the forest
early one morning. After miles of travel through the forest, we arrived at an open space. As it was
already late in the evening, we decided to erect our tent and spend the night there. Night soon fell
on this place and we lighted our oil lamp.
Feeling tired, we had our meal early and went to bed. There was silence all around; but soon,
creatures that love the night world became active. The forest was now full of frightful noise.
Breaking through this noise, came another noise, more frightening; the noise of native drums. And
as the minutes slipped by, it seemed to come nearer and nearer. We all froze into deadly silence.
The tension mounted rapidly, but still nothing happened. Then, as suddenly as it began, the noise
stopped. We were alarmed. We were now sure that some natives have seen us and we would be
attacked. In such a situation, we could not sleep. Death might come at any time.
Minutes lengthened to hours; but in our anxiety to preserve our lives, we hardly noticed the
coming of day. Then, all of a sudden, we found ourselves surrounded by half-naked natives with
spears in their hands. Surprised and terrified, we remained speechless for some time. Then, one of
them, presumably their leader, uttered a word. He seemed eager to talk, but there was no
language in which we could understand each other.
Our teacher, who is always full of ideas, then offered a cigarette to the man who uttered the word.
The man, however, seemed to suspect our teacher’s intentions. He refused to accept the
cigarette. Our teacher then put it between his own lips and after lighting it, began to puff at it. The

man now made a sign which showed that he would not mind having a cigarette after all. At once
our teacher gave him one and helped him to light it. As he was puffing at it, we observed signs of
satisfaction. Realizing that in this way we could become friends, our teacher gave him a few more
cigarettes. The man was so delighted at this demonstration of friendship that he uttered some
words, and soon all those who came with him, began to dance and sing.
After they had stopped singing, they made several gestures which showed that they had enjoyed
our company. They left us after about an hour with smiles on their faces. Our journey into the
interior of Borneo was indeed an adventure.

Talk about a journey by train

Revised
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 a 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. 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 class room.
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.

Describe some of the interesting places in your country

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 fields 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.

Talk about a slow train journey.

There is only train plying from X to Y, I had no other choice. The line is a narrow gauge. It passed
through farming country and it mainly carried farm produce, although passengers were often
using it too. At every station on the way to be loaded and unloaded involving much shunting which
took a lot of time. It took nearly four hours for a distance of 60 km.
I traveled once by that train. At first I could not believe that a train (in this age) could go so slowly.
I had to put up with it. The train moved at a snail’s pace and one could almost get down and get
back on it. I did not try it because it was not safe for such foolhardy experiments.
The train stopped to pick up baskets of eggs, hens, vegetables and other farm produce. Naturally,
those who traveled by this wonderful train were farm workers moving either form one estate to
another or going to town for a change. The train was not clean. The familiar sights of newspaper
and magazines were not found at the stations. The stations on the way were manned by a
skeleton staff, the station master and the pointsman doing all the duties. There are only two trains
for the whole day and life to them is boring.
The journey was interesting for me and I got down whenever the train stopped to load or unload.
There was no milling crowd of color I could see. There was not even a soft beverage to drink I
could see. How they shunted the wagons. It was interesting to see the people who came to take
their goods. There were all sorts of baskets, hampers and baggages. One of the loading was done,
the train would start again and go on.
Since the train ran through farming country. I could see farms all the way, with their gardens,
poultry, cattlesheds and granary. I couldn’t see any tall building. I could see a calf looking with fear
at the streaming train: a half of naked boy goggling at the passing train and people engaged in the
farming activities.

After a while, it all got boring. Anyway, it was good to relax from a hectic city life.

Talk about life in the village (Essay 1)

The village has always been known to be a place of peace and quiet. The scattered houses among hundreds of
plants and trees indicate the lack of activities in the village.
The workers in the village leave their homes early in the morning to work in the plantations or towns near by.


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, they seem to be contented.
In the afternoon, most of the villagers are at home. Some of them take a nap after lunch, do some work in their
small gardens or pay some visit to the small shops in the village. In various parts of the village, children may be
found playing the popular games of the village. Occasionally, a cyclist passes by.
In the evening, the villagers meet one another. Some play cards and other types of games which are 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
words have the force of 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 color.
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. Hundreds are leaving the village to seek their
fortunes in the towns and cities.

Imagine that you live in a village. Describe your village. (Essay 2)

The outline:
1. Name of village
2. How many people in it
3. What the people do
4. What things there are in it
5. How the people are
6. Ending (conclusion)
The village I live in is known as Kampung Java. It is about ten miles from a large town.
There are many people in my village. Most of them are farmers. They grow paddy in the large
fields around my village. These paddy fields look very beautiful when the paddy plants are
growing. The mountains in the distance and the palm trees all around, add to the beauty of these
fields.
The shops in my village are very old. There are few brick buildings. Most of the shops are along the
main road in the village. As the people in my village live a simple life, their needs are not many.
So, many of the things found in the shops in the towns are not found in the shops in my village.
The people in my village are good. They go not like to quarrel or fight with others. Every evening
they meet one another and talk about many things. If they need any help or advice, they go to the
village chief. The chief is a wise man. He gives good advice and keeps the people happy.
Indeed, I like my village very much.
The pleasures of living in a village (Essay 3)
The outline:
1. General description of a village
2. Compared with the city
3. Advantages and disadvantages
4. The end
A village is a quiet place where the influence of the city is not felt much. It is indeed a very good
place for rest and relaxation.
In a village people do not live very close to one another. Their houses are far apart. Each house
therefore has a lot of space around it. So, almost every house is surrounded by flower and fruit

plants and vegetables. All these make the village look green and fresh. There are also tall trees
everywhere which provide shade from the sun and keep the village cool.
Some villages are surrounded by paddy-fields or mountains. There are also many streams and
rivers in most villages. All these add great beauty and variety to the village scene.
The people of village are very simple in thought and behavior. They are therefore very friendly and
helpful. So, the crimes of a city are almost unknown in a village. The people here work together
and live in peace. Whenever they celebrate a festival, they dance and sing together and the whole


village is in a gay mood.
Living among such friendly and simple people, in such a quiet place, is indeed a real pleasure.
Word-meaning:
Pleasure = feeling of being happy
Influence = effect, impact
Far apart = far away from
To provide = to give
To surround = to encircle
Paddy field = rice field
Scene = view
Festival = religious or other celebration

Describe a pet which you have kept.

Rosy is a dog which I have been keeping for the past four years. It was by sheer accident that Rosy
came into my hands. Our neighbour Mr. Jones was a dog lover. He has a good kennel in his house
where he reared different types of dogs. Suddenly, he got tranfered from the town and he wanted
to dispose some of the dogs, he had. He was talking to my father. Then I told my father that we
could have one of the puppies; though reluctant, my father agreed. That was how Rosy came into
my possession.
Why, it was named Rosy, I cannot say. It is an Alsatian. It is of medium height, grey in color with

dark spots near her belly, bushy and glistening eyes. It grew into a beautiful and magnificent dog
much to the envy of others.
Rosy can be seen about our house when she is playing or when she is not sleeping. She takes
pleasure in sniffing about the comers when she has nothing particular to do. She is as docile as a
deer in our presence. When we are not at home she will be at her mettle and no one can easily
come near our gate or house. Though she does not bite, she will bounce on the person baring her
teeth so much so that she can paralyse any intruder. She recognizes the postman as a friend and
so does not do him any harm.
I give her some biscuits and milk in the morning, rice and curry in the afternoon. Usually she is not
given any food in the night. When we are at our table, Rosy keeps company with me but she
shows no eagerness to touch even a crumb unless offered. So my father likes it. Rosy cries in
peculiar way. It is between barking and howling. Sometimes she raises a cry like moaning. That
means she wants to go out for toilet.
Whenever I go out in the evening, she accompanies me. My friends are afraid of her because she
does not like silly mischievous boys. She shows her displeasure by barking and that is enough to
unnerve the boys. My father says, Rosy would soon become a mother. Then I will have a few nice
puppies.

Talk about the importance of 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. 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 detail about a particular incident
but it also contains more new items. This is greatly important today when political changes occur
with 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 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 everything that is reported by the newspaper. As a result, the newspaper exerts a
profound influence on the minds of reader. Therefore, when some news is reported wrongly either
by mistake or design, it may cause a lot of harm. One 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.

The importance of reading newspaper.

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 event in the world very quickly and almost at 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.
Newspaper also play an important part in keeping the people 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 the two countries for any reason, the newspapers can keep
the people 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 prominence 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.

"Water is important to all living things". Do you agree or
disagree? Give reasons for your opinion.

“Water is important to all living things”. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your opinion
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 of the world need water to live.
We also need water to produce electricity and to carry out 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 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 creatures, will continue to
struggle to get it whenever or wherever they can.

Talk about 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 may 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. 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.

The importance of water

The outline:
1.How it helps all living things
2.How it also destroys lives and property
3.yet why it is useful
4.The end
Water kills thousands of people and destroys many acres of crops every year. But water also gives
life to all living things in the world.
Without water life is unthinkable. We must have water to grow our food, feed the birds and
animals in our homes, grow forests and produce electricity. We use waterways to carry our goods
of trade. Even the human body, which is seventy parts out of one hundred of water itself, cannot
exist for long without water.
Ever since the earth began, large quantities of water have been used by living things. Yet for every
drop of water that is taken from one place, another drop is put back from somewhere else. Nature
has a very clever way of carrying water from cloud to land and sea and back to cloud. No water
has ever been lost.
But nature does not put water where and when we need it. While some men are drowning, others
in another part of the world are dying of thirst. Thus, people all over the world are trying to bring
water to places where it is scarce, to control its flow in times of floods and to make greater use of
it.

Beauty in nature

Beauty is hard to define but easy to recognize. 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 variety of flowers, birds, animals and plants, many of which are vividly
colorful. 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 traveler appreciate the beauty that is found in nature. The farmer finds
beauty in the variety of the plants that he grows. The traveler is impressed with the beauty of
distant hills and mountains, and the beauty of meandering 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 beauty of its own. In
search of this beauty in nature, men in all parts of the world are traveling 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 parts, 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.

The value of education

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 the 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 the society.

The type of stories I like to read

The outline:
1. My reading habits
2. My special taste

3. Why I like this particular type of stories
4. The end
My father has always encouraged me to read. So, I read a lot of story books. But the type of stories
that I enjoy most is detective stories.
I love detective stories because they deal with crimes and criminals. Crimes are interesting to read
because they show human behavior in all sorts of situations. Men commit crimes for various
reasons. So, a great deal of information about human conduct can be obtained from such stories.
Again, detective stories also show how criminals are caught and punished. The part played by
detectives is very interesting to read. The courage that detectives show in arresting criminals is
really great. They not only put themselves in danger but also their families when they deal with
hardened criminals. The way they do their duty to protect society from criminals is therefore very
interesting to study.
Also interesting to study is the ways criminals hide themselves from the law. They run about
desperately but in the end they are all caught and punished.
For all these reasons, I enjoy reading such stories.
Word-meaning:
Courage = bravery, not being afraid
Criminals = person who have broken the law
Desperately = without any hope left
Encourage = give hope, courage, support…

What is food? And give its importance.

Man must eat in order to live; therefore, one of the most important problems man has is that of
always being certain that he will have enough to eat when he needs it.
At first, man did not have any way to control his food supply. For his food he uses the plants and
animals as he found them. He ate roots, seeds, berries, eggs, fruits, honey, and the meat of
animals. Probably the food were not cooked or prepared in any special way.
Even in small societies special knowledge was necessary for hunting and fishing, for preparing the

food, and for preserving food for use at a later time.
As we have said, at first man had no way to control his food supply. When he had killed all the
animals in one place and all the natural foods had been used, he had to move to another region to
find new sources of food. If there was no rain, or if the weather was too hot or too cold, plants
would not grow and man had little or no food. However, man gradually learned ways to grow
plants and raise animals himself. From that time on, he was not so dependent on natural
conditions and did not have to worry so much about always having enough food.
The kinds of plants which are raised by men are different in each geographical or climatic region.
In the colder regions, very few plants can be grown; in the warmer parts of the world, great
varieties of plants are found, but there is still some specialization in particular kinds of plants. For
example, in Asia, rice is the most important crop. In the New World, the major grain is corn (or
maize). In Europe and North Africa, wheat, oats, and barley are grown. In the tropical regions of
the world, many kinds of fruit grow naturally or are raised by men.
To a certain extent, the kinds of animals raised by man were also determined by climate and
geography, or simply by the kinds of animals available in one particular area. For example, cows,
sheep, and goats were found naturally only in particular areas of the world, and only the people
living in those areas were able to use those particular animals for food or for other purposes.
Cows, sheep, and goats are now common in all parts of the world. As man has learned more about
plants and animals, the production of food has become a more technical and specialized process.
However, there are still many areas of the world where plants and animals are raised in such the
same ways as were used thousands of years ago.

What would be to your mind an ideal education system?

A country is weak or powerful, which depends on its education system. Realizing the important
role of education in life, Ho Chi Minh, in one of his speeches on education, said: “For the sake of
ten years’ benefits, plant trees; for the sake of one hundred years’ benefits, educate people.”
An ideal education system must try to carry out the following aims.
First, training human personality both mentally and physically is important. It is said that a sound

mind is in a healthy body. The morality and the quality of a man must be the main concern of the
Department of Education.
Second, schools must be connected closely with families and society. Schools must always
encourage pupils’ families to cooperate in educating their children.
Third, the practical side of education must be emphasized. An ideal education system must not be
entirely theoretical; on the contrary, theory must be linked up with practice. Besides the
cultivation of knowledge for young generations, ideal education must train them to have great
capacity and skills so that they are ready to make steady progress in life.
Fourth, society is more and more developed; therefore, textbooks and curriculums must be often
supplemented in accordance with present and future needs.
Fifth, training and tempering a passionate love for one’s country in every citizen’s heart, ready to
serve their country in peacetime and to fight courageously to protect their fatherland in wartime.
The examples of sacrifice of our heroes in the past as well as in the present must be introduced
through textbooks in elementary schools.
Sixth, training and forming educators, teachers and professors of good conduct and high quality,
teaching and educating students and pupils to hold their teachers in the greatest veneration and
respect. Furthering the traditions to respect teachers and esteem morality highly in every class of
people.
To sum up, an ideal education is the nucleus of an ideal society.

My daily activities
Every morning from Monday to Saturday, I get up at 6 o'clock. After breakfast, I go to school by


bicycle. It takes me about 20 minutes from my house to my school. Usually, I study at school until
11:30 a.m. I return home at noon to have lunch with my family. In the afternoon I attend English
and computer courses. I always get home just in time for dinner at 7:30 p.m. After dinner, while
my parents are watching television in the living-room, I read books or prepare for school in my
own room.
I am free at weekends. On Sunday mornings, I get up later than usual. Then I often go shopping

downtown with my friends. Sometimes we go for a picnic in the countryside. On rainy Sundays, I
stay at home reading books and listening to music.
I am quite happy with my daily activities.

Are parents best teachers?
It is not persuasive to state that parents are best teachers. In fact, most of them are not
specialized in teaching. However, after considering different angles, one soon perceives and
admits it. Parents help children to learn basic things. They teach their children to become a good
person. They spiritually and/or materially guide children surmount difficulties.
Firstly, people learn basic things from parents. It is parents who hold children’s hands to keep
them stand. After children can stand stiffly, they are led to walk some steps with hands being hold.
Even the first word babbled out is an imitation of parents. Admittedly, children are always curious
about anything surrounding them. Parents tenderly explain them from most simple things. Parents
are patient teacher to meet all silly questions from children.
Secondly, parents teach children the way to become a good person. Every parent reminds children
of saying thank you when they receive a candy from elders. It is common that a parent is
explaining that boy is a bad child or that another is a good one. This gives children an evaluation
their friends. As a result, children have good friends to play with. Children are shown how to have
good behaviors with others.
Last but not least, parents help children surmount their difficulties. Parents are ones who love us
most and always take care of us. There is no doubt that parents easily and quickly find we are in
poor state although we are not a child at all. Love of parents for their children is too deep for them
to feel unrelieved. Every parent wishes happiness to their children. For this reason, they are
always ready to be with their children to help them to overcome hardship by their strong love and
even by all their fortunes.
In summary, with the three hereinbefore reasons, parents are considered best teachers who are
always with children whenever children are in need. They share everything they have experienced
to their beloved sons and daughters. Because of parents’ great love, it is said that there is no
place like home.

Night market
Two days before the Chinese New Year, there is always a night market in our place. The night
market is put up every year during this season.
It happened this year that I took my sister to the night market. When we arrived at the market, it
was crowded. Slowly people increased and there was soon a very big and noisy crowd.
At the market, there were many things on sale: toys, clothes, books, stationery, edible things,
flowers, materials, kitchen wares, cosmetics and many other things. Stall-keepers were shouting at
the tops of their voice trying to attract buyers. Customers were talking and bargaining.
Housewives were looking for things they wanted to buy.
My sister and I were moving from one stall to another. While we were looking at the things, there
was a big noise from two stalls away. A fat woman was quarreling with a thin stall-keeper about


the price of some goods. They were shouting angrily at each other. More and more people
gathered to watch the quarrel. After a while the fat woman threw back the thing and left.
After watching the quarrel, we decided to go home. We were tired and our legs were arching, but
we enjoyed the visit.

A fashion show
Fashion show is one of the ways of advertisement. This is to attract to the attention of the public
and to educate them on the coming fashion. If it is put crudely, it is to brain wash the public that
these shows are held. Unlike the advertisement in the newspapers, a fashion show has the
glamour of music, color, light and all theatrical effect. Since live models are used, it becomes very
realistic and the audience has got a chance to see, discuss and criticize, and have some fun at the
expense of the models. So there is no denying the fact that the fashion shows have become the
fashion of the day and they have become pace setters of a fashion.
Thus recently I had an occasion to attend a fashion show organized by the Textile Mills Association
and the Garment Makers’ guild. This was held in the City Hall on a Sunday so that more people
could attend. The Hall was very tastefully decorated. The stage was set in such a way that the
models could be viewed to advantage. The lighting was first class with concealed lights and

provision for color lighting. Admission was by special invitation; otherwise the organizers could not
control the crowd. Since my father received an invitation, we went to the show. Some soft music
was played to enliven the show.
The selected models were ones who had been taken for their attractive personality. There were
men’s, women’s and children’s models. One by one they paraded on the stage and when they
came there and walked across the stage showing their dress to the audience, some salesmen at
the microphone would describe the fabric, the name of the mill that had produced it and the name
of the fashion. At the same time, printed forms of the fashion was distributed to the audience.
Men wearing office dress, casuals, hunting dress, sports wear and dinner dress appeared on the
stage. The Olympic suit specially created for the coming Olympics was shown. A team of athletes
wearing the suit paraded on the stage. Women in all types of dresses both oriental and accidental
were there. The materials of which their dresses were made varied from cotton to polyester. There
were women wearing Indian sarees, Japanese kimonos, bikinis and swim suits and Maxi’s. there
was also a model who was wearing a casual dress made of paper. The announcer said that the
paper dress was cheaper and disposable and it could be used in the operation theater and so on.
It was not all a show of the grown-ups. There were children between three and eight, both boys
and girls who presented the latest version of children’s wear. Some of the children who appeared
on the stage were very smart and they enjoyed the fun.
What attracted me most was the beach dress which when worn could give a camouflage effect.
Besides it was said that the material was waterproof, non-smelling and light.
It was a delightful show and the audience had an enjoyable evening. The fashions book which was
for sale was in great demand. So there is no gain saying that I too enjoyed the show very much.

Underwater discovery
One Sunday, I managed to talk my uncle into bringing me along on a snorkeling trip. My uncle is a
diver and I have been taking swimming lessons under his instruction for a few years.
We spent ten minutes warming up before we dived into the deep blue sea. I was surprised to find
myself swimming alongside sea creatures. Fishes of all shapes and sizes swam by. There were also
strange-looking plants and I was enchanted by the beautiful underwater world.
I saw huge plants with numerous finger-like “petals”, opening and closing restlessly. Some small

fish swimming near the plant were caught amongst the “petals” as they closed. I also saw a seahorse swimming right in front of my eyes. I was very excited and tried to grab it, but it was too
quick for me. Then came a jelly-fish which looked like a gigantic mushroom dancing gracefully in
the deep sea-water. I avoided it as I did not wish to be stung.
I was reluctant to surface but my uncle insisted that it was time to go back. However, I was very
pleased with the beautiful and rare corals I had picked up. It was certainly an exciting and fruitful
trip.

Talk about a place of great natural beauty
It was the hour when the sun’s golden hue filled the horizon. I settled down comfortably on a huge
rock jutting out from the foot of a cliff. It was a moment of joy as I watched the evening migration
of the seagulls. I felt a strong urge to walk, and so I did. A strong craving for freedom arose in me
as I walked on that lonely but nevertheless beautiful evening. My intention of visiting this place
was to enjoy the peace and serenity that it offered. At the same time I longed to catch glimpses of
the familiar yet extraordinary beauty of God’s creation. Indeed, I found that moment excellent for
relaxing the stressful and tension filled minds of man who lives in this materialistic society.
As I strolled along the beach, my rough feet touched the smooth white sand which seemed to
gleam under the thin and dim rays of the setting sun. It was so gentle that I felt as if I was walking
on a carpeted floor of a grand hotel. I looked ahead at the green, calm sea and my little heart was
touched.
The beauty, of which I was then the witness, was beyond description. I only wished that I was born
an artist so that I could capture this wonder and preserve it in my paintings. Walking on, I was
visited by ecstacy when the naughtily noisy waves splashed on my bare feet. Far along the other
end of the beach were some fishermen busy preparing their fishing nets and touching up their
boats before they resume their daily work in the open sea.
Feeling tired after the long walk, I stopped and sat on a fallen coconut tree trunk. Even at this
moment I could capture another aspect of the wonder of that evening. I was enthralled by the neat
rows of coconut trees standing upright as if mocking the fishermen who were sweating and toiling
to earn a living. The trees dancing and swaying to the music of the rushing waves made my heart

sing to the matchless rhythm.
As time passed, the sun was almost disappearing behind the horizon. Nevertheless, there was still
a group of young boys, naked, playing police and thief and making sandcastles. They were happy
in their innocence. The still evening air brought their laughter over the sands and into my ears.
Somehow, within me glowed the strong urge to shout and tell the world the unsurpassable joy I
was then feeling and to reveal my pleasure and gratitude to God, the Creator.
Looking above me, at the clear blue sky, I could see tiny dots of stars beginning to appear jointly
in the darkening sky. Then, my eyes caught the most beautiful sight. The beauty was inimitable. It
was a group of long necked swans gently flying over the enormous ball of fire which was, a
moment ago, shining in all its glory. The moon then appeared, taking the place of the sun. It was
difficult to grasp the idea that the moon’s brightness is but a mere reflection of the sun’s light.
This, to me, pointed to the harsh reality behind the beauty of man-made laws.
As it was already dark, the fishing boats were out of sight and the children have gone home.
Feeling lonely, I left the realm of all emotions, of love and trust and of life and death, which is the
beautiful beach. The beauty will remain engraved in my heart for all eternity. This is the only place
that narrates, on its own, the beauty of nature.

Talk about Shopping Centres.
Shopping is an enjoyable experience for the Singaporeans. All shopping centres are crowded with
people. This is because all the things one needs can be purchased in one shopping complex.


Singapore is blessed with so many shopping centres which have supermarkets, departmental
stores, restaurants and a chain of other retail shops specialising in specific and general products.
Singaporeans find it convenient as when everything is available under one roof instead.
Singapore’s major shopping complexes are situated in the Orchard area and others are scattered
over satellite towns and new town areas. The major advantage of shopping in these complexes is
that all items from foodstuffs to household utensils are available in different brands from different
countries. One has a variety of choices, the healthy competition benefits everyone as quality
products can be purchased at economical prices. Supermarkets offer vegetables, fish, meat,

cutlery, crockery, stationery and textiles.
The shopping complex provides various facilities to attract the customers. It provides a clean
environment with full lights, air conditioning and the products neatly displayed. Convenient car
parks and additional facilities such as food stalls and fast food outlets are also given.
The shoppers are not bothered by the rain or sunshine when they are in the shopping centre.
Shopping offers a few hours of relaxation from their daily routine jobs.
Singapore becomes a shoppers’ paradise during the festival seasons especially during Christmas,
New Year, Chinese New Year, Hariraya.

Fruits I like to eat
I like to eat fruits. They are sweet, juicy and rich in vitamin C. I believe in the saying, “An apple a
day keeps the doctor away”. Therefore, I always have a slice of fruit after every meal.
I love to eat honey-dew melon. As the name suggests, the fruit tastes honey sweet. It comes in
two types; the green melon and the orange melon. Both taste just as good but usually only the
former is used or making dessert. I can’t help but long for a bowl of icy cold honey-dew sago on a
hot day.
I also like eating papaya. My mother says it helps digestion because it is a natural mild laxative. I
love to drink papaya milk too. It is easy to prepare and it tastes so good when it is chilled. Each
time my uncle visits us, he will bring us lots of papayas and other fruits form his orchard.
Mango is also one of my favorite fruits. It has a very sweet smell. Mangoes can be made into very
tasty mango puddings or cakes. However, too much mango can cause constipation.
These fruits that I like can be bought from fruit stalls in wet-markets or at the supermarkets.
Luckily, they do not cost as much as fruits like durians or strawberries.

My favorite subject
As a secondary student, I had to study many subjects but my friends used to advise me to
concentrate more and more on Science and Mathematics. But somehow or other, English has
become my favorite subject. My friends, relatives and even my parents were advising me that
there is nothing new to learn in the English Language and I was wasting my time on English.
Whatever the advice may be, English is still my favorite subject.

Reading as a hobby itself is a great pleasure. English has a wealth of literature unsurpassed by
any other language. Studying more about Shakespeare, Shaw, Keat and Hardy gives me an insight
into human nature. I have come to realize how a man would react to a given set of circumstances
or actions. The more I read, the more I learn in between the lines.
My love for the subject has inspired me so much that I may one day write my own play. As a
scholar rightly pointed out that reading enables man, makes one more tolerant to the follies of
others and bridges the gap between countries and cultures, I hope that it will do so for me too.


Reading is fun
Since young, my parents have always brought me to the library to borrow books. At first, I thought
reading was boring. However, I soon learnt to love reading.
The first books I read were fairytales. I still remember those delightful tales like “Beauty And the
Beast” and “The ugly Duckling”. One thing I like about fairytales is that the kind-hearted always
get rewarded in the end.
Now I prefer books on adventures like Enid Blyton’s “Famous Give” series and mysteries like “The
Three Investigators” series. Once a fortnight, I will visit the library to get some books to read. I
always find it difficult to put down a book once I start reading it.
Reading has improved my command of English. I also gain a lot of general knowledge, especially
from reading non-fiction books. I like reading books on subject that I am interested in. like dogs,
horses and outer space.
Reading also provides a world where we can experience things which we may never in real life. For
example, I may not have the chance to travel in caravan. However, reading Enid Blyton’s “Five go
Off In A Caravan” tells me what it is like to stay in a caravan. Therefore, I think reading is both fun
and beneficial.

Keeping fit
Keeping fit means maintaining good health. Looking at history in the West, the activities
connected with keeping fit first started in Greece where the Olympic Games were born. In those
days these activities were pursued for sportsmanship. The Chinese have their unique form of

exercises for keeping fit. These have been developed from methods used a thousand years ago.
Examples are Taiji, Gongfu and Waidangong which are among the most popular in Singapore.
Many people here began to take an interest in physical fitness exercises in the early sixties. By
1970 it became so popular that today we can see hundreds of people taking part in these
exercises in every park and any available open space. People from all walks of life, male and
female, young and old do these exercises under the instructions of professional instructors. There
are many factors which may account for this popular involvement. Technology has made a lot of
improvements in the last few decades. As a result, machines are used extensively at work and also
at home. Machines save time and effort. This means that man not only does less manual work, but
also has more free time. Hobbies are pursued, pastimes are created, and too much leisure leads to
sloth. People who develop a habit of laziness normally find that it affects their ability to work
effectively. As a result the past competitive decades have woken up men from their sleep of
indolence. Men have learnt to fill up their free time with activities to keep fit.
Science has both curse and blessing with various new diseases and cures. Some of these diseases
are different in that they affect even those who eat nutritious food, live in a clean environment and
have access to health facilities. Previously diseases resulted from lack of hygiene and nutrition
deficiency. These normally affected the poor and under-privileged. Doctors say that the present
life style has in some ways created a new range of diseases like “heart attacks”, cancer and
diabetes. Large intake of junk food and preservatives, air pollution and insufficient physical activity
have been identified as some of the causes of the new range of diseases. A new awareness to
change our way of life and the realization that health is more important than wealth has taken
place.
We are presently in the midst of a craze to keep fit. The media has been very successful in
informing the public of the importance of physical fitness. Physical fitness has been described as a
factor that can bring about a long life, free from diseases. Men, women, children and the old are
encouraged to sweat it out in fitness activities.
However, we must not forget that physical fitness programs have their limits. An overdose of
anything can be lethal. Over exertion may cause serious injuries. Injuries may result from improper

and incorrect application of techniques of fitness. So a person embarking on a physical fitness
program to become healthy may end up being seriously injured.

Fashions
Nowadays the general standard of living in Vietnam is improved considerably; therefore,
Vietnamese people especially young ladies, begin to take care of their looks. That is why fashions
play a much/far more significant role in our life today. Living in the center of the south of Vietnam,
the ladies from Ho Chi Minh City have a wide range of clothes to select from: aodais, jeans and Tshirts, blouses and skirts, dresses, trouser-suits, etc.
Generally speaking, pieces of aodai are highly appreciated on special and/or formal occasions such
as celebrations of national holidays, academic conferences, professionally artistic contests, the
traditional Vietnamese Tet, wedding receptions, etc.
On less formal but more common occasions, today’s women may choose western stylish clothes
such as suits, trouser-suits or dresses. In a trouser-suit, a lady may look business-like at work. And
she seems really charming to entertain her guests at home, being decorated by a fashionable
dress or by a lovely blouse and a well-formed skirt. Her feminine features are really strengthened
by the western style of selecting clothes.
On informal occasions, young ladies often appear in jeans and a comfortable T-shirt. It is much/far
more convenient for them to move around in a (super)market or any kind of shops. Light and neat
clothes are also suitable for picnics, barbecues or other friendly social outdoor gatherings. These
clothes really make all the members of the sex of “beauty” lively and attractive.
There is no doubt that fashions do contribute to making our today’s life more beautiful and
meaningful. All women, especially young ladies, have a wide range of clothes to choose from. They
may choose whatever is the most suitable on a particular occasion or for a particular purpose. In
addition to their general knowledge, professional training, unique personality, working experience,
etc., their clothes play a significant role in leading today’s women to success both at work and at
home.
The clothes we wear
It sounds strange to say that of all the animals on Earth, only human beings wear clothes. Well, we
cannot deny this. Anyone who walks around without clothes on will probably be quickly
apprehended and set to the nearest asylum. So we all wear clothes, basically to protect our bare

bodies from the elements of nature and from unwanted attention from our fellow humans.
We also wear clothes to project an image of what we think we are or represent. Most of us would
not have the guts to war anything outside our assumed social standing. As far as I can remember
my grandmother has always worn the traditional Chinese samfu. It is so much a part of her image
that she would wear nothing else. It would indeed be a shock to us if she suddenly wears a skirt for
instance. That is very unlikely to happen.
However, my mother who is one generation younger would never be found wearing the oldfashioned samfu. She would not dare to be that brave. For her, like her friends, skirts and jeans
are the acceptable norms.
My sister, a further generation down, would wear clothes that shock even my mother. Some of my
sister’s latest clothes defy classification. They are a combination of skirt, jeans and pajamas all
sewn together like rags. Well, that is according to me anyway. For her, it is the very latest in
fashion. I really cannot argue on that. One girl’s fashion is another’s rags.
In our country where so many races live together, each day we can see various types of clothes
worn by different of people. A typical Muslim woman is almost totally covered from head to toe. An
Indian lady wears the body-hugging sari with her midriff exposed. An old Chinese man walks
around in his striped shorts-cum-underwear and singlet. A tall Punjabi stands prominently with his