Part
1: Common Errors
The
text below contains 20 mistakes that are highlighted in bold. Rewrite the correct form of each problematic word
or phrase.
Watching violent movies is a popular pastime among young
people almost everywhere. Violent movies
(1) have screen almost everywhere –
in cinemas, shopping malls, and even restaurants. They often become blockbusters because they
are usually action packed with interesting plots and good looking actors. Their violent scenes usually cause a surge of
adrenaline in the viewers, giving them a great sense of excitement. Although violent movies can keep many young
adults (2) occupy and prevent them (3)
in engage in various harmful
activities, they should be banned because they can lead to increased aggression
and social crimes among young people.
Many people argue that (4) watch violent movies (5) was
just a harmless way for them to spend their free time. Instead of (6) get involved in illegal activities
such as stealing or (7) take drugs,
it is better for young people to have a good time in the cinema. However,
violent movies can have a powerful impact on young people, particularly those
who (8) had low self-esteem and are
therefore vulnerable to negative influences.
For instance, a young man recently (9) shoot several people to death after
watching the movie The Dark Knight Rises
under the delusion that he (10) have becoming
one of the violent characters in the movie.
The heightened violence in the movie (11) had been affecting his mind so seriously that he could no longer
control his impulse to kill. Therefore,
violent movies should be banned because they tend to increase young (12) people level of aggression and motivate
them to commit crimes.
Firstly, violent movies will encourage young people to
behave aggressively, constantly filling the young minds with violent depictions
of vengeance and explicit cruelty. After
(12) expose themselves
to violent movies for some time, some young people will start (13) think that violence is the best way
to solve personal problems. Some parents
may contend that violent movies are the “least bad way” to keep their
adolescent children occupied and prevent them from engaging in other kinds of
harmful activities; however, this is not true as the young people will start (14)
imitate the violent behaviour they (15)
have witness on the silver
screen. In fact, they may become
increasingly more aggressive towards their family members after watching some
violent movies.
Secondly, violent movies tend to encourage young adults
to commit social crimes. (16) Influence by the violent movie
characters, some young people will become less sensitive to the pain and
suffering of others. Further, violent
movies may lead them to become paranoid and suspicious of the world around them. This in turn will lead to the loss of
civility in them, (17) cause them to
vent their frustration and anger through vandalism, stealing, and other
detrimental behaviour.
In conclusion, violent movies should be banned because
they encourage young people to use aggression in the face of problems and (18) gave them ideas on how to commit social
crimes. The argument that violent movies
help reduce or prevent criminal behaviour among young people is insufficient
because they bring more harm than good in the long run. Parents have the responsibility to ensure
that (19) his or her children
refrain from watching violent movies while the government should be active in (20)
censor all the violent scenes in every
movie.
Part 2: Common Errors
The
text below contains 20 mistakes that are highlighted in bold. Rewrite the correct form of each problematic
word or phrase.
One of the most
controversial (1) topic today is
related to organ selling which is different from organ donation. While organ donation (2) involve the removal of healthy organs or tissues from a person
solely to save another life, organ selling is practised mainly for financial
gain. Organ donation is usually (3) carry out with the donor’s permission
and blessing while organ selling may involve coercion or even kidnapping as
money is (4) involve. While organ donation is a gift of life to
someone at the brink of death, organ selling may involve (5) desperately parents forcing their
children to sell their organs or financially motivated doctors extracting the
body parts of inmates. Although organ selling is an individual right,
(6) but it should be(7) prohibit because it is unethical for
people to use their vital organs as business transactions and it also (8) disrupt the world health system.
Due to their rarity,
human organs are urgently (9) need
by everywhere. Many patients lost their
lives while (10) wait for a suitable
organ; for instance, some have waited for a suitable kidney or heart for
several years. Therefore, organ selling
should be allowed because it can increase the supply of the organs and solve
the financial problems of the vendors.
An (11) increase supply of
human organs will definitely decrease the mortality rate of patients in
desperate need of them. It will help
doctors to cure some of the most (12) life-threaten
kidney or heart diseases. Besides (13) save another person’s life, a person
who (14) financial strapped can also
get a significant sum of money to solve his or her problems. Hence, organ selling not only helps enhance
the health care system of a country but it also helps to reduce poverty. Although organ selling will lead to an
increase the organ supply and reduce poverty, the premise is not strong enough
because it is a form of unethical business and will destroy the world health
system.
First of all, it is
unethical for people to treat human organs as business transactions. Those who buy organs often (14) exploits those who sell their organs. Buyers can offer a large sum of money to
potential sellers who are not only poverty-stricken but also lowly educated. They do not care about the (14) consequence, for instance, an organ
seller or someone forced into organ selling may die of infection. The buyer may not provide post-operative care,
thus (15) endanger the life of the
seller. Moreover, the buyer may underpay
the seller who is usually not (16) protect
by any laws or welfare organisations in most poor countries. He or she will not have neither knowledge
(17) or power to sue the buyer if anything (18) go wrong after the operation.
While it is unethical to for people to procure organs by using money, it
is equally unacceptable for people to resort to (19) sell their organs to lighten their financial burden. Potential buyers should refrain (20) to tempt others with money while
potential sellers should think of other ways to address their financial
problems.
Part
3: Descriptive Adjectives
Underline
the adjectives in the paragraph.
The dilapidated
inner-city block in my neighbourhood was made unique by a once-burnt down lot
called Segama Courtyard. A group of retirees had decided to undertake a town
beautification project, so the rocky soil had been covered by a thick layer of
black earth, fertilized, and planted with a breathtaking array of aromatic
herbs. Every evening, people from the neighbourhood can be seen tending the
ginger, celery, basil, and even ginseng that thrive in the sprawling garden. Once
haunted by codeine pushers and addicts, its smoke-filled evening air is now
replaced by aromatic herbal fragrance that is soothing and refreshing. A rustling grotto, built with bricks from the
abandoned lot now stands gracefully among the delectable greenery. The Segama
Courtyard is the pride of my neighbourhood, the place we often go to socialize
with others. Though the area is frequented by economic migrants and illegal
squatters, no one ever causes problems in this little getaway paradise.
Source: Yong,
FL 2010, Academic writing. Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, p. 13.
Part 4: Articles
Fill
in each blank with the correct article.
The first one (0) is done for you.
From
my office window, I can see (0) an open-air restaurant positioned snugly
on (1) ________lovely side-street lined with periwinkles of multifarious
colors. Its quaint atmosphere attracts
people from all walks of life. On its
right is (2) ________ high brick wall, filled with graffiti. It blocks off (3) ________ hot afternoon sun
from (4) _________ small tables and chairs neatly arranged in (5) _________ middle
of (6) ________ square. (7) ________ old
stately banyan looms tall on (8) _________ other side of (9) _______ orange-red
wall, its leaves creating dancing shadows everywhere. There is (10) ________ small cobblestone
path, its sides graced by moss-roses peeping from (11) ________ crevices of
large, pearl-like stones, leading to it from (12) ________ main road. Even though it is (13) _________ ordinary
place, its warm facade and friendly service make it (14) __________ popular
place to get (15) ________ quick meal or to meet friends. In the balmy
evenings, whenever I have (16) ________ opportunity, I would sit at (17)
________ small table at (18) ________furthest end of (19) ________ wall,
serenaded by (20) ________sounds of (21) _________ small fountain nearby. From here, I can see (22) ________ silhouette
of (23) _________ ageless hills far away, rapidly disappearing in (24)
_________ sunset. I can also observe (25) ________ various things that people
usually do in (26) ________ evenings – shopping, taking (27) ________ brisk walk, talking with friends or loved ones,
or just enjoying some personal time.
Source: Yong, FL 2010, Academic writing. Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, p. 19.
Part
5: Active Voice and Passive Voice
Read
the passage and make sentences in the passive form using the words given.
One of my
sister’s favourite recipes is fried chicken that is always crisp on the outside and succulent inside. She learned how
to fry chicken at an early age from our uncle who happens to be a restaurant
cook. Below are the simple steps of her
popular recipe that never fails to impress her guests.
She usually selects
her choice of breasts, backs and wings at the market that is just a stone’s
throw away from her apartment. She always
avoids plump pieces and dark meat because they tend to burn on the outside
before the meat is fully cooked.
Upon reaching
home, she immediately washes and gently pats the chicken dry with some paper
towels. Then she beats a few large eggs
in a big bowl. Subsequently she dips the
chicken pieces into the egg wash, completely submerging them. Unlike some of
her colleagues, she does not bathe the chicken in buttermilk because she found
out that eggs will make the skin crispier.
She then seasons the egg-washed chicken with an appropriate amount of salt,
pepper and garlic salt.
After that, she
fills a large baking pan with some all-purpose flour. She then dredges the chicken pieces in the
flour until they are thoroughly coated.
This is to ensure that the chicken will become a rich golden brown with
extra crunchiness.
After pouring a
generous amount of palm oil into a large stainless steel pot, she heats it on
high until it reaches about 350 degrees. Then she utilises a pair of long tongs to add
a few chicken pieces into the pot, one at a time. She never crowds the pot, but
always allows sufficient space for the chicken pieces to float freely in the sizzling
oil.
She patiently
waits for each batch of chicken to fry for about 15 minutes. She knows that the chicken is ready when it
floats to the top of the oil, revealing its golden browned skin while releasing
a rich aroma.
Finally, with a
pair of long chopsticks, she deftly removes the chicken from the pot and allows
the pieces to drain on some thick paper towels. She stashes the fried chicken into the oven to
keep it warm and crispy until she has finished cooking all the pieces.
Practice: Use
the words to make sentences in the passive form.
Example:
guests, impress
The
guests are impressed by her fried chicken.
1. chicken pieces, select
2. plump pieces
and dark meat, avoid
3. chicken, pat dry
4.
few large eggs, beat
5. chicken pieces, dip
6. chicken pieces, submerge
7. chicken, not bathe in buttermilk
8. egg-washed chicken, season
9.
baking pan, fill
10. chicken pieces, dredge
11. oil, pouring
12. oil, heat
13. tongs, utilise
14. sufficient space, allow
15. chicken, fry
16. rich aroma, release
17.
chopsticks, use
18. fried chicken, allow
Part 6: Plural Noun Forms
The following passage is written in the singular form. Rewrite it in the plural form.
Example:
Singular: A successful university
student usually sits in front to make sure that
he or she will pay close attention.
Plural: Successful university
students usually sit in front to make sure that they will pay close attention.
(1) A university student should take his or her tertiary studies
seriously. However, he or she also needs to know how to survive in
college. (2) He or she has to follow
several steps to become a successful student.
(3) A successful university student attends all his or her classes
promptly. (4) Although it is difficult
at times for a student to get out of bed for an early class, he or she always
tries his or her best to wake up early.
(5) A student who attends class regularly usually gets the important
information that is needed to pass a test or quiz. (6) An effective lecturer usually emphasises
the information that will appear in his or her test or quiz; a student who is
absent will definitely miss out.
(7) A successful university student possesses the initiative to get to
know every of his or her lecturer. (8) A
lecturer tends to be more helpful if he or she actually knows the student
well. (9) A student who gets to know his
or her lecturer’s personality often gains some insight into how he or she will
structure a quiz or test. (10) For example, a lecturer who narrates elaborate
stories without leaving any details tends to set very detailed questions. (11) A student who has such a lecturer would
know to read his or her text very carefully, including every side paragraph on
a textbook page.
(12) A successful university student completes all his or her homework
promptly. (13) He or she is fully aware that an individual usually fails for
neglecting his or her homework. (14) Homework assignments help a student to
understand the class material; he or she can ask questions about things he or
she does not understand. (15) Without
doing his or her homework properly, a student will not know what questions to
ask.
(16) A successful university student studies for every test ahead of
time. (17) A student who postpones studying until the last minute tends to feel
stressed during an examination. (18) A
good student does not procrastinate because he or she does not want to
compromise his or her grade.
(19) A successful university student tries to be an active listener in
order to take good notes. (20) A
lecturer usually does not write everything he or she says on the board, which
means that a student really has to pay attention to take good notes. (21) A good student usually makes sure that
he or she listens carefully, especially to the things that his or her lecturer
emphasises.
(22) A student who takes good notes will find it really helpful when he
or she is doing his or her revision. (23)
Furthermore, note-taking will help him or her learn more effectively because an
individual tends to remember better by writing things down.
(24) Finally, a good student usually sees his or her lecturer during his
or her office hours. He or she can ask any questions that he or she was not able
to ask in class.
Part 7: Plural Noun Forms
The following passage is written in the singular form. Rewrite it in the plural form.
Example:
Singular: A successful university
student usually takes good notes to make sure that he or she will remember the important
information.
Plural: Successful university
students usually take good note to make sure that they will remember the
important information.
(1) A successful university
student is not just born that way. (2)
He or she usually does not breeze through his or her studies with little
effort, but achieves his or her success by demonstrating effective study skills. (3) He or she rarely gets discouraged or
surrenders easily, but strives to cultivate effective study skills to enhance
his or her knowledge and ability to remember important information.
(4) A successful university student often plans the time that he or she is going to study. (5) He or she schedules specific times throughout the week to concentrate on his or her academic workload; most importantly, he or she strictly adheres to his or her schedule. (6) A student who studies erratically usually does not perform as well as a student who owns a proper timetable.
(7) A university student usually avoids cramming all his or her studying at one time. (8) Instead, he or she spaces out his or her revision over shorter periods of time. (9) He or she is therefore consistent in his or her studies and organises regular, but shorter, study sessions.
(4) A successful university student often plans the time that he or she is going to study. (5) He or she schedules specific times throughout the week to concentrate on his or her academic workload; most importantly, he or she strictly adheres to his or her schedule. (6) A student who studies erratically usually does not perform as well as a student who owns a proper timetable.
(7) A university student usually avoids cramming all his or her studying at one time. (8) Instead, he or she spaces out his or her revision over shorter periods of time. (9) He or she is therefore consistent in his or her studies and organises regular, but shorter, study sessions.
(10) He or she not only plans
when he or she is going to study, but also studies consistently and routinely. (11) He or she ensures that studying will
become a normal part of his or her life.
(12) Mentally and emotionally prepared, he or she often finds his or her
studying more meaningful and productive.
(13) Furthermore, he or she does not study without any direction. He or she knows exactly what he or she needs to accomplish while studying. (14) Before he or she commences studying, he or she sets a clear objective to support his or her overall academic goal.
(15) A successful university student does not procrastinate studying; he or she does not postpone his or her studying due to the lack of motivation or having other more interesting things to perform first. (16) A student who procrastinates will find his or her studying much less fruitful and much more painful. (17) In addition, he or she will have the tendency to do things in a slipshod manner, making all sorts of careless mistakes along the way.
(18) A challenging assignment requires more effort and mental energy than an easier one, so a successful student usually starts with the difficult one first. (19) Once he or she has completed the most challenging task, it will be much easier for him or her to finish the rest of his or her work. (20) By starting with a difficult assignment first, he or she often increases the effectiveness of his or her academic performance.
(21) A successful university student always reviews his or her notes before starting his or her work. (22) He or she always makes it a point to take good notes during lectures. (23) Reviewing his or her notes thoroughly before starting will definitely allow him or her to complete his or her assignment in a timely and accurately manner.
(24) A successful university student ensures that he or she remains undisturbed while concentrating on his or her studies. (25) A student who is disturbed while studying tends to lose his or her train of thought and becomes highly distracted, leading to frustration and ultimate failure.
(13) Furthermore, he or she does not study without any direction. He or she knows exactly what he or she needs to accomplish while studying. (14) Before he or she commences studying, he or she sets a clear objective to support his or her overall academic goal.
(15) A successful university student does not procrastinate studying; he or she does not postpone his or her studying due to the lack of motivation or having other more interesting things to perform first. (16) A student who procrastinates will find his or her studying much less fruitful and much more painful. (17) In addition, he or she will have the tendency to do things in a slipshod manner, making all sorts of careless mistakes along the way.
(18) A challenging assignment requires more effort and mental energy than an easier one, so a successful student usually starts with the difficult one first. (19) Once he or she has completed the most challenging task, it will be much easier for him or her to finish the rest of his or her work. (20) By starting with a difficult assignment first, he or she often increases the effectiveness of his or her academic performance.
(21) A successful university student always reviews his or her notes before starting his or her work. (22) He or she always makes it a point to take good notes during lectures. (23) Reviewing his or her notes thoroughly before starting will definitely allow him or her to complete his or her assignment in a timely and accurately manner.
(24) A successful university student ensures that he or she remains undisturbed while concentrating on his or her studies. (25) A student who is disturbed while studying tends to lose his or her train of thought and becomes highly distracted, leading to frustration and ultimate failure.
(26) Finally, a successful
university student reviews his or her
lecture notes and other resource materials over the weekend. (27) He or she revises what he or she has
learned during the entire week to get ready for more new learning in future.
Part 8: The Present Perfect Tense
Fill
in the blanks with the correct form of the word in brackets. The first one (0) is done for you.
My cousin William is one of the brightest students in his
pre-university class. He (0) has
excelled (excel) in almost every subject since primary school,
especially English Literature, Additional Mathematics and Economics. He (1) __________ (draw) all kinds of impressive things since
primary school including human beings, animals and objects. He had even drawn a self-portrait that (2)
__________ (earn) him a lot of praise from his teachers. His parents (3)
___________ (show) deep disappointment when he decided to take up art at
university.
“I (4) __________ (to
have) always (5) __________ (want) to
become artist. I (6) __________ (to have) frequently (7) __________ (participate)
in art competitions and (8) ___________ (win) several prizes. By the time I
entered university I (9) __________ (to
have) already (10) ____________ (sell) three
of my own pieces and after my pre-university studies I intend to England to
pursue art. My parents (11) __________ (to
have) always (12) __________ (want) me to become a civil engineer, but I am not
interested in the physical sciences.
They (13) __________ (acknowledge) my keen interest in art as a pastime,
but (14) __________ (exhibit) very little respect towards drawing as a
profession.
My parents (15) __________ (to have) often (16) __________ (insist) that
I major in civil engineering; otherwise, they would not sponsor my tertiary
education. I (17) __________ (to have) already
(18) __________ (declare) to them
several times that I want to attend art school, but they still contend drawing
is not a job and artists usually die in poverty.
Although I (19) __________ (obtain) good grades in
science subjects, deep down inside I am a creative person – taking up civil
engineering would be unthinkable. We (20) __________ (discuss) my future several times, but they (21)_________ (to have) not (22)__________ (change) their
opinions. Nevertheless, they (23)
__________ (have) no reason to stop me
from pursuing my dream. So far I (24) __________ (pass) all my science subjects with A’s.
Up to now I (25) __________ (to have) never (26)
__________ (do) anything for them to
feel ashamed of, especially in my academic work. Fortunately my relationship with them (27) __________ (to have) always (28)
__________ (be) very close.
I (29) __________ (apply) for a place at the Royal Academy
of Dramatic Art in London (RADA); however, I (30) __________ (to have) not (31)
__________ (inform) my parents yet.
I (32) __________ (consider) flying to England once I am offered a place.
The difficulty is that it would cost a lot of money, and my parents (33) __________
(make) up their minds not to support me if I stick to my original plan. I am
really at a loss now. Although I (34)
__________ (to have) never really (35) __________ (quarrel) with them concerning anything, I (36)
__________ (have) a serious argument
with them not too long ago.
“(37) __________ (to have) you ever (38) __________ (do) anything
that your parents really objected? If you haven’t, you would not be able to
understand how I terrible I feel right now!”
I am very concerned about my future career in art, but I
(39) __________ (to have) not (40) __________ (secure) any financial support yet. Tomorrow I will apply for a study loan from a
government agency or a bank. Honestly I
do understand that my parents want what is best for me – but lately I (41)
__________ (to have) often (42) __________ (wonder) whether they really know what that
means.”
Part
9: The Past Perfect Tense
Read
the interview below and complete the task that follows.
Interviewer
|
How did you first get to know the popular
South Korean actor Zio?
|
JC
|
I first caught a glimpse of Zio in 2008; he
was on television in the drama ‘Get Karl, Oh Soo Jung.’ I forgot about him until some six months
later when I strolled past a DVD shop and noticed the same drama on
display. After watching the entire
drama, I searched out more of his work.
Not long after, I found some of his chat-rooms in the Internet and got
to know his work a bit more.
|
Interviewer
|
Who did you meet at the February 2009 Oh
Ji-ho Fan Meeting in Yokohoma?
|
JC
|
I got to know some Japanese fans there;
however, we had to communicate using a lot of sign language as I do not speak
Japanese.
At that Yokohama meeting, there was a one
(and only) male Japanese fan who was wearing hearing aids. Most of us
had the chance to go up the stage to either chat with Zio or play a game with
him; however, this boy never got the chance. He even brought with him a
Korean flag which he waved enthusiastically.
|
Interviewer
|
How did you feel when you met Zio?
|
JC
|
When Zio shook my hand, he clasped both his
hands onto mine; subsequently, he looked into my eyes and said, ‘Thank
you.’ He is always so warm and courteous.
|
Interviewer
|
What happened after the meeting?
|
JC
|
After the meeting, this boy, one other fan,
and I lingered a bit at the premises. A staff member then came along to
ask the boy to go backstage. We waited for him, and when he came out,
he happily showed us two photos from an instant camera that Zio had taken
with him. This only goes to show that Zio has sharp eyes, and he is
such a caring person to specially invite the boy to meet him backstage. I
became his true fan since that incident.
|
Interviewer
|
You met Zio again when he was in
Busan. What was that experience like?
|
JC
|
In
August 2010, together with a couple of fans from China, I visited Zio’s
management agency, Heavenly Star Contents, but we only met one of his
managers. Subsequently, we took the
bullet train to Busan to catch him as he was the ambassador for the
International Advertisement Festival there.
Around this time, Zio was also busy filming ‘Sector
7,’ the first South Korean 3D sci-fi movie.
|
Interviewer
|
You have met Zio several times. How do you find him as an individual?
|
JC
|
He is so sincere, he respects others, and
he has gentlemanly manners that really attract me.
Recently, I encountered a Japanese fan who
has been to many fan meetings. She could tell who has smooth hands, rough
hands, warm/cold hands, and so on. Zio's hands are neither smooth nor
cold; they are warm. Most importantly, he gives firm handshakes, which
we find very rare for celebrities. I love his throw-away-caution hearty
laughter whereby you can only see his teeth and not his eyes.
All in all, I give credit to his parents
for bringing him up so well; I believe he still has the adorable
characteristics of the small town boy next door.
I have no regrets liking this celebrity and
I wish him God's blessings for his future.
Source: Yong, FL 2012, ‘Oh Ji-ho, actor with a
soul’, Daily Express, 31 May, p.
24.
|
TASK
Put the verbs provided in the brackets below
into the simple past and past perfect to describe the
findings from the interview.
Example:
(recall, meet): Jane recalled that they had met a few times.
1.
(say, meet):
2.
(recall, clasp):
3.
(remember, bring):
4.
(report, play):
5.
(reveal, catch):
6.
(state, linger):
7.
(say, encounter):
8.
(point out, appear):
9.
(reveal, find):
10.
(state, attract):
Part 10: The Simple Past Tense
Fill in the blanks with the simple past tense of the word in brackets. The first one (0) is done for you.
South Korean actor Oh Ji-ho was born
in Mokpo, a picturesque city on the southwestern tip of the Korean
Peninsula. The hometown of this attractive bachelor, aged 37, is famous for its
seafood, particularly young octopuses.
After completing secondary school as one of the top students, this abacus champion (0)
attended (attendance) Anyang
University, a well-known private institution that offers undergraduate,
graduate, doctoral, and research programs. After completing his military
training in the late 1990s, he (1) ____________ (decision) to venture into
singing, modeling, and acting.
Oh Ji-ho (2) _____________ (gain) international
fame for his leading role in ‘Couple or Trouble,’ a drama inspired by
Hollywood’s ‘Overboard,’ starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. He (3) ______________ (receipt) the MBC 2006 Popularity Award for
his role as an adorable and thrifty maintenance man who (4) _____________ (management) to turn an arrogant
hotel owner into a rather respectable homemaker. He also (5) _____________(earn)
the MBC 2006 Best Couple Award with the
female lead for the same drama. His other popular dramas include ‘Autumn
Shower,’ ‘Queen of Housewives,’ ‘Single Dad in Love,’ and ‘Get Karl, Oh Soo
Jung.’
After garnering widespread popularity
in romantic comedy, Oh Ji-ho, popularly known as Zio, eventually (6) ___________
(land) a role that utterly (7) ___________
(change) his screen image as a personable
and humorous individual; he (8) __________ (action) as a charismatic military
officer in ‘The Slave Hunters’ in 2010, which (9) ___________ (be) also his
first stint in historical drama. For the impressive role and raw acting, he (10)
____________ (winning) the 2010 KBS
Excellence Award for mid-length drama.
Source: Yong, FL 2012, ‘Oh Ji-ho, actor with a soul’,
Daily Express, 31 May, p. 24.
Part 11: The Present Perfect Tense
Fill
in the blanks with the correct form of the word in brackets. The first one (0) is done for you.
Sylvia
Yeung is one of my close friends. I (0) have known (know) her since 1977
when we first enrolled in Sabah College as form six students. We (1) __________ (keep) in touch since graduation mainly by
exchanging cards, letters and now emails.
We (2) ___________ (to have) not (3) ____________ (see) each other for
over a decade because I was studying in the United States while she (4) ___________
(remain) in Sabah with her parents.
Good at writing, she decided to pursue English Literature at a local
university. She (5) _____________ (work) for a local newspaper as a reporter
since completing her undergraduate studies.
A highly prolific writer who is fluent in three languages, she (6) ___________
(publish) many interesting feature
stories which are now available online.
Sylvia
is not only good at writing, but she is also a good cook. She (7) ___________ (write) a cookbook
featuring several local recipes that I (8) ___________ (to have) not (9) _________
(try) yet. Having a green thumb, she (10)
___________ (cultivate) a variety of herbs that she often experiments with in
her own cooking. So far, she (11) ___________
(send) me pictures of ginger, celery, spring onions and oregano from her
garden. She (12) __________ (to have) always
(13) __________ (emphasise) that consuming garden-fresh food is one of the most
effective ways to stay fit and healthy.
I am
grateful to have Sylvia as a friend. She
(14)_________ (to have) always (15)__________
(be) kind to me, promptly responding to my e-mails all the time. We (16) ___________ (share) many a fond
memory throughout the years and we certainly pray that there will be more to
treasure in the future.
Part 12:
Coordinators, subordinators, and relative pronouns
Join each pair of statements to form a complete sentence using appropriate
coordinators, subordinators, or relative pronouns.
1. He is
often regarded as a genetic lottery winner.
He has a
handsome face complete with dimples and Chiclet teeth.
2. He appears
to be a modest person.
He
appears to be a courteous person.
3. He became more inspired after seeing how serious his co-actor
is.
He became more inspired after seeing how
industrious his co-actor is.
4. Having good looks has helped him succeed in
the movie industry.
He knows that he cannot depend on his
looks forever.
5. His parents are very good looking
individuals.
He has undoubtedly won a genetic lottery
in terms of vital statistics.
6. His chiselled looks have greatly helped him in
his acting career.
He is
fully aware that his physical appearance cannot define him forever.
7. He always tries his best to improve his acting
skills.
He wants
to achieve greater heights in show business.
8. His
wholesome appearance might have helped him to enter the movie industry.
He has
spent several years to figure out the acting part.
9. He shows no
interest in gaining popularity for popularity’s sake.
He is only motivated in enhancing his
acting skills.
10. He used to be typecast as someone only
suitable for romantic comedies.
He was discouraged from acting in
historical dramas.
11. His
signature dish is considered very popular among working adults.
It enjoys a repurchasing rate of 50 percent.
12. He not only shows a
keen interest in customer responses.
He ensures
that part of the proceeds goes to charity.
13. His
signature dish appears very ordinary.
He
creates a boom in Chinese cabbage sales.
14. Several years ago, he travelled
to Canada’s Rocky Mountains to act in a movie.
He was attracted by its picturesque scenery
and interesting cowboy culture.
15.
He experienced the turning point of his life.
He
started acting in a historical drama with a well-known actor.
16. He has been very successful in the movie
industry.
He
has set some very clear goals.
17. He wants to humanise his roles.
He believes that it would allow the audience
to identify with the characters.
18. His latest movie has enjoyed brisk ticket
sales.
Ticket sales reached three million after
barely twelve days.
19. He is
famous for his romantic comedy roles.
He wants to play a villain someday.
20. His
signature dish was barely six months old.
It
grossed about four million US dollars.
21. He has
been acting for almost fifteen years.
He decided to venture into singing and
playing baseball on a reality show.
22. He was in Calgary in July
2012.
He learned
how to make cowboy boots and ride a mechanical bull there.
23. He had tried to make his character as human
and entertaining as possible.
He wanted to gain the audience’s interest.
24. He hardly has the opportunity to play an
antagonist because of his looks.
He
believes that playing a solid villain character would be a stepping stone in
his
career.
25. Starring in good commercial films is only a
process to attain his ultimate goal.
His ultimate goal is to act in a great
human drama.
26. He believes that an actor has to succeed in
commercial films first.
An actor can finally act in films that
feature authentic figures, like Denzel Washington.
27. He
started acting in his early twenties
He had
completed his undergraduate studies and military training.
Part 13:
Coordinators, subordinators, and relative pronouns
Join each pair of statements to form a complete sentence using appropriate
coordinators, subordinators, or relative pronouns.
1. Malaysia
has a multi-ethnic and multicultural society.
It also
has a multilingual society.
2. Traditional
Malaysian art revolved mainly around the areas of carving and weaving.
It also
revolved around silverwork.
3. Malaysian art often contains Indian and Portuguese elements.
India and Portugal have a historical
influence on Malaysia.
4. The official religion of Malaysia is Islam.
Non-Malays have the freedom to choose
their religion.
5. Malay poetry is highly developed.
It uses many forms.
6. Many cultures from within Malaysia have
greatly influenced its cuisine.
Many
cultures from the surrounding regions have also greatly influence its cuisine.
7. Chinese and Indian literature became common in
Malaysia.
The
numbers of Chinese and Indian speakers had increased in Malaysia.
8. In
Malaysia, food not found in its original culture is sometimes assimilated into
another.
Some
Chinese restaurants in Malaysia also serve Malay and Indian dishes.
9. Chili is used
in many Malaysian dishes.
This does not necessarily make them hot
and spicy.
10. Malaysians observe a number of holidays
throughout the year.
They also observe a number of
festivities throughout the year.
11. Malaysia
is a culturally diverse country.
Malaysians have enjoyed peace and socioeconomic development since its
independence.
12. Most Malaysian
festivals are being identified with a particular ethnic or religious group.
Celebrations
are universal such as the open house.
13. Malaysia
has several public universities.
It also
has a few private universities.
14. The medium of instruction in national Malaysian
schools is the Malay Language.
Many Malaysians are fluent
in English too.
15. Malaysia
has a strong oral tradition.
It has existed before the arrival of
writing and continues today.
16. Malaysia is an attractive tourist destination.
It
has many historical and cultural sites that offer visitors a unique experience.
17. Malaysia has experienced rapid socioeconomic
growth after gaining its independence.
Malaysians still maintain many of their
customs and traditions.
.
18. Malaysia is famous for its unique
biodiversity.
Its biodiversity has attracted scientists
from all over the world.
19. Muslim
holidays are prominent in Malaysia.
Islam is
the national religion of Malaysia.
20. Malaysia
has several pristine beaches.
They
attract tourists from cold countries.
21. Rural areas have been the focus of socioeconomic
development in Malaysia.
They still lag behind, especially those
located in the state of Sabah.
22. Malaysia is Malaysia
is rapidly developing.
Natural trees and forests still cover almost
three quarters of the land.
Far easier to see are
the fireflies that flare constantly across the jungle trails.
23. Exciting discoveries
have been made by genetic biologists.
They have begun searching in Malaysia's forests for new medicines with
which to
combat dangerous diseases.
24. The open house concept is a positive
celebration of Malaysia’s tradition of tolerance.
It has formed the basis of the country’s
socioeconomic progress.
25. One fine example of Malaysia's cultural
exchange is the Malay wedding ceremony.
It incorporates elements of the Hindu
traditions of southern India.
26. Malaysia strives to safeguard
its precious natural heritage.
It has set aside many areas as parks and wildlife reserves.
27. Malaysians have vigorously maintained
their traditions and community structures.
They have also blended together to
create contemporary diverse heritage.
Fung Lan Yong is
Honorary Advisor of Institut Prima Bestari Pine Academy Group, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. She holds a PhD in Special Education (Gifted
and Talented Education) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
