Sunday, January 6, 2008

Literature and Reading Comprehension


-- >Will be given different types of reading passages set in the SPM examination as well as useful tips on how to answer the five (5) comprehension question
--> The passages for practice here are based on these themes stipulated in the new KBSM syllabus:

* People
* Environment
* Social Issues
* Values
* Health
* Science & Technology

Students are required to answer five (5) comprehension question based on passage of about 700 to 800 words in the examination


1. Steps 1:
Skim the passage to get a general ideal first.
- Do not worry or get bogged down by certain words that you don?t know.
2. Steps 2:
Read the question carefully
3. Steps 3:
Read the passage again.
Underline the important points
4. Steps 4:
Answer the question briefly
- You don?t need to write complete sentences
5. Steps 5:
when you are asked to give evidence, use quotation marks for your answer
- Example : ?He was escorted into the room by the police.?
6. Steps 6:
When you asked to quote a phrase or give a words or sentences, use quotation marks
- Take a note of what is required.
* Give a word ? provide only one word.
* Give a phrase ? provide a phrase ? do not give irrelevant parts
7. Steps 7:
Answer the question in the order set.
The answer to the first question is usually found in the first paragraph and so on
8. Steps 8:
You may lift / copy from the passage but do not lift sentences that are irrelevant to your question.
9. Steps 9:
Check your answer again before moving on to the section.
- Check your grammar, punctuation and spelling

* Read the passage once through. Ask yourself:
- What is the passage mainly about?
- Is it a story or a factual essay?
- Do not worry about the words and their meanings.
* Read the question given and try to identify the paragraphs that contain the answer to the question.
- Answer the questions according to the order set

Short Stories Note


? Here are the selected text for Form 5:
i - The Novels


The novel, like the short story and the poem, is another type of literary work.
The elements of a novel are similar to those of a short story.
In fact, the main difference between the novel and the short story lies in their length; a novel is long and a short story is much shorter!
This means that a writer has the freedom to develop many aspect of the story when he is writing a novel.
The writer can flesh out characters, describe setting in detail, probe deeper into theme, add more twists and turns to the plot, use more literacy devices and literary techniques, all in order to make the story more interesting and satisfying for the reader.
The Novels

1. The Pearls
2. The Return
3. Jungle

? There are 21 elements of the novel. There are:
1. Plots
2. Story line
3. Narrator / Narration / Narrative
4. Characters
5. Themes
6. Action
7. Message / Value / Thoughts
8. Language
9. Style
10. Choice of words
11. Figurative language
12. Devices / Technique
13. Imagery
14. Irony
15. Suspense
16. Flashback
17. Foreshadowing
18. Tone
19. Voice
20. Mood
21. Atmosphere
You must read the novels and know the sequence of events very well. Try to learn the quotations. Being able to quote important events or the exact words used will help your score
2. Steps 2
Remember to quote from the text rather than narrate the story

ByJohn Steinbeck


The story is about Kino, a poor Mexican Indian pearl diver, and his family whose life changes forever after he finds a pearl. One day, his son, Coyotito, is stung by a scorpion. Kino, and his wife, Juana, seek help from the doctor. However the doctor turns them away as they do not has enough money. Kino then goes diving and finds a big pearl. Soon, everyone wants to possess his pearl. Kino is attacked. When he tries to sell the pearl, the pearl buyers conspire to cheat Kino.
Juana tell him that the pearl is evil. She tries to throw the pearl away but Kino stop her and strikes her. Later, Kino kills a man in self-defence. Kino and Juana flee La Paz but three trackers follow them to the mountains. Kino attacks and kills all of them. However, Coyotito is shot dead by one of the trackers. Finally, Kino and Juana return to La Paz and he throws the pearl back into the sea


? The story is set in the ancient city of La Paz in Baja, California
? There is a sharp contrast in the physical setting of the story
? The poor fisherman, such as Kino, live in the village in brush huts while the rich in the town in brick houses.
? The story takes place in several places such as the village, the town, the sea and the desert.
? The village is a symbol of the oppression of the poor while the town and the sea represent something that should not be trusted by the villagers

? The story is also set against the historical background of colonialism, where the Spanish had ruled the Mexican Indians for over 400 years.
? The Spanish had also long oppressed the Mexican Indians.


? There is a strong community life in the village.
? People are friendly and helpful but they can also be greedy and intrusive
? Most of the villagers are poor and uneducated.
? Many of them are oppressed by the rich and find it impossible to break away from their poverty
? They also cling to their traditional belief and customs


? Kino
* Strong
* Brave
* Emotional
* Stubborn

? Juana
* Simple
* Loving,
* Intuitive
* Protective
* Resilient
* Supportive

? Doctor
* Greedy,
* Cruel
* Dishonest
* Shrewd

? Juan Tomas and Apolonia
* Kind
* Caring
* Helpful

? The Pearl Buyers
* Dishonest

? The Priest
* Selfish

? Things are not always what they seem
? Oppression of the poor
? The greed of man
? Hope and hopelessness


? One should not be greedy
? One should not oppress another
? People should help each other
? Things are not what they seem
By K. S. Maniam


The Return is a story about Ravi, the narrator, whose grandmother and father migrated from India to Malaya. The settle in Bedong, Kedah where the family runs a dhobi business. Ravi is sent to an English school but this causes him to be alienated by the people around him. In spite of this, Ravi continues to pursue an English education. His father?s business continues to expand.
nbsp;Later, he goes to England on a scholarship to do a two ? year teacher training course. When he returns to Malaysia, he finds it difficult to adapt to his family?s traditions and customs. He is posted to Sungai Petani as a teacher and rarely visits his home. His father eventually becomes mentally ill and dies in fire


? Bedong, Kedah, which is surrounded by rubber estates.
? Bedong Group Hospital ? serves the community and the estate workers who live in longhouse


? The story is set in the 1940s when many Indians came to Malaya to works in the estates.
? We read the Japanese Occupation, the colonial era, the Emergency period, pre-independence years through Ravi?s eyes


? Most of the estate workers are from India and they brought with them their traditions and customs.
? The majority of these workers are poor, uneducated and therefore, they have to submit to the socially superior class such as the one to which the Chief Dresser belongs

? Ravi
* Ambitious
* Hardworking
* Resilient

? Periathai
* Resourceful
* Resilient
* Courageous

? Kannan
* Hardworking
* Generous
* Determined
* Stubborn

? Karupi
* Strong ? minded
* Manipulative
* Capable

? Chief Dresser
* Respected
* Stritc

? Ravi?s Mother
* Quiet
* Sympathetic
* Protective


? The role of education in self ? development.
? The search for personal identity
? The role of woman
? Class distinction and discrimination
? Growing up


? One should strive to improve oneself.
? One should not give up easily
? One should act on one?s dreams

By Keris Mas


The story is about a group of traditional farmer in Ketari and Benus who are solely dependent on traditional farming. They are forced to move to the jungle of Janda Baik when floods destroy their crops. At the same time, outsiders are buying up the lands in the villages to plant rubber trees and open tin mines. The villagers have to make decisions concerning their lands and their livelihood.
Pak Kia and his family decide to take up the challenge to open a new piece of land in Janda Baik while Zaidi sees an opportunity to acquire wealth and move away from traditional farming. In Janda Baik, Pak Kia and family suffer hardship. Karim, Pak Kia?s son, manages to save him from a wild boar attack and ends up a more mature and responsible man

? The story is set in early 1920s to 1930s in the village of Ketari, Janda Baik in Pahang

? The story is set in colonial Malaya when it was the British policy to encourage rubber ? planting and tin ? mining
? This was when rubber was consedered the golden crop

The villagers cling to their belief, traditions and customs.
They look upon modern changes with suspicion
At the same time, there are also people like Zaidi, who feel that is time to move on

? Pak Kia

* Traditional,
* Superstitious
* Tough
* Resilient
* Determined
* Stubborn

? Zaidi

* Enterprising
* Progressive
* Perceptive
* Caring
* Kind

? Karim

* Quiet
* Reliable
* Filial
* Mature

? Pendekar Atan

* Business ? minded
* Manipulative
* Dishonest


? Change
? Resistance to change
? Triumph over adversity
? Tradition versus progress


? One should not give up easily
? One should be pay


AA said...

Nice job, bro. Keep up the good work :)

Sayrah said...

Minta Jungle of Hope analysis for revision eh. Thank you for sharing. You rock! :)

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