English Holiday Homework

Read and Review Tasks

Please complete 3 of the following tasks recommended:

1) The reading and review of one novel (fiction) + Identify its target audience and whom you would recommend it to.

Read and Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth is a thrilling story revolving around a girl, Beatrice. In her country, it is divided into 5 factions, with people of different beliefs, to keep the country peaceful. These 6 parts are Amity, where people believe in peacefulness, Abnegation, where people believe in selflessness, Dauntless, where people believe in fearlessness, Erudite, where people believe in knowledge and Candor, where people believe in honesty. The main government is in Abnegation and there is where Beatrice is from as well. When any teenager turns 16, he/she has the right to choose his/her own new faction, be it the one they were originally from or a completely new faction. I personally love this storyline, because the scenes are absolutely vivid, as if I am in the story. This helps me to sympathize with some characters in the story in certain scenes and laugh alongside other parts of the story as well. It is also a great cliffhanger at every end of a chapter, as there would be a short sentence to hold the readers in suspense and readers would want to read more and more, like me! After the end of year examinations, I immediately started reading the book and got hooked on it quickly! I even spent staying up until 2am just to read the book because it was so interesting! However, Divergent also has its bad sides. Firstly, since it is a trilogy, I expected something unexpected at the end to come out, just to make readers want to read more. However, the story ended “perfectly”, in a sense that it was alright not to read the next book that followed. I had the “meh” feeling after reading the ending and was slightly disappointed about it. Also, I would not recommend this to my younger siblings or younger friends due to the huge amount of bloody scenes in the book. There is a lot of fighting and gory scenes which are described rather vividly, which makes it seem more real and more disturbing as well. However, if readers are able to accept that, this would be an excellent book to read during leisure. All in all, I love this book and can’t wait to read the next book!

2) The reading and review of one entertainment magazine (whole magazine) (eg: 8 Days, Teenage, 17…) – Look at the titles of the articles and explain what the intended effects on thay have on the target audience.

Entertainment Magazine: Seventeen; December 2012 issue. 

The titles of the articles in the magazine are multicoloured, with large bold fonts as well as striking font types. There are many bright colours in every page, which attracts readers one page after another. There are also many different pictures which also attracts young readers like myself to read the long, but interesting article on certain artists. 

Like the name suggests, seventeen is suited for youngsters from the age of seventeen but many younger readers still read it due to its visibly attractive front cover, with different titles of articles that draw interest from their readers. 

3) Review of 5 newspaper articles from “The Straits Times” or “Today” and talk about what you have learnt.

1) Dehli's rape case: 

I felt disgusted by this horrific case, where the woman was raped and tortured before being thrown off the bus. I felt disgusted towards the people who had committed the horrible crime, showing how severe different genders are treated in India and showing the gender inequality problem in India. There needs to be a change in how different genders are treated in not only India, but the rest of the world. Furthermore, the victim was of the middle class in India, which is a rather high social class as compared to maybe the other classes of the caste system. This is made worse as honestly, how the worse off classes might be treated are unimaginable. Also, what has created a major uproar is that the Indian police have considered this horrid rape case to be classified under "ordinary" crime. This is ridiculous as she was raped for a whole hour before being tortured by a metal rod. There should be consolation given to her family and a death sentence is a must for the six offenders. 

2) Dismembered kittens found outside Chong Pang flat

I felt angered and disgusted towards this article due to the cruelty of mankind and the extents of what they are capable of doing. Innocent cats that have never done anything to the abuser have been treated worse than a mere toy, as many people tend to forget that animals alike have lives. No animal should be treated this way and definitely not an innocent kitten that has done nothing.
Secondly, I learnt that we should care for our animals and not let them roam around where it is not safe. In this particular case, the cat owners had previously let the cats roam outside her apartment before coming back and seeing her kittens being dismembered, or in other words, being chopped into two. We should care more towards our pets. Lastly, after reading this, I was inspired to join the SPCA during my spare time to learn more about animal cruelty prevention.

3) Afghan inmate kills wife during prison visit
After reading the article, I, once again felt disgusted by mankind, and their horrible deeds they can commit. This incident revolts around an Afghan male, who previously killed his wife's mother and his wife's sister and brother. After being jailed, his wife was said to be cheating on him by his mother and soon after, during a private visit in jail by his wife, he strangled her and killed her on the spot. What shocked me was that no policeman stopped his horrid actions during the murder and that he dared to do such a thing whilst still in jail. While on one hand I respect the wife for still visiting her husband even after he killed her mother and siblings, I would label her as stupid for not knowing the danger he could cause. Another alternative might be that she might be forced to do so and this once again showcases the gender inequality in India.  Also, I felt that the man should not have been only jailed for 20 years. After committing a serious offense of killing 3 people, he should and must be hanged. This has sparked interest in me in reading in the gender inequality issue in India.

4)NTUC fires Assistant Director for racist comments

After reading this article, I felt that the director (or current ex-director) really deserved it. First of all, it is known that Singapore is a multi cultural society with people of all walks of life. First of all, being and Assistant director for a famous company, NTUC, she should not have sparked this controversy in the first place, by using vulgarities in her facebook posts and discriminating other races and practices. Many like her have posted their views freely on social networking platforms and have landed themselves in trouble and this is only one of the many. She should have known her place before writing such horrible comments on the Malay tradition. I personally feel disgusted by her actions but however, her punishment serves as a lesson to all of us, not only youth to think twice before posting negative comments on social networking platforms.

5)Police arrest boy who threatened to bomb Marina Bay Sands

After reading this article, I felt that similarly to the previous article, this boy deserved to be arrested. Disgusting at this may seem, this type of atrocious acts are only one out of many. By mentioning that he was going to "plant bombs" in Marina Bay Sands, I felt that he was probably not in his right state of mind or in a state of anger. Some people might take this article lightly and assume that the boy was probably angry about something minor that happened in Marina Bay Sands. However, if he was really intending to plant bombs and the police and citizens were not vigilant to realise that, they would land themselves in deep trouble as it may actually prove as a real threat to Singapore. Therefore, I would like to commend on the Singapore police force on being vigilant despite it being a minor comment on facebook and this once again acts as a lesson to those who have thoughts of posting something as reckless as this on facebook. 

Viewing and Listening Tasks

1) Watch a movie and complete a movie review cum recommendation on it.

Viewing and Listening: Movie: Hachiko (2009)

Hachiko is an extraordinary movie about an unlikely friendship between a dog and his owner and has touched many hearts including mine.  Watching this film can make you a bit sad and at the same time might make you realize that there are things such as loyalty, love, and friendship -- and that all these noble feelings can come from a dog. I felt really touched after watching it and really learnt the values of loyalty. However, I feel that the movie can be slightly improved as it might be slightly boring at the front parts, since the climax is only at the last few parts of the movie. All in all however, I would eagerly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a touching movie which is light-hearted yet at the same time a great movie to enjoy on a lazy day.

2) Listen to 5 installments of “BBC World News” (either radio or online) and do a summary of what you have heard / learnt.

Viewing and Listening: BBC World News

1) In Congo, there have been thousands of refugees who fight desperately for food, causing many children to become trampled under the fight.  It is uncertain that a peace talk between regional leaders in the country would be able to solve problems. Libya has also decided to donate 1 ½ billion dollars to compensate the victims of terrorism in the country. In Egypt, there has been a bus crash and at least 6 people are killed and dozens are injured. The bus driver was said to be speeding which caused the bus to skid off the road. In Colombia, 27 members of major drug rings were arrested.

2) In Austria, Austrian hostages from Tunisia called for help from Tunisia after being held captive in Sahara. In Pakistan, a massive earthquake killed at least 150 people and 70000 people in the capital, Islamabad. In Iraq news, at least 50 people are killed in violence due to a truck supposedly carrying flour exploding due to explosives in the truck, in the city of Tal Afar. In Europe, the Queen commemorated the 200^th year since the law to end slave trade.

 3) In Myanmar, there has been a rare public appearance of the Burmese reclusive leader, Mai Ja Yang. Burmese armed forces displayed a perfect display to mark Armed Forces Day, with the moving of Nay Pyl Taw, becoming the new capital of Myanmar.  In Australian news, there has been a poisonous kind toad found in Australia, becoming the largest toad in the world, and in Chinese news, Hu Jin Tao makes his first visit to Russia.

4) In America, President Obama’s budget challenge in 2008, becoming one of the hardest budget challenges due to the budget deficit of the United States of over a trillion US dollars, and President Obama to unveil the 3.8 trillion budgets for 2011. Domestic spending to be capped for three years as a result and domestic spending would have to be capped for three years. There would be more focus in job creation but certain parts would be cut.  Also, in further American news, NASA has launched a project to place a base on the moon.

5) In Israel, there has been a phosphorus attack in the capital of Gaza and senior officers behind the attack have used Israeli artillery shells made out of phosphorus has since been disciplined. In Iraq, there has been a series of bombing in the capital of Baghdad, where a bombing occurred in a refreshment tent near a mosque. In Egypt news, Egypt was yet again crowned the champion of African football, making this the 7^th time in a row of their championship. Their win was a swift one, with the Egyptian football team defeating Ghana 1 nil 3 consecutive times for the championship. 

3)Watch 5 news clips (eg: from either Channel 5 News, CNA News, BBC News) and do a summary of what you have seen / learnt.

1) Channel 5 9.30pm (29/04/12)

There has been finger pointing in Malaysia between the Malaysian government and the organisers of an electoral reform rally over who was to blame for the violent turn of events during Bersih 3.0 rally. In Chinese news, police in China detained an outspoken government critic Hu Jia and was jailed for three months due to “Attempted subversion of Power”.  In Singapore, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister says that the government is closely monitoring inflation though he says it remains a key challenge. However, he believes that most Singaporeans would not be affected by the inflation. In Myanmar, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made his first visit to Myanmar with talks with the government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

2) Channel 5 9:30pm (09/05/12)

In Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on his facebook page that national priority should not be side-tracked and for people to vote wisely for the by-election in Hougang SMC. COE premiums for vehicles closed mix in the latest rounds of bidding and transport minister Lui Tuck Yew had signalled that plans to cut the growth rate of vehicles may be delayed, amid concerns over surging COE premiums caused by a supply crunch. In Singapore, more people are volunteering their services to the community. The PAP says that the number of grassroots leaders increased a 16% compared to 5 years ago, including an increase of 26% of Indian grassroots leaders and 16% increase in Malay grassroots leaders. In the United States, A would-be suicide bomber in the Al-Qaeda plot to blow up an airliner was in fact a double agent working for the CIA, to take preventive actions to prevent possible Al Qaeda threats into the country.

3) Channel 5 9:30pm (03/04/12)

In Myanmar, it’s historic by elections results have been revealed: the opposition party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi has won 43 out of the 44 seats it has contested in. Many have waited to see Aung San Suu Kyi win her first ever seat in the parliament. In North Korea, its planned rocket launch and regional maritime dispute with China are expected to dominate discussions in ASEAN. In Malaysia, the Parliament has endorsed reforms in the electoral process as the general elections arrive. In America, a Korean American man, a former student at the college he shot at has been arrested after a deadly shooting in California. At least 7 people were killed and many others injured. His motive is still unknown. Back in Singapore, Singapore’s manpower ministry wants to enhance safety training for foreign maids. It would tweak practical components of the training, which includes learning how to clean window sills in a high rise building. In Singapore, a 33 year old woman was hit and run over by SBS Transit Service Bus 159 and was dead immediately.

4) Channel 5 9:30pm (04/05/12)

In Singapore, more Certificate Of Entitlement (COE) may be made available, says the Land transport minister Lui Tuck Yew who mentioned that the Land Transport Authority is studying measures that contribute to higher COE supply for the next sixth month period from August. China has opened a door to resolve the tensions between activists Chen Guangcheng. Beijing has agreed to let Chen Guangcheng to study abroad. In America, after years of legal delays, the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11 terror attacks and four co accused would be formally arraigned the next day before a military commission in Guantanamo Bay, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abd as-Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed and Walid Muhammad Bin Attash. They face possible death sentences. Back home in Singapore, 11 people were sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation after a fire in a life lobby in Marsiling Road. Fire also broke out in a terrace house in Seagull Walk of Upper Changi Road East. In Australia, an Australian man has become the world’s oldest graduate for the second time, at an age of 97 years old. He graduated with his fourth degree, breaking his first record in 2006, earning a master degree in clinical science.

5) Channel 5 9:30pm (21/03/12)
In France, French media say police have arrested a gunman, who claims Al Qaeda relations, they believed to be responsible for the killing of four people at a Jewish school in Toulouse. Also, a homemade parcel bomb rocked the Indonesian Embassy in Paris. It went off shortly after dawn, setting fire to two cars and shattered windows within a 50 metre radius. It was said to be a miracle that there were no victims. In Thailand, A Lebanese man with suspected links to Hezbollah has pleaded not guilty to charges of breaking Thailand’s weapons control laws. He was arrested in January and currently faces up to five years of jail for storing chemicals in his rented apartment which could be used to make a bomb. A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, injuring 11 people and damaging over 800 homes. New York has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize this year, an award which recognises city administrators for outstanding contributions to create liveable and sustainable urban communities. Thailand’s latest plans to give free iPads to MPs is getting plenty of swipes from members of the public, which is in addition to their already high salaries, free domestic air travel, a laptop and 5 assistants. 

Done by Samantha Lim (30) Class 3P Cedar Girls' Secondary School