DIRECTED WRITING

In the first section of the SPM English Paper 2, students are expected to spend about thirty minutes, expanding on given notes. For this section, imagination and creativity do come into play because even though certain facts are given, they serve as a mere guide. You are required to do at least three major things:

Use the right format for your writing Include all the facts given in the question Elaborate or provide your OWN but relevant details) on these given facts. From the total of 30 marks awarded here, 15 are for CONTENT and the other 15 is for LANGUAGE USE.

As a student, you can easily get full marks for content provided you follow the ensuing good advice.CONTENT

There are three important aspects to awarding of marks for content.

a) Format

Marks awarded are usually in the range of 2-3. Make sure you read the instructions carefully. You may be required to write an informal letter, a formal letter, a speech, an article or a report. In each case, you must thoroughly realize how important it is that you suit the right format to the questions.

b) Inclusion of Given Facts

Certain facts are given in the question itself. Usually 6-7 marks are awarded if you include ALL the given facts in your writing do not leave even a single one. Couch each fact in a complete sentence. If you just use phrases or if the sentence you make is meaningless, no marks will be given.

c) Elaboration

Finally about 6-7 marks are awarded if you add details of your own to make your writing more intresting. No details - no marks !

Remember, one extra sentence or two is usually enough. You dont have to write and write. Also, the details must be relevant, suitable and interesting too. You need to invest a little time and imagination here so that your writing wont come across as "dry and dull".

LANGUAGE

Finally, the remainder 15 marks are allocated for language use. You must try and make sure that grammar, spelling and punctuation are as error-free as possible. Do take a little trouble to check through your writing. Write shorter sentences if you are not too sure about grammar. Avoid words that you do not know how to spell. But do begin from now to revise the spelling of simple words like "sincerely", "faithfully", "fine", "thank you", and other such frequently used words.Summary Section B of the SPM English Paper 2 presents a question on summary writing. You are advised to spend forty-five minutes on this section.

For this section, a total of 3 marks are allocated. Of these, 20 are awarded for content and another 10 for language accuracy and style. Read the instructions carefully. By doing this, you ought to know very clearly:

1.Which part of the passage is supposed to be summarized (you may to be required to summarize the WHOLE passage)

2.What aspect of the content of the passage is to be summarized. (For instance, you may be asked to summarize only the advantages or disadvantages, or certain reactions of people or even the causes/outcomes of certain incident.

3.The length of your summary i.e the number of words that you are allowed in your final summary. If it is stated that your summary MUST not be longer than 160 words, please adhere to this word limit. If you write more than 160 words, all the extra facts contained there are NOT taken into account by the examiner.

4.Take note of any starting words or phrases given and use them as instructed to begin your summary. Dont forget the number of words in the starting line are included in counting the total number of words in your summary.

Once you have understood the question clearly, only ten should you begin to read the passage. Try to understand what the passage is all about what its message/theme is or what the story is about.

During the second reading, begin to underline the important ideas and relevant tails. Pick these out and list them down. Do ensure that the points you are picking out are meeting the requirements of the question given. Read the passage once more to ensure that you have not left out any pertinent points.

Now, begin summarizing. Ignore irrelevant explanations and superfluous examples. Focus on the main ideas and those that support the theme of the passage. Generalize and convert lengthy sentences into shorter ones. Use one, or shorter words that can substitute the meaning of a long phrase in the passage. For example, "my mother, my father, my brother, and sister" can be rephrased as my family.

Group similar points together - for example the feelings of a person or the advantages of a certain procedure/machine. Rather than use three or four sentences to convey all of it, you ca put it all in one or two sentences. Use commas they help. You will need skill for this, and that is why you should practice writing a lot of summaries before the real examination.

Many students grapple with summary writing because they get caught up with the words used in the passage. They want to use all of them. The reason? They feel that the authors words are best and that almost all that is contained within the original passage is important and necessary to be included in their summary. As such, most students tend to copy the authors words as much as possible and try to include almost everything from the original passage into the summary.

The result is a chop cut-and-paste version of the original. It has little meaning and relevance. It is NOT even a summary and you get a few marks when you write a chopped summary like this.

Remember, you get more marks if you use your OWN WORDS. I know this is not easy, but you must try. Dont be afraid to rearrange, reorganize and compound facts. The main issue here is whether you have understood the meaning of the passage and whether you can faithfully translate it into a passage that is made up mainly of your own words.

So, begin practicing writing a lot of summaries now. Every time you read a report in a newspaper or an article in a magazine, ask yourself what is this repot/article all about? What is its message? Try to summarize it in your mind. Imagine that someone younger is asking you what is it that you are reading, and try to visualize the simplified answer/version that you are going to tell him/her. That is a summary.

Where marks are concerned, try to get as many as you can for CONTENT. Stick to the meaning of the passage as much as possible but do it using your own words. Do not be lazy. Secure as many points as you can by reading and scanning the passage carefully for relevant facts and details.

Jot all of these down diligently and try to incorporate them all in a simplified, summarized form. Try not to leave out important fact. Each fact left out means one less mark for you.

As for language, do take the trouble to read through your final draft and make sure that your grammar, punctuation and spelling are as accurate as you can possibly make them. Your error must be minimal and the language you use must not make it difficult for the examiner to understand what you are trying to say.

CONTINUOUS WRITINGSection C of the SPM English Paper 2 presents a question on Continuous Writing. Students are advised to spend about one hour on this section.

5 topics will be given and choose only ONE.

Recognise the type of essay you are going to attempt i.e. whether its a narrative, descriptive, expository, argumentative or reflective.

Understand the chosen topic so that you do not write out of point.

Plan what you are going to write about.

Include enough good and relevant points.

Organize your points well and present each new or main point in a separate paragraph.

Show coherence in paragraphs.

Use idiomatic expression and include the active voice for narrative essays.

Vary the length and structure of sentences

Introduce your essay impressively and conclude it in a meaningful or original way.

Check for spelling, punctuation, grammatical correctness, especially the usage of tenses and pronouns.

Factual topics should as far as possible be avoided. This is because the material you use must be based on facts and not "guess work".

PunctuationPunctuation is the system of symbols (. , ! - : etc) that we use to separate sentences and parts of sentences, and to make their meaning clear. Each symbol is called a "punctuation mark".

The Value of Punctuation An English teacher wrote these words on the whiteboard: "woman without her man is nothing". The teacher then asked the students to punctuate the words correctly.

The men wrote:"Woman, without her man, is nothing."

The women wrote:"Woman! Without her, man is nothing."

Mark Name Example

. full stop/period I like English. , comma I speak English, French and Thai. ; semi-colon I don't often go swimming; I prefer to play tennis. : colon You have two choices: finish the work today or lose the contract. - hyphen This is a rather out-of-date book. dash In each townLondon, Paris and Romewe stayed in youth hostels. ? question mark Where is Shangri-La? ! exclamation mark "Help!" she cried. "I'm drowning!" / oblique/slash Please press your browser's Refresh/Reload button. " quotation marks "I love you," she said. ' apostrophe This is John's car. ( ) round brackets I went to Bagkok (my favourite city) and stayed there for two weeks. [ ] square brackets The newspaper reported that the hostages [most of them French] had been released. { } braces ... ellipsis One happy customer wrote: "This is the best program...that I have ever seen."

When do we Use Capital Letters?1. Use a capital letter for the personal pronoun 'I':

What can I say?

2. Use a capital letter to begin a sentence or to begin speech:

The man arrived. He sat down. Suddenly Mary asked, "Do you love me?"

3. Use capital letters for many abbreviations and acronyms:

G.M.T. or GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) N.A.T.O. or NATO or Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

4. Use a capital letter for days of the week, months of the year, holidays:

Monday, Tuesday January, February Christmas Armistice Day

5. Use a capital letter for countries, languages & nationalities, religions:

China, France Japanese, English Christianity, Buddhism

6. Use a capital letter for people's names and titles:

Anthony, Ram, William Shakespeare Professor Jones, Dr Smith Captain Kirk, King Henry VIII

7. Use a capital letter for trade-marks and names of companies and other organizations:

Pepsi Cola, Walkman Microsoft Corporation, Toyota the United Nations, the Red Cross

8. Use a capital letter for places and monuments:

London, Paris, the Latin Quarter the Eiffel Tower, St Paul's Cathedral Buckingham Palace, the White House Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue Jupiter, Mars, Syrius Asia, the Middle East, the North Pole

9. Use a capital letter for names of vehicles like ships, trains and spacecraft:

the Titanic the Orient Express, the Flying Scotsman Challenger 2, the Enterprise

10. Use a capital letter for titles of books, poems, songs, plays, films etc:

War And Peace If, Futility Like a Virgin The Taming of the Shrew The Lion King, Gone With The Wind

11. Use capitals letters (sometimes!) for headings, titles of articles, books etc, and newspaper headlines:

HOW TO WIN AT POKER Chapter 2: CLINTON'S EARLY LIFE LIFE FOUND ON MARS! MAN BITES DOGWhy Are Capital Letters Difficult?

Why are words written in capitals more difficult to read than words in small letters? There are two basic reasons:

Firstly, at least for native English speakers, children usually learn to read and write small letters before capital letters.

Secondly, and more importantly, words written in capital letters have no "shape". Words with small letters go up and down. Some small letters have "ascenders" (like the letter b). They go up. Some small letters have "descenders" (like the letter p). They go down. Some small letters have no ascender or descender. They stay in the middle. So small letters vary in height. But all capital letters are the same height (BP).

When we read text, especially when we read fast, we do not read each individual letter. Instead, we read whole words and phrases. And we recognize these words and phrases partly by their shape.SPELLINGAdding -er/estWe make the comparative or superlative forms of short adjectives by adding -er or -est.

Spelling RuleJust add -er or -est to the end of the adjective, for example:

quick > quicker > quickest great > greater > greatest full > fuller > fullest

Adding -ing/-edOften we need to add -ing or -ed to a verb to make other forms of the verb, for example:I was talking when John arrived.

Spelling RuleJust add -ing or -ed to the end of the base verb:

work > working > worked play > playing > played open > opening > opened

Adding -lyWe often make an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective, for example: quick > quickly.

Spelling RuleJust add -ly to the end of the adjective:

coy > coyly loud > loudly beautiful > beautifully senseless > senselessly intelligent > intelligently

Adding -sWe add -s to words for two reasons:

to make plural nouns (boy > boys) to form the 3rd person singular of the present simple tense (I work > you work > he works) Spelling RuleJust add -s to the end of the word, for example:

dog > dogs play > plays demand > demands

-ible or -ableMany words end in -ible and -able. Sometimes it is difficult to remember which spelling to use.

The -ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180 words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings. Here are the most common examples:

accessibleadmissibleaudiblecollapsiblecombustiblecompatiblecomprehensiblecontemptiblecredibledefensibledestructibledigestibledivisibleediblefallible flexiblegulliblehorribleillegibleimplausibleinaccessibleincontrovertibleincredibleindefensibleindelibleinedibleinsensibleintelligibleinvincibleinvisible illegibleirresistibleirreversibleostensiblepermissibleplausiblepossibleresponsiblereversiblesensiblesusceptiblesuggestibletangibleterriblevisible

The -able ending is for:

non-Latin words, for example: affordable, dependable, washable new words, for example: networkable, windsurfable

RuleThis rule can help you decide the correct spelling. It works most of the time. But remember, if you are not sure about a word, it is probably best to use a dictionary. Here is the rule:

If you remove -able from a word, you are left with a complete word. If you remove -ible from a word, you are not left with a complete word.

-ie- or -ei-Sometimes it is difficult to remember whether a word is spelled with -ie- or -ei-. There is a very simple rule about this:

I before EExcept after C

Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule.

1. When the sound rhymes with "may", the spelling is -ei-:

beige, feint, freight, inveigle, neighbour, sleigh, vein, weigh, weight

2. Here are a few more common exceptions:

either, neither, caffeine, codeine, counterfeit, foreign, forfeit, height, leisure, protein, their, weird, seize, seizureHyphenationSometimes we need to split (break) a word at the end of a line, for example:

The directors requested that a more convenient time be arranged.

In the above example we have split the word "convenient". We have done this by inserting a hyphen (-) between "conven" and "ient". We have hyphenated "convenient".

In such cases, it is important to insert the hyphen in an appropriate position, that is, between syllables.

Since we insert the hyphen between syllables, it follows that we cannot hyphenate a single-syllable word.

We cannot hyphenate the single-syllable word "friend", for example, but we can hyphenate the three-syllable word "convenient" as "con-venient" or "conven-ient".

To hyphenate correctly, it helps to understand syllables. Every word is made from syllables. Each word has one, two, three or more syllables, as shown in the following chart.

EXAMPLE

dog> dog 1 green> green 1 quite> quite 1 quiet> quiet 2 orange> orange 2 table> table 2 convenient> convenient 3 expensive> expensive 3 interesting> interesting 4 realistic> realistic 4 unexceptional> unexceptional 5Writing IntroductionsWriting Powerful Introductions

When you write, what's the best way to begin? Many students start with a simple sentence, such as "I will write about my hometown", or they use no special introduction at all. Here are six ways to write better introductions.

1) Write about a problem

Everybody has problems! Most of our energy each day is spent trying to solve problems. By starting your writing with a problem, you automatically hook your readers into searching for a solution. Your readers will start to think about how they might solve the problem or wonder what solution you have in mind. But be careful not to take too much time on the problem itself. This is an introduction, not the body of your writing.

2) Write about a story or start with a joke

A very brief story or joke that illustrates your main idea can also hook the reader. Use clear details and vivid descriptions to appeal to your readers' senses and emotions. For example, if you want your readers to give up smoking, describe the painful effects of an elderly person who is unable to stop coughing, unable to breathe freely. If you are writing about an interesting place, describe what the readers would see, what they would hear, what they would taste, so that they can almost feel they are there. A joke, if it really fits the topic, can also make your readers more receptive to your ideas. Look at How to Tell Jokes for a simple way to remember jokes and stories.

3) Start with a question

This is one of the easiest ways to begin writing. However, be careful not to use questions that are too simple. If everyone already knows the answer, they will not be interested in what you write next. Remember, you have to make them think! "Do you like to eat?" is not very interesting. However, "Have you ever spent more than $100 dollars on one meal?" will make your readers start dreaming!

4) Write a bold statement or use an interesting statistic

If you begin with something like, "In the United States, fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce!", your readers will want to know your point of view on this topic. You can look up statistics on the Internet for just about any topic, so go to it!

5) Start with a quote from an important person

This kind of introduction has two advantages. As with the other ways, it gets your readers to think about what you will say next. In addition, the words of important people have the ability to persuade many people. "If Bill Gates said it, it's probably true", many people will think.

6) Write about necessary background information

This is not a very interesting way to begin, but sometimes it's necessary to help your readers before you begin. Some topics will be too difficult for readers to follow without some help, so you may have to provide basic information first. If possible, try to write about this information using one of the five opening techniques above!Writing Good Conclusions

How to Write Memorable ConclusionsWhen people are given a list of things to memorize, researchers found that they best remember items at the beginning and end of the list. It is the same way when people read. If you have a strong conclusion, people are more likely to remember your main message. Here are some suggestions on how to write memorable conclusions.

1) Use a broad statement to summarize your main idea

If you are writing about the environment, for example, you could end with a broad statement such as, "It's up to us to protect the environment because, after all, we only have one world".

2) End with a quotation

If you are writing about dealing with stress, you could conclude this way: "Remember the old saying, 'all work and no play makes Teacher Joe a dull boy'". As this example shows, you can adapt the quotation to fit the situation.

3) Express your hopes for the future

"My hope is that in ten years, we will no longer have to see newspaper stories about young children who cannot afford to get an education", would be a good way to end a paper on providing financial aid to poor families.

4) Use a question

As with introductions, questions are a good way to burn an idea into your readers' brains. "If we can go to the moon, why can't we go to Mars, too?", will focus readers' attention on the reasons you wrote about in the body of your paper.

5) Call for action!

This is one of the most common ways to conclude. Don't be shy about asking for some kind of response. "If you agree with me, then go out and volunteer" or "Take some time to analyze your diet to see how many calories you could easily do without", are two examples. Asking people to volunteer to help others or do something to help themselves is a powerful way to get them to think deeply about your suggestions.

So, do you think you could apply any of the ideas above? Bookmark this page now, so the next time you have to write something, you can come back here and try one of these ideas!Learn English WritingTo Write Better English Sentences, Be Specific

Sample Sentence One:a) "There is a man over there."

Many of my students write sentences like this while preparing for the IELTS writing test. Unfortunately, this sentence tells us nothing about the man or where he is. Here is a slightly improved sentence:

b) "A tall man is standing next to the car."

Depending on the situation, you could add many more details. For example:

c) "A tall man wearing a dark suit is standing with his arms folded next to an old, red taxi."

This sentence communicates much more to the reader and shows that you know how to really use English well.

Sample Sentence Two:a) "I was very tired."

First, you could add the reason for being tired:

b) "I am always tired after work."

Next, be more specific about how long you had to work:

c) "I always feel tired after working from 9 in the morning until 10 at night."

Isn't sentence "C" much better than sentence "A"? Remember, when you write, you are trying to communicate. These specific details are what communicate information to your reader.

Sample Sentence Three:a) "Can you come?"

Again, you can answer the basic questions "When" and "Where":

b) "Can you come to my office tomorow morning?"

Of course, you can be even more specific with the time:

c) "Can you come to my office tomorrow morning between 9:30 and 10 o'clock?"

And finally, you could add "Why":

d) "Can you come to my office tomorrow morning between 9:30 and 10 o'clock so that I can give you the information you wanted?"

Remember This!When you are writing, always remember to answer the basic questions in detail:

Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

When you include lots of specific answers to these basic questions, your writing will be much better than most students, and you'll be on your way to success!Write Perfect Paragraphs with the PREP Method

P: Start with the main POINT of your paragraphThe first sentence is usually called a "topic sentence". Simply state whatever the topic is. Try to start with an interesting sentences. Instead of saying "Joe is a teacher", say "Joe is one of the best English teachers in the history of the world!".

R: Give the REASON why you believe thisNext, write why you think so. You might write, "Students need a kind teacher to guide them, so they always move in the right direction and don't waste time." You might also try to link this sentence to the next one, to help make a smoother "transition".

E: Give an EXAMPLE to support your beliefFind an example, or maybe two. This will "paint a word picture" in your readers' minds, which they will remember long after they finish reading. "I never listened to English much before I heard of Teacher Joe, but now I listen to his jokes, sayings and dictations. Listening has helped me improve my speaking ability in English, and now I'm moving up to a better job." Sounds great, doesn't it?

P: Repeat your POINT one more timeYour readers will often remember the last thing you write more than anything else. If you can, try to use different words to say the same thing. "Joe has helped tens of thousands of students learn to listen to English. He deserves the title of 'Super Teacher' more than anyone I have ever met." Finally, put it all togetherJoe is one of the best English teachers I have ever met. I think all students need a kind teacher to guide them, so they can always move in the right direction. I never listened to English much before I heard of Teacher Joe, but now I listen to his jokes, sayings and dictations. Listening has helped me improve my speaking ability in English, and now I'm moving up to a better job. Joe has helped tens of thousands of students learn English. He deserves the title of 'Super Teacher' more than anyone I have ever met.Student Composition: Three Passions I Live ForLooking back on my past twenty years full of passions (1) and enthusiasm, I feel grateful and (2) to live a healthy and happy life. There are a lot of qualities I have learnt from ordinary life that guided me through. If I am asked to list the first three, I will put health, happiness of my family and enough financial support (3) as the passions I live for.

Health comes first for me. Without health, everything is meaningless. It is indispensable to everyone (4). Only when one is healthy can he start his own career, set up his own family and achieve any accomplishment (5). I always value health and regard it as the preliminary step (6) to possess a happy family and earn enough money.

Happiness of my family (7) is very important to me because I love my family wholeheartedly. I get pleasure in their joys and suffer what they suffer. Their infinite love and support motivate me to overcome any trouble or obstacle (8) I may meet. To make those I love happy is the biggest wish for me. What would millions of money (9) mean to me if I saw my family suffer from pain and agony (10)? Now that Ie got a healthy body, I have plenty of time and opportunities to entertain my family. Then money comes third. (11)

Everyone must admit that they could never do without money (12). Money enables us to get food, a house for shelter, clothes to wear and furthermore (13) enjoyment. For example, with money, we can get a good education, travel around the world and receive fine medical treatment. Money is essential to satisfy our basic needs as well as further self-development.

As long as I am healthy, I work hard to earn as much money as I can, then with it I buy substances (14) or services to make (15) my family live more comfortably. If everything goes on (16) smoothly, I be absolutely the happiest girl in the world!Revised Essay"Keys to Happiness"

Looking back on the first twenty years of my life, lived with passion, energy and enthusiasm, I feel grateful to have been so healthy and happy. I owe my happiness to so many people and lucky events, but there are three key, fundamental factors that have guided me and supported me in my life. Those three keys to life are my physical health, healthy finances, and my family's happiness.

Health comes first for me, because without health everthing else is meaningless. Imagine starting a career without good health. Imagine starting a family without good health. Imagine achieving anything without good health. Clearly, good health is a basic, fundamental prerequisite for every other aspect of one's life.

Good health is not enough to be happy. We still need to have money in today's society. Money obviously pays for the basic necessities of life - food, housing, clothing - but is also necessary for other reasons. The amount of money we have at our disposal determines the quality of education we can receive. Money guarantees we will always get adequate medical treatment if the need arises. We can also use money for travel and other entertainment that can add to our quality of life.

When we have both our health and healthy finances, we can turn our attention to the most important factor in having a happy life. Family is the most important factor because it provides the love, joy and support that everybody needs. I love my family with all my heart. I get pleasure from their pleasure. I suffer when they suffer. My family helped me get through the tremendous pressure of entrance exams. They consoled and advised me when I had misunderstandings with my friends. More importantly, they were there to share in my successes throughout the past twenty years.

These three factors are all that I need and want in this world. As long as I stay healthy, work hard to earn as much money as I can, and then use my health and wealth to share both good times and bad times with my family, I will always be the happiest girl in the world.The Value of Self ConfidenceMy friends often ask me, "Joe, why are you so carefree all the time?". The answer is quite simple. I owe my carefree attitude to self confidence. Now, some people may say that self confidence is a form of conceit, and they may be right. However, my self confidence allows me to feel relaxed no matter how difficult a task I face, so it is extremely valuable to me.

I remember the first time I partipated in an English competition. Three years ago, my classmates chose me to speak in an English competition at our school. When I went onstage, I had butterflies in my stomach. Suddenly, my mother's words came back to me: "If you want to do something, it costs nothing but self confidence". Since I was chosen to be there, it meant I must have the ability to succeed. "Get a hold of yourself", I said silently. "You have prepared for this competition for the past three months. You are the best". Strangely, my nervousness vanished after I spoke to myself with such confidence. I began to speak onstage - the feeling was wonderful. The whole audience applauded afterwards. I was successful!

Without my self confidence, I could not have succeeded. My courage and optimism are based on this self confidence. Various difficulties will certainly come into our lives from time to time in the future. If we face those difficulties, if we come to terms with them, we are bound to succeed. Knowing that we are capable of handling any difficulty will build our confidence and lead to success.

So, my friends, be confident! Even if you're not the best, it doesn't matter. Don't you always do your best to achieve your aims? Of course you do. That's enough to give you confidence, and confidence will make you happier.Student Composition: Cooperation: the spirit of temporary societyToday, many people think competition is the key to success, but such thinking is out of date. (1) Temporary society demands (2) us cooperate with others.

(3) As we all know, the world economy is expected to continue (4) to remain prosper, but the adverse effects of high oil price, vicious competition for strategic resources and the global pollution are on the rise. To overcome theses problems, countries must be mindful of all their relationships and act with integrity at all times. The fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty and terrorism requires the participation of as many parties as possible. The ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with other countries and areas will determine whether a nation evolves through time or is lost along the way.

Today, information and knowledge are growing to the extent that no individual can master everything. Cooperation (5) makes us learn a lot of from each other. Only by combining the knowledge of many individuals can power be attained. We individual will thrive on cooperative participation. Related to the diversity that we possess, none of us is whole. We need each other to fill in our gaps. Through cooperation we will acquire identity and friendship, which are the source of self-esteem and satisfaction in life.

In order to succeed, we should learn to be flexible, supportive, and be willing to compromise in (6) proper time. Each country and individual retains its independence, its specialty, and its core competence. Together we benefit from our cooperation.My Dream , My World

I often dream of driving with my mother down a long, straight road, a road that stretches as far as the eye can see. Birds are joyously flittering around the car, singing. Flowers in splendorous full bloom decorate the landscape. The breeze is flirting with my mother's short gray hair, and with my long, black waterfall. It is a lovely dream, from which I never wish to wake. Many people in this world dream of having a car. I now realize that I have a car not only in my dream, but in reality. My car is the best car in the world. It is not a Lincoln, Audi or Mercedes Benz. I call my car "Mother".

It is clear that my car is a special one, but it includes several features with which you may not be familiar. To begin with, my car has the best engine in the world. This engine is my mother's heart. This engine never fails, because mothers never fail their children. My mother's heart supports me when I am in need and keeps me perpetually moving forward. To guide the engine, my car has an excellent steering wheel in the form of my mother's mouth. When I am in trouble, it always tells me the way out. When I am lost, this steering wheel turns me in the right direction. When I am wrong, it gently sets me right.

Of course, on a car, good tires are essential. Cars without tires cannot roll like a ball or ride rails like a train. Fortunately, my car has tires which can never be deflated. These tires are my mother's back. Though it is not exceptionally strong, it can move mountains. Though it is starting to curve with age, it straightens all the roads and streets of my life. As my mother's youth rolls away on aging tires, my youth blossoms on my mother's back.

The cab of my car is also unique. The cab is my mother's bosom. When I am tired, the cab of my car protects me in a warm and comfortable embrace. When I am lonely, it accompanies me wherever I go. When I feel desperate, it gives me hope and courage. My mother's cab is the safest harbor from a storm and the warmest place during a severe winter.

This is my car, priceless and unparelleled. Sometimes I envy those drivers who have their own car. But this feeling is temporary. On the other hand, others are eternally envious of me because I have the best car in the world. "Mother" is a word that means the world to me. I love my car, my mother.Student Composition: Where is my cheese?This booklet of 90 pages Who Moved My Cheese? is a (1) child's story but (2) also for everyone, and the problem I face to is: What is my cheese?

Life is a labyrinth, and cheese is a symbol of what we must to find, pursue in (3) it. From primary school, my cheese is test marks, now, I (4) admitted the college, and gone through my self-examination I paid too much for this cheese. But as the booklet said, (5) none of any cheese was exactly belongs to us; it disappeared when we (6) found it out. That means the marks are not a cheese for my whole life, and the next cheese is my means of livelihood, and when I get it, the next is my work achievement. There is a series of cheeses in front of me, and I don't know what to do with (7) it.

I wonder if I can make myself change into the roles of mice "Xiuxiu" and "Congcong", because they can smell varieties of flavor in advance and pull themselves in action, so I did some odd jobs all around myself such as washing clothes and home works in my vocation, and even want to try hire out for work, so that I can get some (8) perceptions, but (9) the social life is (10) just so simple?

In fact, I am the roles of pygmy like "Hengheng" and "Jiji" which are (11) changed into complicated by life that means there is (12) no any simple and straight ways (13) here. If you were learned some skills in need that's not enough, and to deal with the intricate interpersonal relationships would more difficult than specific working problems, and to (14) grab a social status would more difficult than to create any achievements. For example, many people who studied lectures (15) behind me but went so far as to become "tutors", but I had to (16) feel ashamed of their inferiority.

People can learn from mice but can't change themselves into mice, however, we can do and must do is to exploit (17) something which maybe rebuild us to (18) Somebody. At last, I (19)picked on "Jiji" as my model and prepare for a (20) new marching. I didn't care for "Hengheng", because he never took a step again and got nothing at last.

"(21) Owned the related ways before you get the cheeses", that is my conclusion.An Unforgettable Experience

It happened many years ago, when I was a little girl. I can neither remember the beginning nor the end , but whenever I think of the scene, my tears flowed freely (1) down my cheeks.

When I was young, my family led a poor life in country (2). That evening (3), the weather was very bad, it rained cats and dogs (4). Just at the evening (5), my families (6) were on our way home. Dad held me on his back, Mom held my elder brother hand, and held the only umbrella for Dad and me. Dad gave his overcoat to my elder brother. As you know (7), the road of country is difficult for people to walk, especially in rainy days. However, they waded (8) together like this (9) in the rain. But I wasn comfortable either. I was fat at that time, perhaps it was hard for Dad to hold me for such a long time, for he had almost fallen down (10) for several times (11). In order to decrease the weight to Dad, tried to hold myself-----just in mind, though it sounded funny and did nothing (12).

When we arrived home, the inner of our house was raining (13) too. Rain dropped from the bad roof everywhere. Mom put bowls and tubs at the right places for rain. Then she put me and my elder brother on dry places of bed (14). I fell asleep soon. When I opened my eyes, I found Dad and Mom were sleeping in chairs, they caught a bad cold.Mobile Phones on Campus

The Communication Revolution has changed the way we live, work and have fun. The mobile phone in particular has changed the way we communicate with the world around us. Though mobile phones were a luxury only a few decades ago, they are now considered necessities by many people. This attitude even exists among students on campuses all around China, especially in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Statistics show that one out of every seven college students possess a cell phone. The advantages of owning a cell phone are obvious. You can talk with your friends and relatives who may live thousands of miles away. You can carry it wherever you go. You don't need a notebook to store phone numbers because your cell phone has a memory.

Now, I have nothing against students from rich families having cell phones. After all, they can afford it. However, I don't see eye to eye with poor students who only buy cell phones in order to avoid losing face. Considering their families' conditions, they should make the decision to buy a cell phone using reason rather than emotion. All students should try to think objectively before spending their hard earned cash.History Is Surprisingly SimilarStudents are quite different in grades of school. Some students always keep good records, some students often keep bad records. Why it is so? Let's analyze it. Firstly, good and bad students are different in purpose. Good ones have clear purposes, bad ones do not. Secondly, good students have good controls over themselves. They are self-disciplined students. Thirdly, good students have good ways of doing things. They have a good plan for arranging daily life. When they do things, they have their own way to do well. Fourthly, good students have their own characters. They weigh much on their dignity and respect. When they do things, they must do them well, at least to their own satisfaction. In this way they do things whole-heartedly. In doing so, it is full of interesting spirit and encouragement. They do things by their creative minds. Bad students do things passively. They know they have to do, but not so clear about why they should do well. So when they do things, they find them dull and monotonous.

If today in school, you are a good student, you will learn all the knowledge about your major well. Later you will be a successful person in the society. If you are a bad student, you will not learn what you should learn, and your ability will be imperfect. Later, you may be not so successful. All know our age is a knowledge economy time. Knowledge brings fortune. But knowledge must be learnt a little by little or step by step. So today's diligence means later success.

In the society, there are various kinds of people. From the pyramid, we know a theory: Very few come to the top as brilliant figures, but most stay in the bottom. And only these few have the vast bottom of fortune. Who will come to the top, the most diligent ones are. They work hard, they have clear purposes. They be famous scientists, statesmen, businessmen or others.The Greatest Invention in History

Thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, people built pyramids for the Pharoah. At that time there were no machines, so how could they move such huge stones? How could they create such splendid pyramids? How could they create such a miracle? The answer, of course, is the wheel. The wheel makes everything possible. Now, you may challenge this assertion. "The wheel is far too simple," you may say. "Inventions such as the printing press and the computer chip have done much more to change the world." I have to disagree with you. Let me explain why.

The common uses of the wheel are obvious. Rather than travel on foot or on horse, we have learned to travel by horse-drawn carriages, cars, trains and now airplanes and rockets. The Industrial Revolution could never have occured without the wheel. Not only do industrial machines, such as we find in factories, or home appliances such as washing machines and air conditioners, depend on the wheel, even the printing press that brought learning to the masses depended on gears - toothed wheels! - to work. In other words, though the printing press was important, it simply couldn't exist without the wheel.

The computer chip also would not be the useful device it is, without the help of the wheel. The computer chip itself may not use a wheel or gear directly, but peripheral devices such as printers and disk drives do. Without the wheel, we could in theory have a powerful computing device. However, we wouldn't be able to save our work or show it to other people! Without the invention of the wheel, the computer would be next to useless.

So, can you imagine a world without the wheel? Can you imagine a world without long-distance travel? Can you imagine a world without a printing press to communicate the best writing in the world? Can you imagine a world with no useful computers? Everything that came after the wheel, and everything that is to come, depends on the greatest invention in history. The wheel!Glossary of English Grammar TermsActive VoiceIn the active voice, the subject of the verb does the action (eg They killed the President). See also Passive Voice.

AdjectiveA word like big, red, easy, French etc. An adjective describes a noun or pronoun.

AdverbA word like slowly, quietly, well, often etc. An adverb modifies a verb.

ArticleThe "indefinite" articles are a and an. The "definite article" is the.

Auxiliary VerbA verb that is used with a main verb. Be, do and have are auxiliary verbs. Can, may, must etc are modal auxiliary verbs.

ClauseA group of words containing a subject and its verb (for example: It was late when he arrived).

ConjunctionA word used to connect words, phrases and clauses (for example: and, but, if).

InfinitiveThe basic form of a verb as in to work or work.

InterjectionAn exclamation inserted into an utterance without grammatical connection (for example: oh!, ah!, ouch!, well!).

Modal VerbAn auxiliary verb like can, may, must etc that modifies the main verb and expresses possibility, probability etc. It is also called "modal auxiliary verb".

NounA word like table, dog, teacher, America etc. A noun is the name of an object, concept, person or place. A "concrete noun" is something you can see or touch like a person or car. An "abstract noun" is something that you cannot see or touch like a decision or happiness. A "countable noun" is something that you can count (for example: bottle, song, dollar). An "uncountable noun" is something that you cannot count (for example: water, music, money).

ObjectIn the active voice, a noun or its equivalent that receives the action of the verb. In the passive voice, a noun or its equivalent that does the action of the verb.

ParticipleThe -ing and -ed forms of verbs. The -ing form is called the "present participle". The -ed form is called the "past participle" (for irregular verbs, this is column 3).

Part Of SpeechOne of the eight classes of word in English - noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction and interjection.

Passive VoiceIn the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb (eg The President was killed). See also Active Voice.

PhraseA group of words not containing a subject and its verb (eg on the table, the girl in a red dress).

PredicateEach sentence contains (or implies) two parts: a subject and a predicate. The predicate is what is said about the subject.

PrepositionA word like at, to, in, over etc. Prepositions usually come before a noun and give information about things like time, place and direction.

PronounA word like I, me, you, he, him, it etc. A pronoun replaces a noun.

SentenceA group of words that express a thought. A sentence conveys a statement, question, exclamation or command. A sentence contains or implies a subject and a predicate. In simple terms, a sentence must contain a verb and (usually) a subject. A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop (.), question mark (?) or exclamation mark (!).

SubjectEvery sentence contains (or implies) two parts: a subject and a predicate. The subject is the main noun (or equivalent) in a sentence about which something is said.

TenseThe form of a verb that shows us when the action or state happens (past, present or future). Note that the name of a tense is not always a guide to when the action happens. The "present continuous tense", for example, can be used to talk about the present or the future.

VerbA word like (to) work, (to) love, (to) begin. A verb describes an action or state.

Verbs> be, have, do, work Nouns> man, town, music Adjectives> a, the, 69, big Adverbs> loudly, well, often Pronouns> you, ours, some Prepositions> at, in, on, from Conjunctions> and, but, though Interjections> ah, dear, er, umSmall Talk: Who, What, Where, When, Why?

WHO makes small talk? People with many different relationships use small talk. The most common type of people to use small talk are those who do not know each other at all. Though we often teach children not to talk to strangers, adults are expected to say at least a few words in certain situations (see where). It is also common for people who are only acquaintances, often called a "friend of a friend", to use small talk. Other people who have short casual conversations are office employees who may not be good friends but work in the same department. Customer service representatives, waitresses, hairdressers and receptionists often make small talk with customers. If you happen to be outside when the mailman comes to your door you might make small talk with him too.

WHAT do people make small talk about? There are certain "safe" topics that people usually make small talk about. The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other well discuss. Sometimes even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or start a conversation. Another topic that is generally safe is current events. As long as you are not discussing a controversial issue, such as a recent law concerning equal rights, it is usually safe to discuss the news. Sports news is a very common topic, especially if a local team or player is in a tournament or play-off or doing extremely well or badly. Entertainment news, such as a celebrity who is in town, is another good topic. If there is something that you and the other speaker has in common, that may also be acceptable to talk about. For example, if the bus is extremely full and there are no seats available you might talk about reasons why. Similarly, people in an office might casually discuss the new paint or furniture. There are also some subjects that are not considered acceptable when making small talk. Discussing personal information such as salaries or a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well. Compliments on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you should never say something (good or bad) about a person's body. Negative comments about another person not involved in the conversation are also not acceptable: when you do not know a person well you cannot be sure who their friends are. You do not talk about private issues either, because you do not know if you can trust the other person with your secrets or personal information. Also, it is not safe to discuss subjects that society deems controversial such as religion or politics. Lastly, it is not wise to continue talking about an issue that the other person does not seem comfortable with or interested in.

WHERE do people make small talk?People make small talk just about anywhere, but there are certain places where it is very common. Most often, small talk occurs in places where people are waiting for something. For example, you might chat with another person who is waiting for the bus to arrive, or to the person beside you waiting to get on an aeroplane. People also make small talk in a doctor's or dentist's waiting room, or in queues at the grocery store. At the office, people make small talk in elevators or lunchrooms and even in restrooms, especially if there is a line-up. Some social events (such as a party) require small talk among guests who do not know each other very well. For example, you might talk to someone you do not know at the punch bowl, or at the poolside. It is called "mingling" when people walk around in a social setting and talk to a variety of people.

WHEN do people make small talk? The most common time for small talk to occur is the first time you see or meet someone on a given day. For example, if you see a co-worker in the lounge you might say hello and discuss the sports or weather. However, the next time you see each other you might just smile and say nothing. If there is very little noise, that might be an indication that it is the right time to initiate a casual conversation. You should only spark up a conversation after someone smiles and acknowledges you. Do not interrupt two people in order to discuss something unimportant such as the weather. If someone is reading a book or writing a letter at the bus stop it is not appropriate to initiate a conversation either. Another good time to make small talk is during a break in a meeting or presentation when there is nothing important going on. Finally, it is important to recognize the cue when the other person wants the conversation to stop.

WHY do people make small talk?There are a few different reasons why people use small talk. The first, and most obvious, is to break an uncomfortable silence. Another reason, however, is simply to fill time. That is why it is so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something. Some people make small talk in order to be polite. You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but it is rude to just sit in a corner by yourself. After someone introduces you to another person, you do not know anything about them, so in order to show a polite interest in getting to know them better, you have to start with some small talk.

Read the small talk below and find the 10 mistakes. Then check your answers.

Woman: We could ask for a better day, could we?

Man: I know. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I love this time of year.

Woman: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, you think?

Man: They sure are. But I heard he is calling for rain all weekend.

Woman: Really? Oh well. I have to work all weekend anyway. I'm a doctor.

Man: Wow. I'm sure you make good money with that diamond watch you have on.

Woman: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long of a wait is it already?

Man: I've been here for at least fifteen minutes now.

Woman: Where are you heading today?

Man: Actually, I'm going to the City Hall to cast my vote for mayor.

Woman: Oh, what a coincidence. So am I! Who are you voting for?

Man: Um, well...I'm still thinking about it.

Woman: Here comes a bus now.

Man: Oh good. Wait, that's not the bus we want. That bus goes downtown.

Woman: Well, it looks like we'll be waiting a little longer. I guess, I'll use this time to catch up on my reading.

Man: I love reading. Right now I'm reading a Stephen King book. Do you like Stephen King?

Woman: Not really.

Man: Oh, here's our bus.

Woman: Oh great. I thought it would never come. Well, have a nice day.

Man: Say, did you catch the news today?

Now check your answers. Did you find all 10 mistakes?

1.Woman: We could ask for a better day, could we?Correction: We couldn't ask for a better day, could we?

2.Woman: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, you think? Correction: Me too. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, aren't they?

3.Man: They sure are. But I heard he is calling for rain all weekend. Correction: They sure are. But I heard they are calling for rain all weekend.

4.Woman: Really? Oh well. I have to work all weekend anyway. I'm a doctor.Correction: During small talk with a stranger, it is not common to discuss personal information relating to work.

5.Man: Wow. I'm sure you make good money with that diamond watch you have on. Correction: It is not acceptable to discuss salaries while making small talk.

6.Woman: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long of a wait is it already?Correction: Ah, this bus seems to be running late. How long have you been waiting?

7.Woman: Where are you heading today?Correction: Too personal.

8.Woman: Oh, what a coincidence. So am I! Who are you voting for?Correction: Politics is not a "safe" subject to discuss.

9.Man: I love reading. Right now I'm reading a Stephen King book. Do you like Stephen King?Correction: The woman suggested that she wanted to end the conversation. The man did not take the hint.

10.Man: Say, did you catch the news today?Correction: Thanks. You too. This is not an appropriate time to start a new conversation. The bus's arrival indicates that it is time to stop talking.