Vol 539
Wednesday 17 July 2019
Elementary The sword in the stone Advanced Coming out of your shell BRATs Literary response
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Call to adventure > 4
supported by the Ministry of education
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Note to the teacher
century
learning skills Our children are riding the great wave of technology today. They now have facts and procedures at their fingertips. Teachers have to equip their students with new skills that allow them to thrive in today’s global economy. The activities in The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education pullout combine literacy skills with current content to build this set of skills. The key below indicates the skills integrated into the activities in this pullout.
Critical thinking
� Identify � Reason � Measure � Organise
Creative thinking
� Imagine � Brainstorm � Connect � Invent
ELEMENTARY Short story
A title of honour
ANIL and his mother live in a village. Anil is good at making and mending kites. He is known among the children as the King of Kites. His mother, on the other hand, is good at sewing. She is known among the village women as the Queen of Needles. But what happens when they don’t have enough materials to make kites and sew new clothes for a wedding? Find out more in The King of Kites!
NiE Activity 1
EXAMPLE Anil wants to make 12 kites and fly them all at once in honour of the bride at a wedding. Imagine that you have been invited to the same wedding. What would you do instead to celebrate the occasion? Gather in groups of four and brainstorm ideas. Then, select just one idea that all of you agree on. Present your idea using at least three words and one picture from The Star. When you are done, take turns to share your group idea with the class.
NiE Activity 2
NiE Activity 3
Imagine that you had been put in charge of the wedding guest list. In groups of four, choose three people (or groups of people) from The Star whom you would invite to the wedding. Cut out their pictures and paste them on a sheet of A3 paper. Write down your reasons for inviting them. When you are done, display your work on the classroom walls and take a gallery walk. Do you find the same “guests” appearing on many lists?
EXAMPLE Problem solving
� � Research � Recreate � Present
Question
Guest
Maharaja
Maharani
Emperor
Empress
Prince
Princess
Duke
Duchess
Anil and his mother earn their respective titles “King of Kites” and “Queen of Needles”, because they each have a skill that others look up to. What would you like your title to be? Pick a title from the list above and create two complete titles for yourself based on a skill that you are good at and an admirable quality that you possess. Write down your answers in the space provided.
A skill I am good at: A title I would like to have:
Communicating
� Oral � Non-verbal � Written � Aural
Take a look at this list of royal or noble titles:
Reason
A quality I possess: A title I would like to have:
Collaborating
� listen � Contribute
Guest
respectfully
� Compromise � Attain goal NiE editorial manager: ShARON OvINIS NiE assistant manager: ROWENA ChuA Writer: DR MAllIKA vASuGI Layout designer: AShARAh KAMARul Illustrator: hASSAN BAhRI To order The Star for NiE lessons, call: Sundarrajan 03-7967 1388 ext 1437 or 016-288 3682 We welcome feedback; e-mail us at: starnie@thestar.com.my Teachers, you are welcome to join our Star-NiE Facebook group.
Now, look in The Star for a personality whom you admire. If you could award a title to this person, what would it be? Write down your answer on a sheet of A4 paper. When you are done, exchange papers with a friend. Do you agree with the title given by your friend?
EXAMPLE
Reason
-NiE , 17 July 2019
ELEMENTARY Short story
When size matters
FROM young, Lemuel Gulliver has always dreamed of sailing across the oceans. His dreams come true when he joins Captain Prichard and his crew on a voyage. The ship, unfortunately, crashes into rocks and Gulliver is washed up on the shores of an island. To his amazement, the inhabitants on this island called Lilliput are only about six inches tall. Can you imagine finding yourself in the island as described in Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift?
NiE Activity 1
NiE Activity 2
Gulliver is soon taken to an ancient temple in Lilliput. It is the biggest building in the entire kingdom, which becomes Gulliver’s home. Read the following extract from the graphic novel. During the next few weeks, the emperor gave orders to make my stay more comfortable. He had six hundred beds sewn together for me to sleep on. Three hundred tailors made me a new coat. Their greatest scholars instructed me in the language of Lilliput.
In groups of four, scan The Star for five items that you think Gulliver may need in Lilliput and five others that you are sure he will not need. Cut out the pictures and/ or words, and paste them on a sheet of A4 paper. Give a reason for each of your choices. When you are done, display your work on the classroom walls and take a gallery walk.
EXAMPLE
Imagine that you were tasked with informing Gulliver about the latest news. In groups of four, scan The Star for the top five articles you would read to Gulliver. Cut them out and paste them on a sheet of A3 paper. Write a reason for each article selected. When you are done, take turns to present your work in class.
EXAMPLE
Tailor needs ladder to measure this man A tailor had to climb up a ladder when measuring the tallest man in Malaysia for his Raya clothes. Mohd Azli Hisyam Abdul Ghafar, who stands at an astonishing 220cm, needs about 10m of cloth for his Raya attire. The 25-year-old, whose shoe size is 16, lamented about his difficulties in finding clothes that fit him. The Gua Musang Welfare Association has decided to sponsor his outfit for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Its chairman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the tailor spent about 15 minutes measuring Mohd Azli’s body, while an average-sized human would only require about five minutes. In 2013, Mohd Azli entered the Malaysia Book of Records for being the tallest person in the country. ( May 27, 2019 )
The tailor taking Mohd Azli’s measurements for his baju Melayu.
NiE Activity 3
In his next voyage, Gulliver finds himself stranded in the Land of Giants. There, he escapes a few dangerous encounters with giant animals, one of which is a monkey. Read the following extract from the graphic novel. After my recovery, the king wanted to hear more about my adventure. King of the giants: What would you have done if this had happened in your own country? Gulliver: We do not have monkeys except in zoos, and I could deal with a dozen of them. I said this very seriously, but my speech caused only laughter. I felt like the joke of the kingdom. What other dangers do you think Gulliver could have faced in the Land of Giants? In groups of four, look for four items from The Star that could pose a danger to Gulliver. Cut out the words and/or pictures, and paste them on a sheet of A4 paper. Explain how each of the items could cause harm to Gulliver. When you are done, exchange papers with another group. The group will have to write down a solution to overcome at least one of the dangers.
EXAMPLE
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ELEMENTARY
Tales of adventure
An element of risk
TALES of adventure often include dangerous situations, mysterious places and exciting challenges. The characters in these stories often need to use their skills to overcome obstacles and challenges, and even solve mysteries. These tales can take you through amazing journeys where you meet strange or extraordinary characters. At times, they may happen in the most surprising places with everyday heroes. Have you read these famous adventure stories? Can you name three other adventure stories that you have read?
NiE Activity 1
If you were to write a tale of adventure, who would your main character be and what would his adventure be about? In groups of four, create a title for your tale. Then, write down your ideas for the points listed in the table. Use at least three words and one picture from The Star in your answers. When you are done, present your work in class.
Title A main character A place he is going What he is looking for A challenge he faces An interesting character who helps him An object that is important to overcome the challenge
NiE Activity 2
Read the following article taken from The Star. Imagine you were Chen. Write a 150-word journal entry about an interesting person you met on your journey. You may do this activity in groups of four. When you are done, take turns to read out your journal entry in class.
Dear Diary,
Around the world in seven years It was four years ago when Jacky Chen embarked upon a challenge: riding his bicycle across the world. The 40-year-old Taiwanese man has now traversed the Americas, Europe and parts of the Middle East, sleeping in his tent or finding places to rest his head through apps like Couchsurfing. “This is an adventure,” he said of his reasons for setting out on the journey, which has so far taken him to 64 countries and across some 54,000km. He hopes to visit 100 countries and travel 100,000km before he is done. He estimates it will take him about another three years. Some of the toughest moments he has had so far involved travelling through snowy weather, he said. But in terms of danger, Chen said he has experienced very little apart from nerve-wracking moments when cars and lorries pass too closely to him on the road. Chen is by no means the first to set out on such a trip. In 2017, Scottish adventurer Mark Beaumont set a world
Chen hopes to end his journey in another three years. — AFP record by cycling around the globe in 79 days. But Chen isn’t after a record, preferring adventure to accolades. “The amazing thing is always the people I meet,” he said. (June 15, 2019)
-NiE , 17 July 2019
Island misadventures
How would you imagine the events that ensue after being washed up on a distant shore following a shipwreck? Our BRATs writers fire up their creativity!
The rantings of a shipwrecked nut But all that meets is isolation There is no warmth in the embrace of depression.
By GABRIELLE ANN JEREMIAH, 17 SMK Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor THE wind blows hard I strain my eyes The ship is falling apart I hear people’s cries. The treacherous waves Pull me under Into the darkness below While chaos reigns like a monster. Do I believe what I see? For the calm blue skies Look down upon me Did I not meet my demise? Angel of Death – you’ve set me free. I walk the coastline in desperation, In hopes of finding a companion,
You wonder how you’ll survive.
I draw inner strength And look to my courage At great length I rally whatever sanity I can salvage.
I am lost and frightened in the deep dark woods I shiver not from my tattered, cloaked hood Night has approached When suddenly a storm of wings encroach.
I need to survive Long fronds of seaweed Have kept me alive Splintered wood from the sunken vessel Keeps me warm when the cold is brutal.
They beat the night air in a storm of wings I stumble in this vicious attack, their echoes screeching These nocturnal phantoms of the night Leave me covered in bites.
Schools of fish swim about the wreck None of which I can catch How much longer do I have to hunt and peck Before God shows me the mercy I beg.
The wind whispers gently I strain my eyes I feel unsteady and sickly “You’ll be fine,” the Captain advised.
I have lost count of the days For time is just a blurred haze So I step into the deep vegetation With some trepidation For I know not what I will find In this tropical jungle unrefined. But hunger drives me into the depths The wilderness is alive And when you’re alone
‘All hail the seaweed’
“I’ve been saved,” comforts my mind But my body tells me otherwise I have a strange thirst to unbind Immortality is mine though forever ostracised. The wind sweeps past my dead heart, The crew’s soulless eyes terrified The ship is falling apart For I now reign over the people’s cries.
By JESLYN CH’NG, 15 Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, Singapore THE glaring bars of sunlight penetrated my vision as I squinted ahead. Moving my limbs, I felt something slimy and slippery slither across my body. Tensing up, I raised my head slightly and glanced down – to my relief, it was not a snake as I had feared, but some bottlegreen seaweed that had enveloped me. As I fought to stand upright, I felt the seaweed peel itself away from me. Staring at the horizon, images of last night’s horrifying events came rushing to my mind. There was the roaring sea and the howling rain, and then darkness. Now, with the sea calmed and the sky cleared, the only evidence of the storm were the broken pieces of my boat that now lay before me. Sighing, I turned and looked toward the heart of the island. For as far as my eyes could travel, the beach was overflowing with seaweed
Mystic island
By EMMA EDELIA STEVEN, 17 SMK Ibrahim, Sungai Petani, Kedah HEARING a strangled groan, I turned and found my best friend Jennie sprawled on the sand beside me. I looked around and noticed our belongings scattered everywhere, with the sea glistening in the distance. Then, it hit me. We were stranded on an island. “The ship... it has sunk! Now, we’re here alone,” I said. “Lisa! Look!” Jennie cut me off, pointing at what seemed to
be a purple willow tree at the edge of the beach. I squinted at the tree a hundred feet away, and saw a creature with majestic wings perched on one of its branches. I gasped as it breathed ice at a bird flying past. To my astonishment, the bird didn’t freeze but merely flew away as if nothing had happened. “Is that a dragon? It can’t be!” Jennie exclaimed in terror mixed with excitement. Before I could respond, the “dragon” flew towards us and hoisted us on its back. It soared skywards at such an incredible speed that I fought hard to keep my eyes open. I saw trees of every colour, birds of every kind, and even a yellow elephant bathing in a river. Before long, the dragon gently lowered us onto the ground. Surprisingly, there was a wide spread of food laid out
instead of sand. With my legs buried a foot deep in seaweed, I trudged along slowly towards a clump of coconut trees. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot up my toe, making me wince. Holding back tears, I bent down and discovered that I had stepped on a cloudy glass bottle. In it was a piece of paper slightly torn and faded with age. Instinctively, I removed it from the bottle and unfolded it. “Brew seaweed, make soup, cure diseases, hunger and boredom,” I read the words aloud. Sceptically, I eyed the slithering seaweed beneath me. Oh well, it is not as if I had any other choice, I told myself. Forty years later... “Island’s Seaweed Best Healing Paste”, “Drink this seaweed juice and stay young for life!”, “Tested: Magic seaweed bun keeps you full for the rest of the week” – there wasn’t a wall that was not covered in flashing green posters, as I strolled down the streets. Having spent two decades depending on the island’s bountiful seaweed for life, I was finally rescued by a search team. I was not going to put my many years of research and experiments on the seaweed to waste, so I brought it all back and introduced its extraordinary benefits to my countrymen. As I walked past a crowd, I heard them cheering, “All hail the seaweed!”
on a tree stump table – it was as if someone knew we would be here. There were cakes, cookies, shepherd’s pies and a jug of lemonade; but what took our breath away was the gigantic roasted chicken right in the middle of the table. We immediately wolfed down the scrumptious food and were almost done when a bull with the head of a lion emerged out of nowhere and crashed into the table. We broke into a run when it suddenly charged towards us. We kept running until we reached a small hut by the edge of the forest and collapsed on the front step. Panting, Jennie turned to me and said, “Well, that was amazing! But how do we get home?” “Home? I think we just found it,” I said as the front door opened slowly.
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INTERMEDIATE Graphic novel
The sword in the stone
ENGLAND is without a king in the year 650. Soon, trouble and fighting increase in the kingdom. The magician Merlin has a dream about a “wonderful” king who would set the course for a stable England. It is in this story of King Arthur that Merlin sets a trial to identify the new king. The boy Arthur triumphs in the attempt and rises to be a strong, good and wise king. England flourishes under King Arthur’s rule until Arthur marries Guinevere against Merlin’s advice. A love triangle unfolds when Lancelot, a fearless knight of Arthur’s round table, falls in love with Guinevere. The betrayal causes Arthur to lose interest in his country. Seeing this as a golden opportunity, Arthur’s evil half-sister Morgan and her son Mordred plot to take over the kingdom.
NiE Activity 1
EXAMPLE
When Merlin wants to choose a king for England, he sets a special test. He places a sword in a magic stone that can only be pulled out by the one who is to be the true king. Imagine that you had been tasked with setting a test to determine who would be king. In groups of four, brainstorm ideas for these special tests. Describe three of your ideas on a sheet of A4 paper. (You have to use at least five words and two pictures from The Star.) When you are done, take turns to share these ideas with the class.
NiE Activity 2
Merlin tries to discourage Arthur from marrying Guinevere but he is unsuccessful. Arthur : I want to marry Guinevere. Merlin : No... no... Arthur! I see a dark future for you and Guinevere. Don’t marry her! Arthur : I am King and I choose my Queen!
NiE Activity 3
Among the people around you, who would you consider as “knights” because of their acts of courage or kindness in helping others? In groups of four, identify a person (or a group of people) featured in The Star considered worthy of this knighthood because of something he has done to help others. Cut out the picture and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Then, write a brief description on the same page and take turns to present your work in class.
What qualities should a queen possess? In groups of four, list eight qualities (words or phrases) that you think are most important for someone who is going to be Arthur’s queen. (At least four of these phrases must be taken from The Star.) When you are done, choose someone featured in The Star whom you think has many of the qualities on your list. Cut out her picture and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper.
EXAMPLE
Lancelot is the strongest man in all England. He can be the first knight of the Round Table!
King Arthur
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INTERMEDIATE
Novel
The futility of vengeance AN encounter with the great white whale Moby Dick many years ago cost the famous whaler Captain Ahab his leg. Filled with revenge and a mad rage, Captain Ahab is now on a relentless hunt to kill the whale. His obsession with Moby Dick makes him oblivious to everything else, including the safety of his whaling crew. As a result, the lives of his men aboard his ship, the Pequod, are at stake. Moby Dick is written by Herman Melville. The story is narrated by Ishmael, a crew of the Captain’s.
NiE Activity 1
Captain Ahab’s obsession with Moby Dick takes him on a ruthless mission to kill the whale. What goals in life do you think are worth pursuing? Which do you think are not worth the time and effort? In groups of four, look for a picture, article or title in The Star that is related to something that you feel is a meaningful pursuit, and another that you think is a waste of energy. Cut them out and paste them in different sections on a sheet of A4 paper. Write a reason for each choice in the respective column. Display your work on the classroom walls when you are done. Take turns to view other pieces and leave constructive comments.
S
EXAMPLE
Helping poor mums feed their babies Project focuses on encouraging mothers to breastfeed their newborns
NiE Activity 2
The captain shouted his answer but the wind carried his words away. Captain Ahab put his hand behind his ear, but he couldn’t hear the captain. “Aghhhh! This wind!!” he shouted. “Listen! Tell people at home we’re sailing around the world. We’ll bring back the teeth of the devil whale!” Starbuck stood and watched Captain Ahab. “Is he forgetting his wife and child at home?” he said to me. “Wife and child?” I asked. Did Captain Ahab really have a family? “Oh, yes. His family is waiting for him,” said Starbuck. “And my family is waiting for me. Every day my wife, Mary, takes our son to the beach. They look at the ocean. They hope that they’ll see our sails one day.”
In groups of four, scan The Star for an article or picture about a situation where a person (or a group of people) is missing his family or is separated from the people he cares about. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Write a brief message of encouragement on the same page, to the person (or people) involved. Take turns to present the situation to the other groups when you are done.
EXAMPLE
Ex-army man pines for daughter held in China PASIR PUTEH: A father is appealing for help from the Foreign Ministry, specifically the Malaysian embassy in China, to connect him with his daughter who is serving time in Guangzhou prison.
Gang leader turns out to be a sacked cop
NiE Activity 3
Point of view in a novel refers to who is telling the story. It is a literary device. The first-person point of view means that we are seeing events through the eyes of the character telling the story. Point of view is important in a story because it helps the reader understand the characters’ feelings and actions. In Moby Dick, the story is told from the first-person point of view. It is related by Ishmael, a young sailor on his first whaling job with Captain Ahab. Here is an extract from the final chapter of the novel: I often think about my time on the Pequod. We fought with Moby Dick, and Captain Ahab’s men died. They died because one man hated a whale. At the same time the men on the Rachel looked for a boy. They looked for a boy because one man loved his son. And after their hard work and their hopes they found only me. So I lived. I can tell you my story. And Moby Dick lives. He is out there now. In groups of four, look in The Star for a news report about an incident involving one or more people. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Imagine you had been directly involved in the situation. In 50 to 100 words, write a short description of the event, from your point of view. When you are done, read it out in class.
Woman traumatised after python attack ALOR SETAR: She was just going about her household chores when she came face to face with a python. Halifah Othman, 47, stepped out of the house to throw rubbish and was attacked by a six-metre long python, which coiled itself around her leg. Her two teenage sons rushed to help when they heard her screams. They tried to release Halifah from the python’s grip but the reptile held on firmly. A few villagers came to the rescue by slashing the snake with machetes.
EXAMPLE
Close encounter: Halifah being comforted by neighbours before she was rushed to hospital.
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When we don’t see eye to eye In Moby Dick, Captain Ahab is portrayed as a vengeful person who is unwillling to let bygones be bygones. Here, our BRATs writers let us in on how they resolve conflicts.
Pick your battles
By YEOH CHENG JIN, 18 Asia Pacific University, Kuala Lumpur MY close friend and I once had an argument. Both of us were stubborn and neither wanted to be the first to apologise. As time dragged on, the dislike we felt for each other
grew even more. Eventually, I gave in. My friend apologised, as well, but the awkwardness between us lingered for a while. It took a couple of days for us to fully forgive each other and return to our usual selves. Looking back, I think that I handled the conflict well, but even I know that I could have done better at the time. The best thing for me to have done was to quell my hardheadedness and let the matter rest, instead of continuing to push my point. Had I taken the high road and let my friend “win”, I could have saved both of us a lot of time and unpleasantness.
Based on my experience, the best way to resolve a conflict is to be the one to back down first. However, what I mean by backing down is not to throw your hands up and go, “Fine, you win!” as that is hardly any better. Reaching a peaceful resolution starts by realising that the argument has escalated and become heated. Calm yourself by taking a deep breath. This steadies your thoughts and gives you a break to think rationally instead of emotionally. Weigh the importance of winning the argument against the importance of sustaining your relationship with the
person involved. Would you rather win the argument but risk destroying your relationship with the other person, or lose the argument but retain a friend? Most of the time, our ego and pride get in the way. As much as we wish to end the conflict, we cannot stand the thought of giving the other person the satisfaction of “winning”. It would be a rather anticlimactic end after hurling facts and viewpoints at one another. It is our instinct to defend ourselves that results in a never-ending conflict. Sometimes, you do not have to retract your viewpoint; respecting the opinions of
others is equally effective. The term “agree to disagree” comes to mind as everyone is allowed to have their own views, and someone with a different view from yours isn’t necessarily wrong. From that incident, I have learned that sometimes you have to “lose the battle to win the war”. We should know when to stand and fight for ourselves and when to back down in the interest of peace. It is not wrong to want to be right but wanting to be right all the time is never a good thing. Knowing when to hang up your coat is a key element in resolving any conflict.
Friendship turned sour
By TAN EJIN, 19 Formerly from INTI International University, Nilai, Negri Sembilan FOUR years ago in secondary school, I started becoming very close to a classmate. At that time, I truly felt that I had
found another good friend because we had so much in common and she understood a lot of the things I was going through. We were both big fans of Taylor Swift and would keep each other updated on her every move. “Did you see the dress she wore to the Met Gala? It was so beautiful!” “Did you hear she’s dating Calvin Harris now?” It was all good, but things started taking a different turn when we went to a camp in Johor. She knew that participants
could apply for sponsorships but didn’t disclose it to me. When I found out about it, I felt betrayed. That wasn’t the only thing she was hiding from me. I decided to put our differences aside so that it wouldn’t ruin my camp experience. But we quickly became distant the following year when she was appointed the president of a club in which I was elected the vice president. I grew frustrated with the way she handled club issues. When she called for a committee meeting, she wasn’t happy when others disagreed
Be careful who you trust
By RESHMI KENNEDY, 17 SMK Seri Hartamas. Kuala Lumpur CONFLICT is inevitable and is bound to happen in our everyday life. I once had a conflict with a close friend in school. It happened when I was about 15 years old and it was during my Bahasa Melayu oral exam. It was important as it was part of my PT3 assessment. My class was up next and was called to the exam hall. We were divided into groups of four and given a topic to prepare for our points. My group’s topic was moneysaving tips. We discussed our
points 10 minutes before we were called to be assessed. Our teacher had warned us earlier that marks would be deducted if we used the same points as someone else’s. We made sure everyone had different points. During the oral exam, my friend appeared to be at a loss and proceeded to use my points. I was utterly shocked and did not know what to do. I was upset but had to change my points there and then. When the exam was done, I confronted her as I had made sure each group member had different points. Not only was she unapologetic, she insisted that she had the right to use the points. I was angry but tried to control my anger. I told her that she almost cost me my marks but she did not care. She was not remorseful at all. I could not forgive her. I felt hurt that she would not even apologise. From that day, I learned that
we have to be careful about who we trust. I also learned how to handle conflicts better. I definitely do not regret how I handled the situation but I do wish the outcome had been different and that she had apologised.
with her idea. The more time passed, the more she seemed to have changed. It was almost impossible to forgive her when I found out that she had been badmouthing the club committee members and me to our advisor when none of what she had said was true. We never had an explicit argument but deep down, we both knew that we disliked each other and neither was willing to save the friendship. We eventually stopped talking to each other. I would avoid eye contact with her
when we coincidentally met along school corridors. Years have passed and I no longer hold any grudges against her. Looking back now, I feel I should have talked to her about the conflicts we had, instead of keeping my feelings to myself. I have since learned to deal with conflicts in a more responsible way by encouraging conflicting parties to talk about how they feel and what can be done about it. Although we are no longer in contact with each other, I still wish her all the best in her endeavours.
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ADVANCED Novel
Coming out of your shell NEWTON Newman (Newt) is 10 years old. He doesn’t particularly feel special, and is certainly not as special as his popular football star older brother, Chris. During a major football game, Chris is knocked unconscious and all of a sudden, Newt’s world is shaken. Newt’s good friend ds, J.J. and Cecil, are deeply concerned about his state of mind and decide that going out on Halloween night would help Newt get his mind off hiis brother’s condition. Newt creates a unique Halloween costume and calls himself Captain Nobody. Newt’s confidence as Captain Nobody grrows even after Halloween is over. As this alter ego, Newt becomes an unexpected hero in many tricky and sometimes dangerous situations. But willl Captain Nobody be able to perform his most vital task, which is saving his brother, Chris?
NiE Activity 1
There are many kinds of heroes in the world and many of the most important ones go unnoticed. In groups of four, scan The Star for three people whom you would consider heroes. Cut their pictures or names out and paste them on a sheet of A4 paper. Write a reason for each choice. When you are done, present your work to the other groups.
EXAMPLE
Mourning our finest historian Prof Khoo dedicated his life to history and nation-building
NiE Activity 3
Newt has always been fascinated by tales of superheroes and their awesome powers. As he grew older, he began to create his own superheroes by sketching them in his Secret Superhero Sketchbook. My first sketches were pretty crummy, but eventually my scrawls began to take shape. First I created Master Key, a crimefighter whose hands could transform into keys that could open any lock in existence. After that came Paper Boy, who could flatten his body until it was so thin that he could slip under any door. In groups of four, cut out and paste a picture of an everyday object from The Star. Exchange papers with another group. They will now have to cut out the title or picture of a situation in The Star where help is needed. Now, pass the papers back to the original group. Based on the picture you have received, create an original superhero who has some of the qualities of the object on the page which he will use to help defuse the situation reported in the article. Describe and draw a sketch of the superhero and explain his role in the situation. Give your superhero a name. When you are done, display your work on the classroom walls for viewing. Do leave constructive comments. Carry out this activity on a sheet of A4 paper.
EXAMPLE
Lee: Act against those who bring in, sell illegal firecrackers PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation has urged the Government to act against firecracker sellers after children were injured playing firecrackers.
NiE Activity 2 NiE Activity 4 When Newt wears his Captain Nobody costume, he feels a sense of confidence and power. He also finds himself the hero in many situations. Imagine that there were ordinary people who could be transformed into superheroes like Captain Nobody by wearing an article of clothing. In groups of four, cut out a picture of any item of clothing found in The Star. Then, look for a picture of someone featured in The Star to represent your superhero. Imagine that wearing the item gave this person superpowers. On a sheet of A4 paper, paste your picture and write a description of the “change”. When you are done, take turns to present your superhero by performing a role-play of him or her in action.
EXAMPLE
To lift everybody’s spirits up while Chris remains in hospital, the Filmore High School Spirit Squad decides to adopt a ferret as their mascot. The decision is announced by Colby, the head cheerleader. She swept her arms open to include the whole class. “So the Spirit Squad came up with an idea that we thought would cheer everybody up during this difficult time. We decided to send our very own goodwill ambassador on tour.” “Please welcome our mascot” – Darryl paused as he leaned out into the hallway and reentered with a large wire cage – “Ferocious the Ferret!” Imagine that your class had to adopt a mascot for a certain reason. In groups of four, choose an animal or creature (in the form of a picture or name) from The Star who will be your mascot. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Create a name for your mascot and briefly describe what event(s) the mascot would be related to. Come up with a tagline or cheer for your mascot. Finally, present your work (and mascot) to the other groups.
EXAMPLE
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-NiE , 17 JulY 2019
ADVANCED Drama
What is the right thing to do o? MARTYN Ford tells the story of three passers-by, David, Patrick and Rebecca, who come across a man m lying on the street. They fall into an argument about what needs to be done until a woman dressed d in blue appears on the scene. She promptly takes charge of the situation and begins giving instruction ns to the other three. They are not very pleased but follow the woman’s instructions. Eventually, the ill man recovers and identifies himself as the famous television chef, Michael Sco ott. Mr. Scott thanks David, Patrick and Rebecca, believing that they had saved his life. Meanwhile, the e woman in blue is nowhere to be seen. As Mr. Scott leaves in an ambulance, the three congratulate themselves. They finally agree on something – that the woman in blue was bossy and had not help ped in any way!
NiE Activity 1
In the play, David, Patrick and Rebecca feel very pleased with themselves for doing “the right thing” in helping to save the life of someone famous. Read the extract on the right. In groups of four, look for an item from The Star (an article, picture, title, cartoon, etc) related to something that was not the right thing to do. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Then, exchange papers with another group. You will have to discuss the issue and write down a suggestion to help improve the situation. When you are done, exchange papers again to read the suggestions you have received.
PATRICK: DAVID: REBECCA: DAVID: PATRICK: REBECCA: DAVID: PATRICK:
EXAMPLES
Dine and dash dilemma Restaurants troubled by ‘eat-and-run’ customer problem PETALING JAYA: Restaurants who have had to deal with the foreign worker issue now bear another crisis – “eatand-run” patrons. To counter the problem, some of the mainly Indian Muslim restaurants have found ways to deal with the issue, such as placing mugshots of such customers at their cashiers.
NiE Activity 2
Imagine that three bystanders witnessed the incident. What would they be thinking? In groups of four, cut out the pictures of three people featured in The Star. Paste their pictures on a sheet of A4 paper. Write down something they would have said when interviewed by a reporter. When you are done, take turns to present your pieces in class.
EXAMPLES
Today was an important day for us. It was. We helped someone famous. Because of us he didn’t die. We were there for him It was the right thing to do.. Yes it was. Well done, everybody! (To Rebecca) And well done to you... Well done to all of us!
-NiE , 17 July 2019
To intervene or not Compiled by YEOH CHENG YEN, 16 SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
In The Right Thing To Do, the three pedestrians are in two minds about offering their help to a man. Would you step in to help a stranger in distress? Teens give their take.
yes, I would. Stepping in to help a person in distress is an act of kindness. But in certain cases, we may get hurt when we offer our help. Therefore, before rushing in to help someone, we should assess the situation first. Steps must be taken carefully to prevent the situation from worsening. Sometimes, it is better to leave the work to the professionals or those more experienced so we don’t put ourselves or others in harm’s way. — Low Li Yu, 16, SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
It depends on what I can do to help the situation. For example, if I witness a snatch theft, I will prioritise the victim’s safety instead of chasing after the culprit. This is because I’m sure I won’t be able to catch up to the thief in time. Furthermore, as a teenager, it will be extremely dangerous for me to approach the culprit. Instead, I will check the victim for any wounds and if need be, call the ambulance. I might also be able to take a picture of the culprit and present it to the police as evidence. long story short, I will try to help the victim in any way I can without overestimating my capability as a teenager. — Au Yong Kai Yi, 16, SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
I will help however I can without forgetting I am only a teenager. In cases of snatch thefts, I will call the police and ambulance for help. In cases like accidents, I will try my best to prevent fatality. As I have received basic first-aid training, I will assess the wounds on the victim and when the professionals arrive, I will be able to update them quickly on the victim’s condition. For minor wounds, I will try to bandage them up and bring the victim to a clinic. — Elsa Au Yeong Xue Wen, 16, SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
I will help a stranger in distress because as people, it is our duty to help those in need. We must have faith in humanity. I’ve been taught to always do good to others. In cases that are totally out of my control, such as a major accident, I can only run and fetch help or alert the authorities. If I rush in, it might make matters worse. If I see a young boy wandering alone in a shopping mall, I will try to help as much as possible while staying alert to my surroundings to prevent myself from being harmed. — Farhani Rizkya Aulia, 16, SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
I may or may not offer my help depending on how I feel about the situation. From young, I have been constantly drilled about stranger danger by my parents. If I am convinced that the person is truly in need, I will try to help as much as I can while still keeping my distance. But if I feel that the circumstances are suspicious or that it might be a scam or set-up, I will not bother to stop and assist. This is because I may fall into the trap of those without good intentions. I genuinely feel sorry for those who might really be in need of help but I am not willing to risk my safety and life. — Evangeline Lee Si Ern, 16, SMK (P) Pudu, Kuala Lumpur
If I am able to help in a situation, I will definitely not hesitate to offer a helping hand. When others are in need, the thing they desire the most is for someone else to lend a helping hand. But if it is a situation that is out of my control as a teenager, I will not interfere because I am afraid I might just make matters worse. When I do lend a helping hand, I will stay on high alert because if anything this world has taught me, it is that in this dangerous society, we must always keep our guard up in all situations. — Seow Yuen May, 18, HELP University Subang 2 Campus, Shah Alam, Selangor
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-NiE , 17 July 2019
Complete the phrasal verbs below. Picture:
to (take ... someone, take ... something, look) Ask someone for help, support, information, etc
Across:
to (take ... someone, take ... something, look) Become interested in something
Down:
to (take ... someone, take ... something, look) Have a liking for someone
Fill in the correct one from the list below. 1. After a trip to the Colorado Desert, Shinichi sandboarding. Melissa the 2. Eric first time he saw her at a party. 3. You might notice that the Uncle children Felix for financial aid. a) are looking to b) took to c) has taken to
tie uP (2) “I don’t wish to tie you up,” the robber said to Felix, “but I’ll need a few moments of your time while I have a peek inside your safe.” Felix frowned. “Be quick,” he said. “I have clients waiting and I can’t afford to be tied up for any length of time.” All went smoothly and the robber was soon gone. “In this case, to tie up a person is to detain him or her,” the robber explained. “It’s a colloquial expression,” Felix added.
Answers: Picture: look to Across: take to something Down: take to someone Fill in: 1) c 2) b 3) a
EPISODE 19 From the edge of the marketplace, Bao spotted Dawan slumped against the old tree.
Come, it couldn’t have been as bad as that!
I couldn’t … he wouldn’t… Oh, what’s the use?
The old monk isn’t that important anyhow. What are you going to try next?
Slumped
What can I try? Nobody can help me.
Slouched, hunched
If you start believing that, then it will come true. But if you don’t believe it, you can try on your own and… Then it needn’t be true!
You’ve earned your chance for flying to a bigger world, to pursue your own ideals.
Leaning over suddenly she picked up the caged sparrow that Dawan had been quietly watching and thrust it at Dawan.
Open the door to its cage. Go on! Open it.
Pursue
Chase, follow
Question
Why did Bao thrust the bird cage into Dawan’s hands?