Summary package 2

The rediscovery of the Shang began with the discovery of turtle shells or big cattle bones. It is inscribed with ancient Chinese characters. The bones speak of events about national significant, natural disasters, as well as insignificant happenings. It was discovered by legend. Wang Yirong’s family sent out to a pharmacist for turtle plastrons to make medicine. Wang Yirong, an archaeologist, was the first to build up a collection of oracle bones. Oracle bones were found in Xiaotun. Shang fortune tellers foretold predictions about the future. They used the oracle bones to check whether the event would occur. The bones were cleaned and thinned. The diviners applied a hot object until the surface cracked. The cracked bones were presented to the king. King’s interpretation of the cracks was engraved onto the shell together with the original prediction. The oracle bones refer to persons who appear in traditional historical texts. It also dispelled some misconceptions of Shang.

146words

Summary

Reality television, dominating the tube right now, is about the real antics of real people. It is real behaviour in real environment. The shows feature people getting insulted and humiliated. One of the ironies is that they are unreal, key moments are staged. Sports are unscripted drama. These shows are cheap to produce. It is popular with the viewers. People are voyeurs. These shows erase the boundaries between the public and the private. The shows can still genuinely surprise and it is a great and new way of telling. The show also has idea that grabs us in some fundamental place. Reality shows are profitable. There will also have a place for television. The future prospects are dim. It may ruin reputation of network. Producers will eventually soon run out of ideas and the viewers will be bored. They will also face competition from other forms of programming.

138words

English summary of Passage B

Current approaches to environmentalism do not work because American carbon emissions continue to grow. A few western nations are having trouble meeting their reduction targets. The developing world is starting to flood the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. China’s carbon emissions increased, nearly all of it the result of coal. We are now starting to realize this failure was almost unavoidable. Environmentalism’s method of handling global warming is flawed. In this paradigm, the job of environmentalism is to cure the worst effects. The same fuels that gave us our growth now threaten our civilization. China demonstrates everyday, the cheapest way to spur economic growth is by burning more fossil fuel. Benjamin Friedman conceded that carbon dioxide is the one major environmental contaminant. We would need to change as dramatically as light bulbs. The houses that we build are enormous. Technologically efficient furnace or air-conditioner struggles to heat or cool such a giant space. A movement that takes people’s aspirations for good and secure lives seriously.

I thought that people will change for the better after given a position of high authority, yet it did not turn out the way I expected. During my secondary school days, Yvonne was our school President for two years. The teachers and students have been complimenting her for her good attitude and excellent academic results. She set a good example for everyone and had a good reputation.

I started being friends with her when we were assigned as partners in a project. We hit it off really well and began to hang out often after school at the canteen to study. As the weeks went by, we knew each other even better. Gradually, she became my best friend and will always lend a helping hand in my studies and teach me moral education.

However, tragedy always struck when you least expect it. Yvonne started hanging out with bad company. There was once I even heard her shouting at a teacher.

Yvonne exclaimed, “Why must I do your homework!”

The teacher shook her head and said it with disappointment, “Yvonne, as a school President, you must set a good example. Why have you change so much?’’ with that she let out a big sigh, and walk away.

These girls were notorious for being the ‘gangsters’ in the school. I was afraid and worried as we, along with the entire secondary 4 cohort, were taking our ‘O levels’ this year. This was extremely important as it would decide whether we would get into our desired course.

I was determined not to let her have her way and consistently advised and persuaded her. Even so, my advice fell on deaf ears. My worst fears were realised, her grades deteriorated badly and she started to push her responsibilities as a school president to other student leaders. The worst was yet to come, she started smoking, being influenced by those girls. I tried means any ways to stop her but she just told me off.

In the end, I gave up trying and concentrated harder on my studies instead. When the ‘O levels’ results came out, I was elated to be able to go to a good Junior college. Yvonne, on the other hand dropped out of school. She was not able to live up to her reputation as the school’s president.

Summary:)

Chong Boon Secondary School
2 Ang Mo Kio Street 44
Singapore 569250

22January2009

Dear Mrs Menon,

Proposed School Facilities

I am Mak Yan Qin, a senior student of 4e3. I am writing in regarding the choice for the facilities for the students and the local community. In view of the three choices available, i strongly urge you to consider the multi-purpose sports hall.

I believe that a multi-purpose sports hall will be most beneficial to the students and the local community as it not only encourages links between students and people in the community, it will enable them to stay healthy as well. Also, it could remain open after school hours and at weekends so that everyone can get a chance to use it.

In my opinion, a multi-media resource centre that includes a cyber cafe, would not benefit the students and local community much. It will only be open for limited hours and will not be able to accomodate a huge number of people. Therefore, it will be harder to allow students and members of the community to share their skills and interests.

The third option, a theatre and concert hall, is also highly unsuitable as the older members of the community will not be able to make full use of the facilities. Instead, only the younger generation will be able to use the facilities available.

Thus, i strongly suggest that you consider the multi-purpose hall. Thank you.

Yours Sincerly

Yanqin

MakYanQin

Senior student

Summary- Coffee

According to legend, coffee became more popular as people rely upon coffee as a source of income, livelihood and uncounted millions down it by the potful. Nearly half of the coffee trees have been damaged, retail prices are also sent into orbit. Frost hit southern Brazil, the loss of a single tree means the loss of income for three to five years it takes to replace it. Damaged and uneasy importers have been suspended for all shipments to prevent shortage and went on a buying spree. Long periods of low prices, short periods of high ones. When prices rose occur, farmers rush in to plant. Prices fall when overproduction. Farmers tear up their plants and put in more stable crops. Thus, disruption in coffee supplies occurs. They came out with a solution, limit output to what the market can absorb, sell at prices reasonable to both sides. They imposed a quota system.

(149 words)

Summary, mock test

Lukas family was worried because Lucas was missing. Malie, Sofie and Elias searched and called out for Lukas until dark. There were no tracks of him. The bigfeet have been eating and tearing off trees. They would not feel anything if they stepped on a child. Anna and the men were back at midnight. Martiens took over and gave the orders. Everyone was spilt up to search. Every hundred paces they will call out and on the tenth call they will turn back and move over fifty yards. The women will make a big fire. Koos tell the nearest forester about the missing child at daybreak. By midday, fourteen woodcutters help in the search. The next morning the constable came to help as well. On the fourth day twenty-four men were searching. Then, there were thirty. The news spread, the woodcutters laid down their axes and came to help. On the sixth day there were forty.