Hi
It's been a long time. No more PMR. It is PT3. Still, it is about assessment. I will continue my sharing in a month time.

http://snack.to/fvxi4npt

Hi, you may read an online summary of "The Railway Children" on the above link.

These are the pictures of nature around us.

Through "Leisure", William Henry Davies brings us to be aware of the nature that surround us. I, personally have taken some steps to make my children aware of nature. It is the duty of every being on earth to take care of nature. People who harm nature are selfish people. We should not take nature for granted!
Holiday trip to Maxwell Hill or Bukit Larut is one memorable trip for them. Here are some pictures of nature that I had photographed myself.

"Leisure"....What is William Henry Davies trying to tell us?

“Leisure”

by William Henry Davies.

In this poem, the poet asks us to look at our busy lives which leave us with no time for leisure.

The poem ‘Leisure’ has 7 rhyming couplets.

Couplet 1:

The poet questions the purpose of a life which is so full of worry. We are kept busy all the time. We cannot even stand still and watch the world go by.

Couplet 2:

Sheep and cows can often be seen standing still in vast open fields and staring into a distance. However, busy people do not have the time to stand under the branches of trees and enjoy watching the nature.

Couplet 3:

When busy people pass a forest (woods), they would be in too much of a hurry to notice the beauty of nature around them. They would not be able to notice the squirrels hiding the nuts in the grass.

Couplet 4:

If you look at the streams during daylight, streams appear to be sparkling under the effect of sunshine. It looks as if the streams are full of stars like the night sky. However, busy people  would not notice such beauty.

Couplets 5 and 6:

The poet states that the rush of life provides people with no leisure to turn at the glance of a beautiful maiden and marvel at her dancing feet. They are unable to leisurely observe her as her mouth shapes out a smile that started from her eyes. 

Another interpretation: The dancing feet and enchanting smile refers to various aspects of the beauty around us.

Couplet 7:

The life which is so full of worries is indeed a miserable life.

Leisure

By William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. 

This is a beautiful poem. I hope the form 3 students enjoy reading it.

Do something worthwhile!

Salam and greeting to everyone,especially the form 3 students who have just seated for their PMR! So,what's your plan? Are you going to skip school? I hope not!I have always love school and I first stepped into school when I was 3 (as my dad was a teacher) then. As far as I could remember, I could already read before I entered school. I used to read the passing cars' plate number and I read all the signboards in my small town. I even read the old magazines used to wrap the groceries my mum bought. Sometimes, I found many beautiful pictures of home magazines, flowers and animals. I cut all the pictures and made scrapbooks. As a kid, I was so engrossed exploring and creating new things from anything I got hold on (usually with my mum's permission). The word "boring" was never included in my list of vocabulary. To me, everyday was an exciting day. If I could not find anything to play with at home, I would pick the dried leaves, eye their "veins" and draw them on some white papers which were generously given to me by one of my so many uncles (my dad has 4 brothers who were still single then...they gave me a lot of presents ...pen, story books,jeans etc) When I entered primary school, I fell in love with writing. I had written a lot of short stories and poems since then. I used to write a diary but it was only for a short while because I fell asleep halfway. I used to draw cartoon for friends too. You know the picture of cartoon on the pencil box? I used to get first place in class and my teacher gave me a beautiful pencil box as a present.I continued drawing until I was at the university.In fact, I am still drawing ( but not as much as I used too). Even now when the retiring age is nearer, I still have a lot of ideas and things to do.When all my energy has been drained by my own busy routine, I still have the time to read. Reading a book a week is the least I can do.(but..I have to make sure meals are ready for the mischievous boys at home. Their sister isn't home to help me) So my dear, I hope all of you won't waste your time. Do something worthwhile!Do something that you are passionate about. May you get the results you desire. Aamiin.

The Types of Transportation Used in "Around The World in 80 Days" (edited version for Malaysian school students)

The theme "Adventure"

The theme “Adventure” is depicted clearly by Jules Verne in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. The first adventure Fogg has encountered is in India. There, the railway track is discontinued at Allahabad. Yet, Fogg finds his way out. He manages to buy an elephant and hires an Indian guide to take him to Culcutta. As the guide takes him and his company through the jungle, they come across a gang of robbers taking a daughter of a rich merchant as a hostage. Instead of ignoring what they have seen, Fogg and his company go on a rescue mission. So, Fogg then has to take the girl named Aouda with him on his travel around the world in 80 Days. In Hong Kong, Fogg’s journey is threatened by the missing of his butler, Passepartout. He also misses the ship which should take him to Yokohama. Yet, Fogg remains calm and finds a boat which is willing to take him to Yokohama. It is not an easy ride though for the sea is rough and the wind is strong. In Japan, he finally reunites with his butler while the poor man is performing at a circus. Fogg’s adventure does not end in Japan. In America, he faces yet more adventures. While on a train from New York to California, the train is robbed by a gang of bandit who later kidnaps Passepartout. He embarks yet on another rescue mission and missed the train. However, being adventurous, he uses a sledge to continue his journey. In this novel, Fogg as the main character has indeed encountered a lot of interesting adventures. Therefore, adventure is definitely one of the themes of this novel.

Synopsis of Around The World in 80 Days

The story begins in England. It is about a man named Fogg. He is a rich bachelor who lives alone in a big house with a butler. However no one knows the source of his wealth. He has a few regular habits and very fussy. He fires his former butler, James Foster for bringing him his shaving water two degrees too cold. He then hires Passepartout , a Frenchman of about 30. Later that day in the Reform Club, he gets into a conversation with his friends as to whether it is possible to go around the world in 80 days. He believes it is possible and takes the challenge with a bet of 20,000 pounds. So he and his butler go on their adventure carrying only a carpetbag containing a few clothes and a lot of money. During the travel, he is followed by Detective Fix who assumes that Fogg is the bank robber. Fix believes Fogg is the robber as he matches the description of the bank robber. While in the journey, Fix befriends Passepartout. Fix makes Passepartout wonder whether his master might be the robber. However Passepartout trusts that his master is a good and honest man. Fogg has to face many problems throughout his journey. One of them is when the train in India is discontinued and he has to buy an elephant to continue his journey. There he runs across a gang of bandits and bravely saves Aouda. While in Hong Kong, he also misses the ship to Yokohama. Another problem is when the train from San Francisco to New York is robbed by a gang of robbers and Passepartout is kidnapped. He then misses the dateline when Fix arrests him at Liverpool. However, in the end, everything goes well. Fogg wins the wager and finds a beautiful Aouda as his wife.

A character which shows determination

In the novel Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, the character that showed great determination is Rudolf Rassendyll.
When the King was kidnapped, Rudolf Rassendyll was determined to free the King from being imprisoned in Zenda Castle. He had agreed earlier to only impersonate as the King for the coronation but after the King was kidnapped, he continued his impersonation. He planned to rescue the King.

In his attempt to rescue the King, he had to risk his life a few times. The Famous Six was sent to kill him when he went to see Antonette at the house she was staying, and Rupert of Hentzau stabbed him from the back when he refused to accept bribe offered by Duke Michael. He was again shot by Rupert on his shoulder when he ran after Rupert for killing Duke Michael.

Rudolf Rassendyll’s honesty was also put into a test when he fell in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia. Instead, he sacrificed his love for her because he was determined to rescue the King. His mission was to return back the throne to the King so that Ruritania would not fall into the hand of the evil Duke Michael and his Famous Six.

In the end his determination led to his success in rescuing the King.

An interesting event in The Prisoner of Zenda

In the novel Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, the most exciting event is when Rudolf Rassendyll impersonates as the King and has to attend the coronation on the King’s behalf.

This happens when the King has fainted as a result of drinking drugged wine given by Duke Michael. Rudolf Rassendyll has to act as the King because of his resemblance to the King. It is not easy to act as someone else so Sapt has to teach him how to behave like the King. He has to learn about people around him, the King’s likes and dislikes. Fritz seems extremely quiet and nervous while they are on the train from Zenda to Strelsau.

Moreover, Rudolf Rassendyll is shown to be in a very tense situation when he has to meet the officers at the train station and has to ride the horse all by himself through the Old Town of Strelsau where the King is disliked. In fact, the tense atmosphere can be felt when he meets Princess Flavia and Duke Michael during and after the coronation. The two people who are very close to the King may discover his true identity.

It is also exciting when after the coronation; Rudolf Rassendyll and Princess Flavia have to ride the Royal carriage together on their way to the palace. Princess Flavia mentions that she has noticed some changes in the King, and happy to see the changes when in reality the man in the carriage is Rudolf Rassendyll not the King.

This is definitely the event which I find interesting.

The Prisoner of Zenda: Theme - Brave

The Prisoner of Zenda

The theme “brave” is obvious in the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”. Rudolf Rassendyll shows that he is brave when he agrees to impersonate as the King for the coronation, even though he knows it is dangerous. If his impersonation is revealed, he may be killed by Duke Michael. Rudolf Rassendyll is also brave to ride alone in the Old Town although he knows that the King is disliked by the people of Old Town. Furthermore, Rudolf Rassendlyll displays that he is brave to rescue the King. When he arrives at Zenda Castle, Detchard is about to kill the King but he fights Detchard bravely and kills him.

Exercise: "The Prisoner of Zenda"

Fill in the blanks with the words listed below.

watch adventurous colourful befriend dull

fiancée Fritz Experience King Duke Michael

self-esteem lodge Impersonate out honourable

eloped bravery throne character admirable


Question: Choose one character that you like the most?

I would definitely like to emulate Rudolf Rassendyll from the novel, “The Prisoner of Zenda”, written by Anthony Hope because he has many 1) _____________ qualities.
By being 2)________________, Rassendyll becomes a person with lots of 3) and knowledge at a young age. His adventure in Ruritania makes his life more 4). If he has not decided to 5)_______________ the coronation, he may have not met Princess Flavia, 6) ______________ and Sapt, met the cruel 7) _________________________ and his Famous Six and experience the life of a 8)______________. I myself would like to be adventurous like Rassendyll so that my life won’t be so 9) ________________ .
Through Rassendyll, I learn that one must be 10) ______________ in order to gain respect from others and to maintain 11)_______________. Rassendyll has not 12)____________ with Princess Flavia because he believes that it is not honourable to take something which does not 13)_______________ to him. Princess Flavia is after all the King’s 14)______________. The King has also treated him as a friend and has invited him to have dinner with him at the 15) __________.
Rassendyll furthermore, has shown that courage and 16) ___________are essential qualities to go through life as our life is not always bed and roses. In this novel, Rassendyll 17) _____________ as the King and on the King’s behalf, he takes the 18) _________. This is not an easy task as Duke Michael may find 19) ___________ his impersonation and kill him. Yet, Rassendyll still continues his impersonation in his attempt to rescue the King from Zenda Castle.
By examining the above qualities found in Rassendyll, it is undeniable that he is indeed the best 20) __________________ to emulate.

Don't get confuse

Question:What is the different between " Burn the midnight's oil" and "Burn the candle at both ends"?

Answer: "Burn the midnight's oil" means work hard till midnight while "Burn the candle at both ends" means to overwork.

Sample sentences
1. Jim wants to pass his PMR with flying colours.So, every day, he burns the midnight's oil. He will only go to bed when he has completed his homework and has done his revision.

2. Puan Hasina advised Jim to have a rest.She said" You should not burn the candle at both ends.You may fall sick due to lack of rest. You must eat well and have enough sleep."

The Prisoner of Zenda

Synopsis

This novel is about a young man,named Rudolf Rassendyll, who gets involved in the affair of a country called Ruritania. His adventure begins when he visits the country to watch the coronation of the new King.He has to rent a room in an inn in Zenda as there is no vacant room in Strelsau,the capital city of Ruritania.The next morning, he has a walk in Zenda Forest and met The king.To their surprise,they discover that they look similar. They become friend immediately.The King invites him to his lodge where they have dinner together.

While they are having dinner, the King's brother,Duke Michael sends a bottle of wine. The King drinks the wine which has been drugged and as a result becomes unconscious the morning of the coronation. Rassendyll has no choice but to replace the King for the coronation.

At the coronation,he meets Princess Falvia and falls in love at first sight.He does not tell her about his real identity for the King's safety.After the coronation, he has to face many challenges in his quest to save the King.Yet as Princess Flavia is the King's fiancee,he lets her marry the King. He lives alone by himself at the Alps Mountain and visits his friend, Fritz,the King's servant once a year. Through Fritz, both he and Princess Flavia exchange roses.

IDIOM

Burn the candle at both ends

If you burn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up early.

Sentence:
"Umar looks exhausted - I am sure he has been burning the candle at both ends lately."

The Prisoner of Zenda;Character you despise

Question: Which character do you despise most? Why?
I despise King Rudolf, a character found in “The Prisoner of Zenda”, written by Anthony Hope, the most.
First of all, he is an irresponsible person. As the King to be, he has never stayed in his country for a long duration of time. He prefers to visit other countries. The old woman, who owns the Inn in Zenda, claims that she herself has never met the King and does not know what he looks like.
He also does not use his time well. Even when he is in the country, he will go out hunting in the forest. He does not seem to care about what is happening in the country. He is too busy with his hobby.
Moreover, he is a drunkard. He loves wine so much. This is a weakness used by Duke Michael to prevent him from attending the coronation. When he is having dinner at his lodge, a night before the coronation, Duke Michael gave him a bottle of drugged wine. He is found unconscious the next morning and unfits to attend the coronation.
So, it is not surprising that some citizens of Ruritania want Duke Michael to be the King of Ruritania.

The Prisoner of Zenda

Question: Choose one character that you like the most?
I would definitely like to emulate Rudolf Rassendyll from the novel, “The Prisoner of Zenda”, written by Anthony Hope because he has many admirable qualities.
By being adventurous, Rassendyll becomes a person with lots of experience and knowledge at a young age. His adventure in Ruritania makes his life more colourful. If he has not decided to watch the coronation, he may have not met Princess Flavia, befriend Fritz and Sapt, met the cruel Duke Michael and his Famous Six and experience the life of a King. I myself would like to be adventurous like Rassendyll so that my life won’t be so dull.
Through Rassendyll, I learn that one must be honourable in order to gain respect from others and to maintain self-esteem. Rassendyll has not eloped with Princess Flavia because he believes that it is not honourable to take something which does not belong to him. Princess Flavia is after all the King’s fiancée. The King has also treated him as a friend and has invited him to have dinner with him at the lodge.
Rassendyll furthermore, has shown that courage and bravery are essential qualities to go through life as our life is not always bed and roses. In this novel, Rassendyll impersonates as the King and on the King’s behalf, he takes the throne. This is not an easy task as Duke Michael may find out his impersonation and kill him. Yet, Rassendyll still continues his impersonation in his attempt to rescue the King from Zenda Castle.
By examining the above qualities found in Rassendyll ,it is undeniable that he is indeed the best character to emulate.

Theme: Environment

Poem "Our Ketupat Raya"

We have been slogging
For 3 years
Homeworks! Abundant of them accompanying
us every day
Extra class,motivaton course, hikmah class and so on
have been tagging
us almost every day

Holidays?None..for we have
School Holiday Programme
Teachers assigned a task for each day
Even Raya was not celebrated
Teachers gave us "Ketupat Raya"
Not rice
cooked in a case made of coconut leaves
But real works
which challenge our mind
No homework please!
What we got was a scornful look from them
and more homework
as punishment.

Teachers say
Practice makes perfect
Your future is in your hand
Told mum and dad
They defended them
Teachers were right!
They are always right!And
will always right