Reading Text: THE BEGGAR

B. Answer the question.
1. From paragraph 1, explain how the beggar looked like?
2. Where was the writer and what he was doing?
3. From paragraph 3, what was the writer's  impression about beggars?
4. In paragraph 5, who was 'my man'?
5. From paragraph 6, what was the purpose of the milo can?
6. From paragraph 7, what the writer meant by 'his spirit was broken'? Why?
7. From paragraph 8, why the crowd got bigger?
8. What the writer meant by 'he had hit the jackpot'?

Reading Text: THE BEGGAR

A. Find the meaning for the following words:
1. unkempt
2. haggard
3. destitute
4. lured
5. nonchalantly
6. poised
7. silhouetted
8. enthralled
9. dwellers
10. swiftly

PASAK TASK 2: Mangrove Swamps - Understanding the Text

Mangrove swamps: Extract 3

Mangrove swamps are fast becoming popular as ecotourism sites in Malaysia.  There are many sites throughout Malaysia like the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Kuala Gula in Perak and the Bako National Park in Sarawak.  Walkways and high towers are some of the facilities provided for tourist to get closer to nature, the unique ecosystem of the mangrove swamp.  Mangrove swamps have a great variety of bird species.  They are a stopover for migratory birds from Siberia to Australia.  Besides that, tourist can fish, go jungle tracking, visit forestry and aquaculture areas or just have leisure cruise.

     We have to preserve this important area, as it is our heritage.  Currently there are many laws to protect the mangrove swamps and to control development in the area.  They are the Environment Quality Act, 1974, Wildlife Preservation Act, 1972, Fisheries Act, 1985, and the National Forestation Act, 1984 just to name a few.  We have to ensure that the mangrove swamps are managed properly to ensure the preservation of the wildlife and plants in the area.  We have to ensure that we preserve the ecosystem here and not repair damage when it has been done.   We should use strip felling when cutting down trees in this area as it only cuts down selected trees and leaves the rest around it.  This allows fast regeneration.  Indirectly other plants that would have been destroyed if normal felling were carried out would have a place of shelter.  When we preserve the trees, we ensure the well being of the wildlife in the area. 

     We must save the mangrove swamps for the future of our children and mankind.

Referring to the above extract, answer the following questions.

1.       Name a popular ecotourism site in Malaysia.

2.      How can we preserve mangrove swamps?

PASAK TASK 2: Mangrove Swamps - Understanding the Text

Mangrove swamps: Extract 2

     Mangrove swamps are very important to the ecosystem.  They are the main barriers of erosion by big waves and strong currents as the trees here have great roots that dig deep into the soil.  These roots trap sediment and stabilize the coastlines.  They are also windbreakers of wind that blows in from the sea.  Besides that, they are home to many fish and prawns.  42% of the fish caught along the west coast have ties to the mangrove swamps.   They are also the habitat of many mammals, fish, crustaceans, birds and reptiles.

       Mangrove swamps have high economic value as these areas produce products like food, paper, furniture, firewood and piling for buildings.  Every hectare of mangrove swamp can produce RM8, 000 worth of firewood and piling and RM20, 000 worth of charcoal.  They also help the environment by using up toxic substances like nitrogen and phosphorus.  Every hectare of swampland can collect 219 kilogrammes of nitrogen and 20 kilogrammes of phosphorus. 

Referring to the above extract, answer the following questions.

1.       Why mangrove swamps are important to the ecosystem?

2.       What is the economic value of mangrove swamps?

3.       Why mangrove swamps should be preserved?

PASAK TASK 2: Mangrove Swamps - Understanding the Text

Mangrove Swamps: Extract 1

One of the most productive and bio-diverse wetlands areas in the world   is the mangrove swamp.  These unique coastal tropical forests are also the habitats that are most threatened in the world.  They are disappearing faster than inland tropical forests and are doing so without much notice from the public.

     Mangrove swamps are ecosystems that are found along muddy coastlines like river mouths, lagoons, deltas and bays, which are sheltered from the open seas.  A quarter of the tropical beaches of the world are mangrove swamps.  They roughly cover 15.5 million hectares worldwide.  They are found in 112 countries worldwide.  In Malaysia, they cover an area of about 650,000 hectares. 

     Mangrove swamps are influenced by the tides- low and high.  They are covered with water during high tides but the trees are not submerged completely.  Mangrove swamps have trees that can tolerate the salty seawater, soil that has less oxygen, sea waves and land that is always changing its appearance.

Referring to the above extract, answer the following questions.

1.       What are mangrove swamps?

2.       What are the characteristics of mangrove swamps?

PASAK TASK 1: Mangrove Swamps - Pre reading

1.      Name a mangrove swamps found near your area.

2.     Surf this website http://www.nature-escapes-kuala-lumpur.com/Matang-mangrove-forest.html, where is this mangrove forest located and type in the species of flora and fauna sighted here.

Found at: __________________________

Flora:                                                                    Fauna:

a.	a.
b.	b.
c.	c.

3.      Target Vocabulary: Write the correct word/term for the explanation given.

a.       A black, porous carbonaceous material = __________

b.      A brilliant or gorgeous appearance = __________

c.       Ovens for hardening, burning and drying substances = __________

d.      The edge of a body of water = __________

e.      Having its original purity = __________

             f.   Coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers = __________

Leisure Reading: Munlong Learned His Lesson

Munlong was a very famous Chinese scholar. He lost his father when he was only three years old. His mother was poor, but she tried to educate him and so she worked hard to save enough money to send him to school.

     At first Munlong liked going to school. He made good progress because he studied hard. Later he began to slacken in his work. One day he left the school without telling anyone and went home. His mother, who was weaving a fine peice of cloth, stopped work and questioned him. When Munlong explained he had left school, she took a sharp knife and cut the cloth from top to bottom. She had spent months weaving the cloth which was worth a lot of money and yet she had not hesitated to show how sad she was by cutting the cloth.

     She said, "Son, I know you are sorry that I am destroying this cloth, but do you know how sorry I am that you've left school?"

     She made it very clear to Munlong how sad and displeased she was. He became ashamed to himself that he returned to school at once and studied very hard after that.

Task A: Find the meaning for the 15 bold words.

Task B: Answer these questions:

a. Did Munlong come from a rich family?

b. Who sent him to school?

c. What happened at first?

d. Did he study hard all the time?

e. Did he get his mother's permission to leave school?

f. Why did his mother cut the valuable piece of cloth?

g. Why did Munlong go back to school?

h. Why was Munlong famous?