Content: Course Participant's Module: Reading

Course Participant’s Module: Reading MAJLIS PEPERIKSAAN MALAYSIA 1
(MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL)
CONTENT PAGE
SO WHAT’S NEW? 2
GOT IT RIGHT? GET IT RIGHT! 3–4
IT’S NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. SO, DON’T GAMBLE 5–6
KNOWING WHAT YOU TEACH 7
BRIDGING THE GAP 8 – 10
NO TEXT IS TOO SHORT! 11 – 12
MOTHER’S CHOICE 13
THE POINT IS … 14
OF FORGOTTEN TREASURES 15
A OR C? 16
IN OTHER WORDS 16
READING COMES ALIVE 17
PACKING IT ALL 18
REFLECTION GRID 19 – 20
800/3 PAGE 1
SO WHAT’S NEW?
TASK SHEET: 1
INSTRUCTION:
• Identify the changes in the Reading Component 800/3
Description
No. Item
Old New
1. Weighting 45% 40%
2. Duration 120 minutes 90 minutes
3. Number of texts 4 6 (at least one text with
graphics)
4. Basic criteria for text Length (600-700 words), Length (200-700 words),
selection level of complexity level of complexity (content
(content and language), text and language), text type
type
5. Genres Articles from journals, Articles from journals,
newspapers and magazines, newspapers and magazines,
academic texts, electronic academic texts, electronic
texts texts
6. Rhetorical style Analytical, descriptive, Analytical, descriptive,
persuasive, argumentative, persuasive, argumentative,
narrative narrative
7. Number of questions 50 45
Question types (i) Cloze passage (i) 3-option multiple-
8. (ii) Information transfer choice questions
(iii) 4-option multiple- (ii) 4-option multiple-
choice questions choice questions
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
________________________________________
800/3 PAGE 2
GOT IT RIGHT? GET IT RIGHT!
TASK SHEET: 2
INSTRUCTION
Read the following text and answer the question that follows.
TEXT 1
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil. It may be wet all year or seasonally wet.
Wetlands fall into four categories – marshes, swamps, bogs and fens. Marshes are
dominated by soft-stemmed vegetation adapted to saturated soil. There are many kinds of
marshes such as those ranging from coastal to inland, freshwater to saltwater. Marshes
recharge groundwater supplies and moderate stream flow by providing water to streams.
They also help to reduce damage caused by floods by slowing and storing flood water.
MUET October 2005
From the text, we know that marshes are important because they
A store flood water

B recharge groundwater supplies
C provide water to streams
TEXT 2
I am someone who has always loved language. I spend a great deal of time thinking about
the way it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea or a simple truth.
Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with.
1. In the text, what do the following words refer to? MUET October 2003
1. In the text, what do the following words refer to?
a. it refers to ______________________________
b. them refers to ___________________________
2. The person who penned this is probably a ____________________
800/3 PAGE 3
TEXT 3
Most Americans do not intentionally make insects a part of their diet. But in the future they might.
As more strain is put on natural resources, some experts say, insects will be raised as an alternative
form of protein. David George Gorgon, a biologist and the author of The Eat-a-Bug Cookbook, says
entomophagy is a more environmentally friendly practice. “If more people did their part to eat bugs
and broaden their diets – and not just go out and eat chicken, beef and pork – the planet would be
better off,” he said. It takes an incredible amount of food, water and land to raise cattle, he says,
compared to raising the equivalent amount of protein in grasshoppers.
Today, US children are not as squeamish about bugs as their parents, thanks to nature centres,
museums and zoos throughout the country that frequently teach school programmes about insects as
food sources. Older students are learning about entomophagy too. About 12 insect festivals are held
each year, like the Bug Bowl at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The popular festival
started in 1990 and attracts more than 10000 people. Besides munching on chocolate-covered
crickets, visitors can go to an insect petting zoo, cockroach race or cricket-spitting contest. There is
even a publication packed with information and recipes on crawling invertebrates. The Food Insect
Newsletter has about a thousand subscribers – ranging from students and professors and Peace
Corps volunteers.
MUET April 2006
In this article, the writer suggests that…
A. insects are becoming more acceptable as food

B. Americans are no longer squeamish about bugs
C. insect festivals are gaining popularity
Points to ponder
• What skill is tested?

Recognising and interpreting writer’s views, attitudes or intentions
• How did you get the answer?

(i) The writer is positive about insects as food. This is shown in
- paragraph1.
- The phrase ‘thanks to nature centre, … as food sources’
800/3 PAGE 4
IT’S NOT A GAME OF CHANCE, SO DON’T GAMBLE !
TASK SHEET: 3
INSTRUCTION:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.
For millennia, grey whales had wintered in Laguna San Ignacio, one of many
isolated lagoons along the Mexican coast. They were not bothered by the presence
of natural enemies around them. Then, in 1845, two whalers sailed into this
lagoon and discovered that it was a breeding sanctuary.
The grey whales, however, were not easy prey. Protective females were demonic
defenders of their newborns. They charged whaling boats and injured or killed
crew members. Whalers had dangerous encounters with other types of whales, but
the greys were the only ones they called ‘Devil Fish’.
In the end, the greys were no match for their hunters. The whalers blocked the
lagoon and turned it into a giant trap. What followed was a methodical slaughter
that made the once-quiet lagoon run red with blood of dying whales. Their
carcasses were floated to the beach, and the blubber was boiled on the spot for oil.
Whalebone and baleen were taken to be sold for corset stays, brushes and
umbrella spokes. As petroleum replaced whale oil as fuel, the greys were killed
primarily for pet food.
Extracted from ‘The Mystery of the Friendly Whales’
By Paula McDonald,
Reader’s Digest, October 1995
1. What supports the idea that the grey whales were “no match for the hunters”?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What is paragraph 2 all about?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Did the whalers find the grey whales the most challenging to hunt? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
800/3 PAGE 5
4. What does the word ‘they’ in paragraph 2 refer to?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. What does the phrase ‘methodical slaughter’ in paragraph 3 refer to?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. What do you think will happen to the whales in ten years’ time?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
800/3 PAGE 6
KNOWING WHAT YOU TEACH
TASK SHEET: 4
Identify the skill of each question. Refer to the Test Specification.
1. What supports the idea that the grey whales were “no match for the hunters”?
_______________________________________________________________________
2. What is paragraph 2 all about?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Did the whalers find the grey whales the most challenging to hunt? Why?
_______________________________________________________________________
4. What does the word ‘they’ in paragraph 2 refer to?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. What does the phrase ‘methodical slaughter’ in paragraph 3 refer to?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. What do you think will happen to the whales in ten years’ time?
_______________________________________________________________________
800/3 PAGE 7
BRIDGING THE GAP
TASK SHEET: 5
PRE-READING
List the names of the richest people in the world that you know. How did they make their
fortunes?
WHILE READING
Study the chart on ‘China’s billionaire club’ and read the text on ‘China’s rich getting younger’.
Then answer the questions that follow.
China’s billionaire club

Forbes’ list of 10 richest people in China (net worth)
Huang Guangyu home appliance, retail (US$2.3bil)
Xu Rongmao real estate (US$2.1bil)
Larry Rong Zhijian diversified (US$2.0bil)
Zhu Mengyi real estate (US$1.9bil)
Zhang Yin paper making, recycling (US$1.5bil)
Zhang Li real estate (US$1.45bil)
Shi Zhengrong solar energy (US$1.43bil)
Liu Yongxing animal feed (US$1.16bil)
Guo Guangchang real estate, steel (US$1.15bil)
Lu Guangqiu auto parts (US$1.14bil)
Extracted from The Star, November 3, 2006
800/3 PAGE 8
China’s rich getting younger
37-year-old tops Forbes list of business people
BEIJING: A 37-year-old appliance merchant topped a list of China’s richest business

people released by the business magazine Forbes, leading a group of young entrepreneurs
who have profited from the country’s economic boom.
Wong Kwong-yu, founder of Gome Appliances, saw his wealth expand to US$2.3bil
(RM8.4bil), driven by a jump in home-buying by Chin’s newly prosperous middle class,
according to Forbes.
One quarter of those on this year’s 400 person Forbes China Rich List are under age
40.
It reflects the fact that most of China’s fortunes have been made in the past decade as
retail, Internet and real estate companies sprang up to serve a booming consumer market.
“China’s richest are a lot younger than America’s richest,” said Russell Flannery,
Forbes’ Shanghai bureau chief, at a news conference yesterday.
Chinese business magazine Caijing reported this week that Wong is under investigation
for illegal loans.
Trading of Gome shares in Hong Kong was suspended on Tuesday following the report
but later resumed. The company said it had received no notice of such an investigation.
Wong’s name is also spelled Huang Guangyu.
No. 2 on the list was property developer Xu Rongnao, with a fortune of US$2.1bil
(RM7.7bil).
He is followed by Larry Yung, chairman of conglomerate Citic Pacific, with US$2bil

(RM7.3bil). Yung, also known as Rong Zhijian, was No. 1 last year.
The richest woman was No. 5 Zhang Yin, who built a paper-recycling business into
Nine Dragons Paper Co, China’s biggest maker of paperboard for packaging, at US$1.5bil
(RM5.5bil).
Forbes noted that the average age of business people on its China list was 46.5,
compared with 65.7 for the comparable US list.
Their fortunes were also smaller, averaging US$950mil (RM3.4bil) for China’s 400,
versus US$13.2bil (RM48.2bil) for the US list. – AP
800/3 PAGE 9
Questions:
1. China’s consumer market is increasing rapidly.
A True
B False
C Not Stated
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. The real estate business seems to contribute towards making billionaires in China.
A True
B False
C Not Stated
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. According to the passage, the business magazine Forbes is an American publication.
A True
B False
C Not Stated
__________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. The founder of Gome Appliances is Huang Guangyu.
A True
B False
C Not Stated
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
POST-READING
If you were a billionaire, how would you spend your fortune? Why?
800/3 PAGE 10
NO TEXT IS TOO SHORT
TASK SHEET: 6
PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Look at the box and underline words that describe emotions.
cruel horrors stress glad unhappy failed
joyful excited nervous afraid success proud
WHILE READING ACTIVITY
Read the text below and answer the questions in the text box.
A HAPPY ENDING AT LAST
Anita Desai knows from cruel experience

about the horrors of competing for big literary
awards. Three times the renowned Indian novelist Comprehension Check
has been a finalist for the MAN Booker Prize for
fiction, and three times she fails to win it. But last 1. What do you think Anita
week , says Desai the stress was worse than ever – Desai does for a living?
because this time the finalist was her daughter,
Kiran. Roused by her sister-in-law at 5 a.m. October 2. Which word describes
11, Anita turned on the television to see that Kiran at Anita’s reputation as a
age 35, had become the youngest woman ever to win famous novelist?
the Booker. “I want it so much for her,” says Anita,
speaking from the family residence from New Delhi. 3. Who woke her up on Oct 11?
“it’s far more intense to have my daughter listed and Why?
win than to be shortlisted for it myself. I would have
been more unhappy than her had she not won.” 4. Rewrite the sentence which
Accepting the prize for her second novel the means. “Anita is under even
Inheritance of Loss, Kiran thanked her mother, greater pressure now that her
whose committed support during the eight years it daughter is a nominee.”
took to write the book even lead Kiran to describe
Anita as its `co-author’ – although her mother, like
any proud parent, demurs. “I don’t know why she
keeps talking about me,” says Anita.
Extracted from Time, October 23, 2006
800/3 PAGE 11
WHILE READING ACTIVITY

Look at the questions in the text box and identify the skill each question tests.
Question Skill
1. Why does Kiran describe her mother as her

co-author?
2. What do you think is the writer’s view of Anita Desai?
3. Why would Anita “have been more unhappy than her

[daughter] had she not won”?
4. Do you think A Happy Ending at Last is an

appropriate title? Why
POST-READING ACTIVITY
Compose a poem to express your appreciation for your mother. You plan to include this poem in a
Mother’s Day greeting card. Your poem should not be longer than 3 stanzas.
800/3 PAGE 12
PRE-READING ACTIVITY
MOTHER’S CHOICE
TASK SHEET: 7
INSTRUCTION:
There are many local herbs and plants which have medicinal properties. Think of some of them
and complete the table below.
Local herbs/ plants Uses
Misai Kucing To reduce high blood pressure
800/3 PAGE 13
WHILE READING ACTIVITIES
THE POINT IS …
TASK SHEET: 8
INSTRUCTION:
Read the paragraph carefully and then choose the statement that best summarises the main idea of
the paragraph. Indicate your choice by ticking the appropriate box. Work with a partner.
Paragraph 1
Malaysian rainforests support about 1200 species of plants with medicinal properties,
of which 60 are commonly used in traditional remedies. For example, “kacip fatimah”
(Labisia pumila) is widely used in postnatal care, as a women’s tonic, and for
gynaecological problems. And a powder made from the root of “mata ayam” (Ardisia
crenata) can alleviate fever and diarrhoea. Until recently, the use of indigenous rainforest
plants for medicinal remedies was confined largely to rural folks and the traditional
medicine men. However, change is underway. From the mid-1990’s, the government has
encouraged investigation and development of herbal medicines.
Adapted from Going Places, March 1999
1. Not all species of plants with medicinal properties are used as

herbal remedies.
2. Out of the many species of plants with medicinal properties, some

are used as a women’s tonic and to alleviate illnesses.
3. In recent years, the investigation and development of herbal

medicine have been encouraged and are no longer confined to the
rural areas.
800/3 PAGE 14
OF FORGOTTEN TREASURES
TASK SHEET: 9
INSTRUCTION: Read the text and answer the sign-posted questions with your partner.
1 Money doesn’t grow on trees, so goes the saying. But Malaysian What is the
researchers are busy proving otherwise. Numerous rainforest trees and plants main idea
long known for their medicinal values are now proving to have monetary value here?
as well.
2 Malaysian rainforests support about 1200 species of plants with medicinal 5
What two properties, of which 60 are commonly used in traditional remedies. For
plants example, “kacip fatimah” (Labisia pumila) is widely used in postnatal care, as a Locate 3
mentioned women’s tonic, and for gynaecological problems. And a powder made from the statements
have root of “mata ayam” (Ardisia crenata) can alleviate fever and diarrhoea. Until which
medicinal recently, the use of indigenous rainforest plants for medicinal remedies was 10 indicate
properties? that the
confined largely to rural folks and the traditional medicine men. However,
government
change is underway. From the mid-1990’s the government has encouraged wishes to
investigation and development of herbal medicines. exploit the
Why do you 3 The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has been directed by the Health medicinal
think the Ministry to gear its research towards establishing the effectiveness of natural value of
IMR was products. Through the IMR, the ministry has also set up a Task Force on Herbal 15 plants.
directed to Medicine to investigate the development of pharmaceuticals from medicinal
conduct the plants.
research? 4 Several studies have also been conducted by universities and other Name some
government agencies. Universiti Sains Malaysia has been researching plants of the
used in traditional medicine since 1980. Recently, with the co-operation of 20 illnesses
other Malaysian universities and institutes, it found that “tongkat ali” – that can be
traditionally valued as an aphrodisiac – could also be used to treat malaria. cured with
Another important finding by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is a compound traditional
derived from the wood of an indigenous tree, which successfully shrinks cancer herbs.
tumours in rats. 25
5 But there is little point in discovering valuable rainforest remedies if the
ingredients become extinct within a few years due to deforestation or over- According to
collection. In view of this, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is the passage,
testing herb cultivation on trial plots in the forests and on disused land, and by what would
inter-cropping in plantations. The Malaysian Agriculture Research 30 be the impact
Development Institute (MARDI) also does research on growing medicinal herbs of
at its various stations throughout Malaysia. At its Hilir Perak station researchers deforestation
are presently cultivating over 200 species of medicinal plants and have collected on rainforests
a large body of knowledge about potential uses for these herbs. ?
6 It is found that most ingredients can be cultivated, but about 15 per cent –
including “tongkat ali”, “kacip fatimah” and “mengkunyit” – refused to grow 35
anywhere except in the rainforest. Consequently, many local manufacturers in
Why are the burgeoning herbal products industry raise these herbs on small plots in the
people forests.
more aware 7 Discovering Malaysia’s herbal wealth has not only increased understanding
of the local What does
and appreciation of the local flora but it has also given rise to a flourishing local 40
flora? the word
herbal products manufacturing industry. This has made it all the more “this” refer
important that Malaysia should conserve and sustain its unique rainforests. to?
Adapted from Going Places, March 1999
A OR C?
800/3 PAGE 15
TASK SHEET: 10
From the text it is apparent that the writer expresses his appreciation for the medicinal values
of rainforests as well as his grave concern for the future of these forests.
INSTRUCTION:
Reproduced below are phrases used by the writer. Together with your partner examine each
phrase carefully. Write “A” if you think the phrase expresses appreciation and “C” if it signals
concern.
1) … change is underway. ( )
2) But there is little point ... ( )
3) … but about 15 percent … refused to grow anywhere … ( )
4) … now proving to have monetary value ( )
5) … Malaysia should conserve and sustain … ( )
6) ... the ministry has also set up a Task Force on Herbal Medicine ( )
IN OTHER WORDS
TASK SHEET: 11
INSTRUCTION:
Find words in the text that convey the meanings listed in the table below. The paragraph in which
the word is found is identified for you.
Paragraph Word Meaning

2 medications
2 relieve or help in reducing pain, discomfort or illnesses
3 to pitch something at a certain level
4 native or originating where something is found
5 growing crops or plants
6 growing or expanding
7 supply with necessities and support
POST-READING ACTIVITY
READING COMES ALIVE
TASK SHEET: 12
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
o Aloe Vera
800/3 PAGE 16
o Cucumber
o Turmeric
o Pandan leaves
o Hibiscus leaves
o Ginger
o Henna
o Papaya
o Pegaga
o Serai
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Work in groups of 4.
• Discuss the uses of the herb/ plant that your group has received.
• Based on your discussion above or answers in the pre-reading activity, demonstrate how
the herb / plant can be used to treat an ailment/enhance beauty.
WORKSHOP
PACKING IT ALL
TASK SHEET: 12
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
800/3 PAGE 17
• Past-year 800/3 Reading papers
• Teachers’ Guide to MUET
• Test Specifications
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Work in groups of 4.
• Refer to a past-year 800/3 Reading paper and prepare a complete lesson.
• Include a pre-reading activity, 2 or 3 while reading activities and a post-reading activity.
• Prepare the answer key.
REFLECTION GRID
TASK SHEET
AIM: To reflect on what you have done throughout the Reading session.
ORGANISATION: Individual work
800/3 PAGE 18
Content/Activity What I have learnt What I plan to do Notes

from this task in my MUET class
SO WHAT’S NEW?
GOT IT RIGHT? GET IT

RIGHT!
IT’S NOT A GAME OF

CHANCE. SO, DON’T
GAMBLE
KNOWING WHAT YOU

TEACH
BRIDGING THE GAP
NO TEXT IS TOO SHORT!
MOTHER’S CHOICE
Content/Activity What I have learnt What I plan to do Notes

from this task in my MUET class
THE POINT IS …
800/3 PAGE 19
OF FORGOTTEN
TREASURES
A OR C?
IN OTHER WORDS
READING COMES ALIVE
PACKING IT ALL
800/3 PAGE 20

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Course Participant’s Module: Reading MAJLIS PEPERIKSAAN MALAYSIA 1

(MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL)

GOT IT RIGHT? GET IT RIGHT! 3–4

IT’S NOT A GAME OF CHANCE. SO, DON’T GAMBLE 5–6

KNOWING WHAT YOU TEACH 7

BRIDGING THE GAP 8 – 10

NO TEXT IS TOO SHORT! 11 – 12

READING COMES ALIVE 17

• Identify the changes in the Reading Component 800/3

GOT IT RIGHT? GET IT RIGHT!

MUET October 2005

A store flood water

1. In the text, what do the following words refer to?

b. them refers to ___________________________

2. The person who penned this is probably a ____________________

In this article, the writer suggests that…

A. insects are becoming more acceptable as food

• What skill is tested?

• How did you get the answer?

IT’S NOT A GAME OF CHANCE, SO DON’T GAMBLE !

2. What is paragraph 2 all about?

4. What does the word ‘they’ in paragraph 2 refer to?

5. What does the phrase ‘methodical slaughter’ in paragraph 3 refer to?

KNOWING WHAT YOU TEACH

Identify the skill of each question. Refer to the Test Specification.

2. What is paragraph 2 all about?

4. What does the word ‘they’ in paragraph 2 refer to?

5. What does the phrase ‘methodical slaughter’ in paragraph 3 refer to?

BRIDGING THE GAP

China’s billionaire club

Huang Guangyu home appliance, retail (US$2.3bil)

Xu Rongmao real estate (US$2.1bil)

Larry Rong Zhijian diversified (US$2.0bil)

Zhu Mengyi real estate (US$1.9bil)

Zhang Yin paper making, recycling (US$1.5bil)

Zhang Li real estate (US$1.45bil)

Shi Zhengrong solar energy (US$1.43bil)

Liu Yongxing animal feed (US$1.16bil)

Guo Guangchang real estate, steel (US$1.15bil)

Lu Guangqiu auto parts (US$1.14bil)

Extracted from The Star, November 3, 2006

China’s rich getting younger

37-year-old tops Forbes list of business people

BEIJING: A 37-year-old appliance merchant topped a list of China’s richest business

He is followed by Larry Yung, chairman of conglomerate Citic Pacific, with US$2bil

1. China’s consumer market is increasing rapidly.

3. According to the passage, the business magazine Forbes is an American publication.

4. The founder of Gome Appliances is Huang Guangyu.

NO TEXT IS TOO SHORT

Look at the box and underline words that describe emotions.

cruel horrors stress glad unhappy failed

joyful excited nervous afraid success proud

WHILE READING ACTIVITY

A HAPPY ENDING AT LAST

Anita Desai knows from cruel experience

Extracted from Time, October 23, 2006

WHILE READING ACTIVITY

1. Why does Kiran describe her mother as her

2. What do you think is the writer’s view of Anita Desai?

3. Why would Anita “have been more unhappy than her

4. Do you think A Happy Ending at Last is an

Local herbs/ plants Uses