The eagle

The eagle is a bird-of-prey. It has a strong beak and sharp talons. It also has a pair of strong wings for flying.

It flies high above the ground looking for prey with its keen eyes. It can glide effortlessly in the air for hours, circling patiently looking for any sign of food below.

As it flies over a pond, it sees a fish resting near the surface of the water. The fish is not aware of danger from above. The eagle dives straight for the unsuspecting fish. In a flash it is upon the fish. Its talons fasten around the doomed fish.

The fish struggles furiously, splashing water all over, but it is a hopeless struggle. The eagle is far stronger than the fish.

The mighty wings of the eagle beat strongly and the eagle ascends with the struggling fish in its talons. The eagle heads for its nest where it will soon make a meal of the fish.

Vocabulary

Talons : a sharp powerful curved nail on the feet of hunting birds. 利爪

Keen : good sense 敏锐

Furiously : wild , uncontrolled 狂暴的

The importance of friends

Friends play an important role in our lives. One day, we will have to step into this tough and competitive world on our own. Parents and teachers will not always be there to guide us when we need them. At such time, who else other than our own friends can we turn to, to seek advice or even just a shoulder to cry on?

Thus, everyone needs a good friend. What is a real good friend like? A good friend is someone who shares your happiness and sorrows. They are those who will never stand you up nor leave you alone when you are down and out. They are those who will prop you up and give you all the support you need. So the saying goes "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

A good friend is also a loyal friend. They are the ones who will never betray you, nor let you down.

Unfortunately, not everyone makes a good friend. Some friends are not only disloyal, but they may also have certain bad habits with bad influence.

There are many types of "bad habits", like smoking, drinking, addiction to drugs, or even illegal racing which lead to reckless driving that can harm our lives.

Some people do not have any of these "bad habits", but they can be manipulative. If you do not have enough guts to say "no", they will climb on top of you.

Seeing that friends are so important, we should be very careful when it comes to choosing friends. When we have found a good friend, we should treasure and return their valuable friendship.

The importance of physical exercise

Each of us has a physical body made of muscles, blood, bones and various other living tissues. When any of these are injured or not working properly, we get ill. Nobody likes to be ill. So it is important that we keep our body healthy.
Exercising the body is one way of keeping it healthy. If we do not exercise then our muscles become weaker and we are less able to do things properly. Also the bones can become weaker and thus break easily.

There are many types of exercises that we may parti cipate in. We may play badminton, football, netball or what ever games that we prefer. We may also jog, walk, swim or climb a mountain. Older folks prefer less strenuous exercises like Tai Chi, Yoga or a leisurely stroll in the park. For the really fit young people, there are rock-climbing, gymnastics and other physically demanding activities.

We exercise to keep the body healthy. However there are some who overdo things and end up injuring themselves. It is fine to jog for a few kilometres. It is madness to jog until we are exhausted. Also they are people who become addicted to their exercises. They become unhappy when they are unable to exercise or when they lose to someone in a competition.

Exercises are important. No exercise may result in a weak body. Too much exercise may result in injury. Neither extremes are good. It is up to us to be sensible in exercising.

Danger at home

Our home is usually our favourite place to spend time in. However many accidents occur at home. There are dangerous things in the house and we should be aware of them. Thus we can avoid unnecessary pain or injury.

Electricity runs many of our home appliances. It is a very useful thing. It is also a very dangerous thing if used care lessly, for it can kill. Electrical sockets and power points are to be handled with utmost care. Young children should never be allowed to go near them. Unless we are very sure of what we are doing, repairs should only be done by a competent elec trician. It is only too easy to get electrocuted. Old or faulty appliances should be discarded. If used, they are likely to start a fire somewhere or electrocute someone who touches it.

The kitchen has many dangerous things. Sharp knives can draw blood, mishandled gas-cylinders can explode, hot water can scald and stoves can cause nasty burns. Flies and rats can contaminate food. Thus the kitchen is not a place to be careless in. If we are careful and know how to handle things there, then the chance of an accident occurring is lessened.

The biggest danger in a bathroom is when the floor is slippery with water or soap. I have heard of many incidents of people, especially old folks, falling in the bathroom. Sometimes the fall is fatal. Often it leaves the victim bed-ridden. Utmost care is needed here.

Finally the medicine cabinet should be inaccessible to young children. Dangerous drugs and pills can look like sweets to these young ones. If taken, the consequences can be disastrous.

Other dangers do exist. It is up to us to watch out for them.

Freak weather

Early one morning when it was still dark, I woke up suddenly. I felt very cold. The funny thing was that I had the blanket on but I still felt cold. I could not get back to sleep because of it. So I got up and put on extra clothes. Only then did I managed to get to sleep again.

When dawn came, I woke up to find that my nose was freezing. The rest of the body was comfortably warm under the blanket, but the head, especially the nose, felt like ice.

Anyhow I got up and immediately felt the cold air around me. I shivered. It was extraordinary that it should be this cold in the tropics. I checked the thermometer. It read 19 degrees Celsius. Goodness, I thought, this was really unusual.

Outside the sky was obscured by a thick mist. Again this was unusual. On my way to school, my clothes actually got damp as moisture settled on me. It was cold and damp. The sun was well hidden. I could not even see where it was.

Most of my schoolmates and the teachers had extra clothes on. The others shivered.

As the day progressed it became more pleasant. Mist still hung all around us. It was strange having lessons in those unusual conditions.

Only at about 12 noon did the mist clear and the sun shone through. Even then the atmosphere was pleasantly cool.

It was freak weather but it was enjoyable while it lasted. It gave me an idea of how it was like in a cold country. How nice it would be if we had this type of weather once in a while.

Ways of improving my English

Today, English is used widely. It has become the most popular language of communication between countries and in many fields of human endeavour. So it is important that we learn to use English. Otherwise we will be at a disadvantage.

The only effective way of improving my English is to use it, as often as possible.

In school, the only time when English is used is during English lessons. That certainly is not enough. So wherever possible I speak English with some friends and teachers who will or can speak English with me.

Reading book, magazines and newspapers are good ways of improving my English. On the whole they are grammatically correct. We may speak incorrect English and get away with it. Not so with printed words, they have to be correct. Through reading, I learned how to use correct English in writing and speaking, though at times I still speak the broken English that many of us speak here.

Watching television and listening to the radio are two more ways of improving my English. English as it is spoken by the English, Americans, Malaysians and others are distinctly different.

So I continue of use English, that is, hear, read, speak and write it. Some of my friends only hear and read it. They can hardly speak or write it, but I will not be like them. I will try any best to master it.

Reading

There are many ways of spending our time usefully. Reading is one of the best ways of doing so. Reading helps us learn about people and things. It also helps us to know and understand many new words and how to use them.

Many people say that reading is the key to success. Unfortunately these people seldom tell us what or how to read. They also do not tell us when to read.

Many parents will tell their children to read. "Read, read anything, don't waste your time," they say. This is wrong.

Reading cannot be forced on anyone. There is a time and a place for everything. So reading too has to be done in the proper way and at the proper time. We should enjoy whatever we read at the same time we should also understand whatever we are reading.

Many of us read because we are told to do so. Some read because their parents want them to do so. Yet others read because they simply want to make their parents or teachers happy.

All these are wrong reasons for reading. Reading should be enjoyed so that we can get maximum benefit from it.

Milk

Milk is a nutritious and wholesome drink which is very important for our health. Milk plays an essential part throughout our lives from the time when we are children to the time when we become grandparents. Milk is packed with nutrients essential for our bodies. Drinking milk should become a habit in children so that they will continue to drink it even after they have become adults.

Liquid milk and milk powder are nutrient-rich foods. A glass of milk contributes to the daily nutritional requirements of children and adults. Milk is our best source of essential nutrients such as calcium and protein which growing children in particular need for energy, healthy growth and development. Full-cream milk ensures that children have a strong foundation for healthy bones and energy for growth.

Despite the benefits of milk, some people tend to reduce or eliminate milk from their diet. This is due to the some so-called health reasons. One should not cut out milk completely. Instead, either skim or low-fat milk can be taken so that the body can continue to enjoy the benefits of milk.

Flowers

There are many beautiful flowering plants in Malaysia. Some bloom throughout the year while some are seasonal. The flowers come in many different colours and shades. The most common colours are the different shades of red, pink, yellow, purple and white.

Some of the more popular plants are the hibiscus,bougainvillaea, orchid and canna. The hibiscus is our national flower. It has a local name "bunga raya". It usually have five big red petals. Its dark green leaves are broad and pointer: There are also hibiscus flowers which are yellow, pink white.

Bougainvillaea grows on hedges, on the ground or in pots. This plant has sharp thorns. The leaves of this plant small. The petals are very thin and light. The most common colours are pink, purple, orange and white.

Orchids usually grow wild, but the more popular and beautiful ones are cultivated. Some of these cultivated orchids are very expensive. Orchids usually have four petals but they form many different shapes. The leaves are thick and green. The most common colours of the orchid are red, yellow, brown, purple and white.

Canna grows in bushes. Their petals are stiff and big. The leaves of canna are large. They come in colours of red, yellow and white.

Soccer

Soccer is a popular game. It is played between two teams. Each team tries to put a ball into the opponents' goal without using hands. The team with the highest number of goals wins. This game lasts for 90 minutes. There is a half time break of 5 minutes.

Each team has 11 players. One player must be the goalkeeper and the others are the defenders, mid-fielders and forwards. The number of players at each position varies but there are usually four defenders, three to four mid-fielders and two to three forwards (strikers). The goalkeeper's task is to try to prevent the ball from going into his goal. Defenders try to stop the opponents from scoring goals. Mid-fielders help out in both the defence and the attack. The forwards' responsibility is to score goals.

Players use their legs to kick the ball and their heads or chests to control it. They may not use their hands or arms except to throw in the ball after it has gone out of bounds. Only the goalkeeper can use his hands and arms.

The referee is in charge of the match. He makes sure that the rules are obeyed. If a player breaks the rules, he may simply get a verbal warning. In more serious cases he may be shown a yellow card which also acts as a warning, or a red card which indicates that he has to stop playing and leave the field.

Watching turtles

April and August are the best times of the year to watch giant turtles come to lay their eggs on the beaches at Dungun, Terengganu. Turtles are among the world's largest living creatures. They live to a very old age, perhaps a hundred years or so. Another fascinating fact is that they come from as far away as South America to the same beaches here time and again. Scientists believe that these turtles manage to find the East Coast beaches because they were born there. Instinct guides them back.

Turtle-watching has become a big business in Dungun. Visitors arrive at night and wait for a few hours. The turtles start coming in the early hours of the morning. They dig large holes in the sand and deposit about one hundred and fifty eggs each. While laying eggs, the turtles do not seem to care about what happens around them. Visitors can touch them or even ride on their backs. After the eggs have been laid and the holes covered up, the turtles return to the sea. They only reappear the following year.

There are some among the spectators who steal the eggs or disturb the turtles. These are undesirable actions that have resulted in less turtles coming to the beach to lay their eggs. Perhaps one day, the turtles will stop coming altogether. Watching the turtles is fine but disturbing them is definitely not right and one should refrain from doing so.

Animals

A long, long time ago there were no tame animals. All animals were wild. If man wanted to at meat, he had to hunt wild animals. Hunting also provided him with animal skin and bones.

As time passed, man learned to tame wild animals. The first animal to be tamed was the wolf. When a hunter found new-born wolf cubs, he carried them to his cave. He fed them and looked after them. As these animals grew up they became less wild. The young ones of these wolves were even less wild. Gradually they became tame, friendly and very useful. Such wolves came to be called dogs. These tamed wolves or dogs helped man to track wild animals and protect his home.

Before long, man learned to tame other wild animals such as sheep, goats and cattle. These tamed animals provided him with milk, meat and animal skin. Rearing these animals was not difficult as they could live just on grass and water. Man soon became able to get most of his food by keeping animals. He did not have to go out hunting. He became a herder. To find grass and water for his herd, he moved from one place to another. Thus he became a nomad, always looking for greener pastures for his herds.

The mongoose

The mongoose is a mammal and not a goose, as its name may suggest. It has beautiful button-like eyes. The eyes are always bright. The mongoose looks like a squirrel with a long body.

Mongooses love staying close to water. They often make their homes on the banks of streams and rivers. Some kinds of mongoose prefer the mangrove swamps. Their homes are made among the roots of the mangrove trees. They do not seem to like the thick cool forests.

A look at the mongoose will reveal that it has a short nose and two small ears. Each foot have five toes. The legs art short. The mongoose has thick fur covering its body.

A mongoose has long claws on its feet. These claws are straight and long. The claws look more like knives. They are usually used in fighting and climbing up trees or posts quickly.

The mongoose can be described as an animal that can move quickly. It is well-known as the animal that can defeat a cobra. Anyone who has watched a mongoose kill a cobra will know that the mongoose can certainly move faster than the cobra thus giving the snake no chance to win at all.

The king cobra

There are many types of snakes. Some are venomous and some are not. The king cobra is venomous and it can be a very dangerous snake indeed. One bite from it can kill a man or animal in minutes. It is beautiful to look at though, but preferably when it is in a cage. The king cobra moves very quickly. It is a very active snake. It never stays in any one particular place.

The king cobra makes its nest on trees. The female king cobra lays eggs which are big and round. It can lay up to forty eggs at a time.

The king cobra can grow to a length of six metres. It eats all kinds of food. Usually it eats small animals such as lizards, insects or rats. It is also sometimes seen to eat snakes that are as long as 2 metres.

Venomous snakes such as the krait, viper, black cobra. rattlesnake and coral snake should be handled with care. The best policy is to avoid them if one is not sure how to handle them.

The umbrella

We have all seen and used umbrellas. An umbrella is used to protect man from the sun and rain. The umbrella is usually in the shape of a dome. There is a long stick in the centre. This is called the handle. The handle of the umbrella comes in many shapes and sizes today. The dome or the top part of the umbrella is made of cloth, plastic, paper and even skin.

The first people to use umbrellas were the Egyptians and the Greeks. They used the umbrella to protect themselves from the sun's rays and heat. The Indians, Chinese, Vietnamese and Burmese used the umbrella as a sign of respect for their kings. Even today the Malaysians use the umbrella to show royalty. These umbrellas were only used by the kings and queens. The umbrellas were of bright colours.

It was only in the 17th and 18th century that ordinary people started using umbrellas. The umbrella is used by young and old alike today. Umbrellas come in all shapes and sizes too. They are cheap and easy to own or store.

The hibiscus plant

Many flowers are found in Malaysia. The flowers come in many colours, sizes and shapes. Of the thousands of flowers, the most common and well known is the Hibiscus or Bunga Raya. The hibiscus has been chosen as Malaysia National Flower. This flower is very popular among Malaysians.

The hibiscus plant is a bush that grows to a height o: about one and a half to two metres in height. It has many branches. The branches have hundred of leaves. The leaves are large and usually dark green in colour. The flowers, which are even larger than the leaves, have long stamens. This large and attractive flower grows easily in Malaysia's tropical climate.

The common hibiscus, our national flower, normal, has five large red petals. The stem of the flower is long. The flower looks beautiful among the dark green leaves. We car. see our national flower on crests, flags, stamps, posters and books.

The hibiscus plant is the most common, the easiest to grow and the most attractive among all flowering plants in Malaysia.

The turtle

The turtle is built like an armoured car. It is covered a hard shell, though the shells of some turtles are more like leather. Turtles have lived on earth as far back as two hundred million years ago.

Turtles live on land as well as in water. Some spend almost all their lives in water. These turtles only come up to the land to lay their eggs. Some turtles grow to a length of two and a half metres. They can weigh up to more than a ton. Turtles have flippers instead of legs.

The turtles of Malaysia are usually hunted for their flesh and eggs. The Chinese of Malaysia love turtle soup. This type of turtle is found in rivers and freshwater lakes.

Other types of sea turtles regularly come up to the sandy beaches during the night to lay their eggs. It is common to find people watching these turtles lay their eggs. Some people, however, disturb the turtles by sitting on them or taking away their eggs.

The Americans and Europeans love eating the 'Diamond Terrapin Turtles'. These turtles only live in fresh water. The Terrapin turtle has diamond shapes on its shell and have feet just like those of a duck.

The starfish

The starfish is a creature of the sea. As its name suggests, its body is shaped like a star. It usually has five arms joined to the central part of its body. Some starfish have more than five arms. If an arm gets broken off, it simply grows back another one.

The starfish can be grey, blue, green or purple in colour. The largest starfish ever caught was nearly one metre across the arms. The smallest starfish ever caught is less than one centimetre across. There are altogether about 2,000 kinds of starfish in the world today.

A starfish usually eats snails, shells, worms, corals, crabs and fish. Did you know that a female starfish can lay about three million eggs within two hours? The eggs hatch to become millions of young starfish larvae. Many of the young starfish become food for other fishes. A small number survive to become adult starfish.

The most famous starfish of all is the crown-of-thorns starfish. Its body is covered by a thick layer of spiky thorns. Sometimes they grow to such huge numbers that they destroy a large part of the coral reef that they live in. So, often, they have to be removed before they do irreparable damage to the reef.

Diamonds

Diamonds are precious stones. They are actually carbon crystals. They are much valued for their hardness but more their ability to refract light, making them look very pretty indeed. Diamonds are also very expensive and a tiny one can cost hundreds of ringgit.

Diamonds are usually mined from the earth. The rough diamonds have to be cut before they are sold. It is the cutting of the diamond that gives the stone its price. Nowadays diamonds can be made but these synthetic diamonds are not as valuable as the natural ones.

The weight of diamonds and other precious stones are measured in carats. A carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams (0.007 oz). The largest single diamond ever found is the Cullinan. It weighed 3,106 carat. It was found in South Africa. Another famous diamond, the blue Hope diamond weighs 44.5 carat.

The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is known as the 'City of Diamonds', for much of the world's diamonds are cut there.

The diamond is one of the hardest substance known to man. Thus it is used widely for cutting other materials and as an abrasive as well as its more well-known role of being a woman's best friend.

Blood

We have all seen blood. It is red in colour. We also know that blood is flowing in our body. Blood flows through the arteries, veins and capillaries in our body. Scientists and doctors agree that an average adult person has about three to four kilogrammes of blood in the body.

When we look at a drop of blood under a microscope we can see four things: (a) plasma, (b) white blood cells, (c) red blood corpuscles and (d) platelets.

Plasma is a thick yellowish liquid. It carries proteins. antibiotics, glucose, fats, mineral salts etc. to every part of the body. These are needed by the body for growth and repair and also to fight against germs and bacteria.

Red blood corpuscles are like tiny discs. They are about 0.008 millimetres in diameter. They carry oxygen from one part of the body to another. The corpuscles contain a substance called haemoglobin which makes the blood look red. There are, on the average, about 45 million red blood corpuscles in a woman's body and 55 million in a man's body.

White blood cells help to prevent disease by destroying invading bacteria, while platelets help in the clotting of blood when a part of the body is injured.