CONFIDENTIAL 2 LG/JUNE 2020/ELC 231/ELC 230/SET 2

PART A: (25 MARKS)

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

Pufferfish: Pain or Pleasure?

I Pufferfish are aptly named for their special ability to ingest air or water and when
threatened, their bodies swell up. They resemble a balloon in that state which
makes them rather unpalatable and difficult to fit into a predator’s mouth. People
are sometimes confused with their distant relative, the porcupinefish, which have
the same self-ballooning ability. They differ as the size of porcupinefish can 5
increase up to three feet length. The ‘pufferfish’ name is well-associated all over
the world with the danger that it carries. Famous as being poisonous and
inedible, the fish is currently being masqueraded as “crystal fish”. Despite being
poisonous, these fish are consumable. This fish is considered a delicacy in
Japan and it is probably worthwhile to be aware of the dangers of consuming 10
pufferfish.

II Pufferfish have within them a poisonous substance known as tetrodotoxin which

is concentrated in the liver as well as the skin. One pufferfish carries enough
tetrodotoxin to kill up to 30 adult humans. The substance is known to be 1,200
times more poisonous than cyanide and there is no known antidote. Pufferfish 15
have recently caused a rather big stir in Malaysia. According to a local
newspaper, pufferfish have found their way into the wet markets of Penang,
Kedah and Perak, where the fish sell for about RM18 to RM20 per kilogram.
Unfortunately, there are some people who demonstrated an indifferent attitude
towards the consumption of the fish. This is because they are willing to take the 20
risk of eating the fish as they trust that the chefs who prepare the fish are
professionals.

III Despite its toxicity, people still manage to find a way to claim the flesh of the
pufferfish and taste it. Pufferfish, or fugu, is used as exotic ingredient in a special
Japanese cuisine. When presented as sashimi (slices of raw fish), it looks quite 25
exquisite: clear, nearly transparent fresh fish plated professionally by licensed
fugu chefs. If one had the chance to watch these experienced chefs expertly
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fillet and handle the fish to remove all its toxic parts, you would probably have
sufficient reassurance that it is safe to eat the fugu. After all, chefs are required
to train for three to four years to gain a license to serve fugu in Japan. Having 30
fugu in Japan will give you a chance to enjoy the fish in its many varied forms –
sashimi, chirinabe (hotpot), karaege (deep-fried), sumibiyaki (grilled over hot
charcoal), in porridge form and even steeped in hot sake (Japanese wine).

IV Unlike its premium status in Japan, the pufferfish is treated as a cheaper

substitute in restaurants here in Malaysia. Serving and preparing pufferfish 35
contrast considerably between Malaysia and Japan. In Japan, the preparation
is done by professional chefs, but in Malaysia, foreign labourers with little
experience are the ones filleting and gutting the fish, with the work being carried
out as backyard operations. Furthermore, in Japan, the sale of pufferfish and the
license to serve it are highly regulated but there is currently no law enforcement 40
in Malaysia to prevent anyone from selling pufferfish. The Ministry of Health is in
the midst of coming up with a regulation to make the sale of pufferfish illegal.
The new law is currently being put through stages before it is finalised and
gazetted. It is understood that the punishment for the offence would be a fine of
RM10,000 or two years of imprisonment. 45

V For those consuming fugu, there is always a risk that the tetrodotoxin might end
up in the body. If one ingests some, he will know it immediately. It begins with a
little numbness to the lips, and then it is all downhill from there. Bear in mind that
it only takes a mere 25mg of tetrodotoxin to kill a person in just a few hours.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, typically, the 50
first stage of the symptoms will include numbness and tingling at the lips and
the tongue, then facial numbness, coupled with headaches, sensation of
lightness, dizziness, salivation, nausea and speech difficulties. The next stage of
the symptoms is the victims will show increasing paralysis, all the way to the
muscles required for breathing. Coma or seizures occur next, followed by 55
respiratory arrest or death. Death usually occurs within four to eight hours.
Treatments for tetrodotoxin poisoning are merely for the symptoms, since there
is no antidote for it.

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VI In Japan, between 2006 and 2015, ten people died after eating fugu. In most
cases, the victims had attempted to prepare the fish themselves. Two similar 60
cases had happened in Malaysia in 2008 where there were two women from
Kota Tinggi and Kulai died due to food poisoning after eating pufferfish.
Interestingly, the same tetrodotoxin that can cause paralysis and death is also a
potential pain reliever. Studies have been carried out to gauge the effectiveness
of tetrodotoxin in blocking pain receptors, including pain caused by cancer. 65
However, more research and testing are still required to produce pufferfish pain
relievers. Based on the facts, whichever choices made, there is a huge risk to
bear.

VII In conclusion, pufferfish should be determined to be safe before it is being

consumed. Even though people are aware that pufferfish is dangerous and 70
poisonous, they still have the courage and desire to try eating it. They will be
thrilled to be part of the circle of people who have had the opportunity to eat the
exquisite fish and survived. For others, it may be best to leave these cute-
looking fish alone and admire them for their other unique characteristics. So, are
pufferfish worth the pain and possible risk of death? 75

Adapted from: HealthToday, August 2017

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QUESTION 1

State whether the following statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F).

a) Other names of pufferfish are crystal fish and fugu.

b) Sashimi is a transparent raw fish that is prepared professionally.

c) The serving of pufferfish done in Japan is almost the same as Malaysia.

d) Dullness to the lips would occur once the pufferfish is consumed.

(4 marks)

QUESTION 2

What do the following words mean as used in the passage?

a) antidote (line 15) : ___________________________________________

b) considerably (line 36) : ___________________________________________

c) ingest (line 47) : ___________________________________________

d) gauge (line 64) : ___________________________________________

(4 marks)

QUESTION 3

Why pufferfish is considered dangerous?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

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QUESTION 4

Explain what the writer means by the following statement.

“Pufferfish have recently caused a rather big stir in Malaysia”. (lines 15-16)

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)
QUESTION 5

How do you ensure that pufferfish is safe to be eaten?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)
QUESTION 6

What are the efforts done by Malaysian authorities in preventing the illegal sale of pufferfish?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)
QUESTION 7

If someone is poisoned by tetrodotoxin, what are the typical symptoms that come after

paralysis?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

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QUESTION 8

What is the usefulness of tetrodotoxin?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 9

What does the author mean by this statement?

“Based on the facts, whichever choices made, there is a huge risk to bear.” (lines 67-68)

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)
QUESTION 10

In your opinion, would you agree to ban the selling of pufferfish in Malaysia? Please provide
two (2) reasons to justify your answer.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(3 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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