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PART A: READING COMPREHENSION (17 MARKS)

Read the following passage and answer all the questions that follow.

The Wonders of Honey

I Honey is a sweet liquid made by honeybees using the nectar of flowering plants
through the complex process of regurgitation. It is stored in the beehive as a
primary food source. Honey is made up of glucose, fructose, and several essential
minerals and is also fairly rich in vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6. Due to the
presence of powerful antiseptic, antibacterial and healing properties, honey is 5
used as medicine to treat many common health ailments.

II One of the greatest benefits of honey is it can instantly boost energy levels. This
is due to its natural sugar which provides a healthy source of calories and
energy. Athletes who often suffer from muscle fatigue are encouraged to add
some honey into their drinking water. This honey-water drink can delay fatigue 10
and increase the athletes’ performance as well as their endurance levels.
Researchers explain that glucose found in honey is absorbed instantly by the
body and provides immediate energy, while fructose is absorbed more slowly,
thus providing sustained energy to the body.

III Even though honey contains simple sugars, it is not the same as white sugar or 15
artificial sweeteners. Experts claim that people who suffer from diabetes can
enjoy it without any problem. In fact, honey can help regulate blood sugar
levels as some types of honey have a low hypoglycemic index. This means when
such types of honey are consumed, they will not cause a surge in blood sugar
levels. Those suffering from Type 1 diabetes should make it a point to eat one 20
tablespoon of honey daily because the minerals, vitamins and antioxidant
properties in honey are highly beneficial. Plus, as it is sweeter, you are likely to
use a lesser amount of honey than sugar.

IV Several studies have found that honey is a far more effective remedy for
coughs compared to many over-the-counter cough medicines. Honey has strong 25
antibacterial properties that help soothe sore throats and kill the bacteria that
cause the infection. To get a quick relief from coughing, mix one tablespoon of
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honey with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and drink this solution at regular
intervals. Another alternative is to mix honey, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a
glass of lukewarm water and use it to gargle.
30
Additionally, honey has natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial
V properties. These properties help disinfect wounds and cuts keeping them free
from infection and promote speedy healing. After gently cleaning the wound or cut
with lukewarm water and mild soap, applying a layer of honey on the affected
area and covering the area fully with a bandage can do the trick.
35
Hence, as we can see, owing to its numerous benefits, it is important that we
VI keep a bottle of honey at home at all times. It can be a quick solution and relief for
many health complaints and helps to keep us healthy.

Adapted from http://www.top10homeremedies.com.

QUESTION 1 (13 MARKS)

a) What do the following words refer to as they are used in the passage?
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i. which (line 8) ____________________________________

ii. their (line 11) ____________________________________

iii. such (line 19) ____________________________________

iv. this solution (line 28) ____________________________________

v. them (line 32) ____________________________________

(5 marks)

b) Write the meaning of each word below as it is used in the passage.

i. ailments (line 6) ____________________________________

ii. sustained (line 14) ____________________________________

iii. regulate (line 17) ____________________________________

iv. numerous (line 36) ____________________________________

(4 marks)

c) Read the statements below carefully. Write T if the statement is TRUE or F if FALSE in
the space given.

i. Honey is used as medicine to treat common health ailments because of its

antiseptic, antibacterial and healing properties.
_____

ii. Most athletes consume honey mainly to boost their energy levels.
_____
.
iii. Glucose and fructose function in similar ways by providing immediate
energy to the body. _____

iv. A mixture of water, honey, lemon juice and salt can be used to treat
coughs. _____

(4 marks)

QUESTION 2 (4 MARKS)

Complete the table below with information from the passage.

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The Benefits of Honey

Benefits Explanations

 The natural sugar in honey provides a healthy

source of calories and energy.
 a) ______________________
 The honey-water drink can be useful in delaying
fatigue and this increases performance as well
as endurance levels.

 Regulates blood sugar levels  Consuming b) ______________________ slows

down the surge of blood sugar levels.

 Treats coughs  Antibacterial properties in honey soothe

c) ______________________and kill infection-
causing bacteria.

 Prevents d) ______________________  The natural antiseptic, antibacterial and

antimicrobial properties present in honey help
disinfect wounds and cuts.

(4 marks)

PART B: READING COMPREHENSION (13 MARKS)

Read the passage below and answer all the questions that follow in complete
sentences using the information in the passage.

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Kellie’s Castle
I In 1870, William Kellie Smith, at the age of 20, left his home in Kellas for Malaya
in search of career opportunities. Immediately after his arrival, he met an estate
owner, Alma Baker, who was seeking an assistant to help him in the construction
of public roads in South Perak. From then on, Smith took advantage of several
business opportunities and started various business ventures such as rubber tree 5
plantations and tin mining companies. He had started to build his own empire.
After a short while, Smith managed to own the Kinta Kellas Estate and Kinta
Kellas Tin Dredging Company. He was also able to purchase a 960-acre piece of
land for his rubber plantation and home in Batu Gajah, Perak.

Upon his success in rubber plantations and tin mining, Smith returned to Scotland 10
II in 1903 to marry his sweetheart, Agnes. He brought her back to Malaya and later
that year they were blessed with a daughter, Helen. In 1915, as a symbol of love,
Smith began to plan the construction of a mansion after the birth of his son,
Anthony. He also desired his new mansion to be reminiscent of his home back in
Scotland. The plans of the mansion were grand and luxurious as the mansion was 15
initially meant to be the centre for the wealthy colonial planters and administrators
to socialise. It was built with a six-storey tower, magnificent columns and a wine
cellar. There were also to be a rooftop courtyard for holding parties, a helicopter
landing space and an elevator to connect the underground tunnel to the top floor.
The elevator was, at that time, the first in the country. 20

Smith’s intense fascination with the Hindu religion and India led him to incorporate
III these elements in building his mansion. Seventy Indian workers from Madras
South India were enlisted as skilled labourers for the construction of the mansion.
The bricks and marble were also brought all the way from India. Unfortunately,
during the period of construction, Smith ran into a major setback. A mysterious 25

illness, called the Spanish Flu, broke out in the early 1920s and caused the death
of many of his workers.

IV Smith was then told to build a temple to appease the gods. Thus a Hindu temple
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was built 1500 metres from the castle for the deity to protect the people who lived
on the property. An underground tunnel was also built beneath the mansion as a 30
secret passageway to the temple. Soon after the temple was completely built, the
construction of the mansion resumed.

V However, in December 1962, the construction of the mansion came to a halt with
the unexpected death of William Kellie Smith due to pneumonia during his trip to
Lisbon. After his death, Smith’s family decided to go back to Scotland. The estate 35
on which the mansion was located was then sold to a British company called
Harrisons and Crossfield. The mansion too became part of the deal in the selling
of the estate.

VI Today, this unfinished mansion, now famously known to locals and tourists as
Kellie’s Castle, has become one of the attractions in Perak. It stands through the 40
test of time, symbolizing the pioneering spirit of the early colonialists. It also
depicts the romanticism of a bygone era.

Adapted from http://www.ipoh-city.com/attraction/Kellies_Castle/.

QUESTION 1 (11 MARKS)

a) List the business ventures started by Smith?

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i) ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ii) ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

b) In what year was Helen born?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

c) What happened to the workers in the 1920s?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

d) The mansion was built with special features. Give two examples of these features.
i) ___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

ii) ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

e) What is the topic sentence of Paragraph III?

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______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

f) The word ‘However” in line 35 links two ideas. What are those ideas?
i) ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ii) ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

g) What was the deal between Smith’s family and Harrison and Crossfield?
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 2 (2 MARKS)

He also desired his new mansion to be reminiscent of his home back in Scotland (lines15-
16).
Write in your own words what the above sentence means.
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

PART C: GRAMMAR (10 MARKS)

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QUESTION 1

Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word.

Diabetes mellitus or also referred to as diabetes will 0. make the blood glucose level
consistently high. If untreated, the high sugar level will damage nerves as well as blood
vessels that take oxygen to the nerves. Damaged nerves send messages slowly or at wrong
times, and the nerves eventually stop sending messages 1. ________________ the brain.
This damage is called diabetic neuropathy.

Neuropathy is a serious complication of diabetes and it affects up to 70 percent of people

with diabetes. 2.________________ can occur in any part of the body, including the eyes,
heart, lungs and feet. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type and occurs slowly.
Initially, it 3.________________ the foot. Then this type of diabetes will
4.________________ spread to the ankle and leg. Due to the damaged nerves at these
areas, patients usually do not feel pain. They may be unaware of foot injuries, which can
lead to open sores. If 5.________________ sores do not heal or they become infected, they
can result in more complications. In severe cases, their foot may need to be amputated. Foot
ulcers account for 85 percent of toe or foot amputations.

Neuropathy also results in muscle loss. This makes standing or walking difficult. People with
neuropathy may become 6. ________________ and socially isolated. Neuropathy also
decreases the quality of life. In addition, people with diabetes can develop nerve problems at
any time. The risk increases with age. The highest rate 7. ________________ nerve
problems are among people who have had diabetes for at least 25 years. Neuropathy is
more common in people who are overweight and have high cholesterol levels. The risk
increases when control of the blood glucose level 8. ________________ inadequate. So far,
there is no 9.________________ for neuropathy. However, diabetic neuropathy can be
prevented or controlled. Monitoring the glucose level and adopting 10. ________________
healthy lifestyle can decrease the risk by almost 60 percent.

Adapted from http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/ diabetic-neuropathy

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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