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- Pages: 11
Buildings Buildings
There are 49 questions in this paper.
PRACTICE PAPER 1A — READING Text 1
Time allowed: 1 hour
Read this notice below and then answer questions 1 – 14.
(15 marks)
12th September 200-
Notice to all residents of Prosperous Mansions Estate Repairs to slopes Residents are asked to note that work will begin on October 1st to maintain and upgrade the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 of Prosperous Mansions. The work is expected to take approximately two months, with a scheduled completion date of November 30th. In order to complete the project quickly, construction work will continue until 9pm on some days, and there will also be work on Sundays. The Prosperous Mansions Management Company regrets that this work is likely to be rather noisy, especially in the first two weeks, and that a certain amount of construction dust will inevitably be blown across the Estate. The contractors (Hang Yi Construction Company) have assured the Management Company that they will do their best to minimise disruption to residents. In particular, they have undertaken not to operate noisy equipment between the hours of 6pm and 8am on weekdays, and not at all on Sundays. The Management would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that there is absolutely no truth in the rumour that the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 are currently unsafe. Residents may be aware that all slopes adjacent to the Estate are inspected annually. The most recent inspection was in August this year and nothing unusual was found. The works to the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 are part of an on-going maintenance programme to ensure that the residents of Prosperous Mansions continue to live in a safe and beautiful environment. On the subject of safety, residents are advised to keep well away from the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 during the two months that work will be in progress. Fencing will be erected around the construction site and residents are instructed that on no account should they enter this area. Parents are especially requested to stress to their children the importance of keeping away from the site. The contractors will put up warning notices to inform residents about particular hazards. Residents should note that the Management Company’s insurance policy will not pay compensation for any injuries that may occur to unauthorised persons entering the construction site. Residents are invited to call in at the Management Office and talk to me if they have any questions relating to these construction works. C.P. Lam, (Superintendent) Prosperous Mansions Estate Management Company Tel: 2552 5432
70
Complete the contractor’s company’s work order form containing the main details of the construction (8 marks) work:
HANG YI CONSTRUCTION Work order 258/09/06 1. Name of estate 2. Location of work 3. Description of work 4. Start date 5. Est. completion date 6. Client company 7. Contact person 8. Contact telephone number
For the following statements about information in the text, tick the appropriate box. True
(4 marks) False
Not stated
9. Dust will be a problem for the whole two months. 10. The contractors will not operate on Sundays. 11. The contractors will use noisy equipment. 12. The work is being done because the slopes are dangerous.
13. What two measures will the contractors take to protect residents?
(2 marks)
a) b)
14. The Management Company’s insurance policy states that if a resident is injured on the construction site,
71
Text 2
Read the following article and then answer questions 15 – 30. For multiple choice questions, choose the best answer for each question and write the appropriate letter in the box provided. For other questions, write your answer in the space provided. (24 marks)
A bright idea brings rewards
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
72
Behind the creation of Hong Kong’s world-famous neon skyline is one family. It is no exaggeration to say that without the vision of Kwan Hay and his son Clement Kwan Kwok-wa, the world of lights as we know it in Hong Kong could have been very different. Mr. Kwan Hay made and placed the first neon sign in Hong Kong and, with his son, has been doing it ever since. While other companies have sprung up over the years, the Kwans were not only the pioneers of neon lighting in Hong Kong, but are still undisputed market leaders. Famous giant glowing signs — ones featured on post cards of Hong Kong that tourists send around the world, like those for Foster’s, Motorola, Sharp, and Goldstar — are their handiwork. Thousands upon thousands of other, smaller signs, for restaurants, bars and clubs, also spring from the Cathay Neonlight Company. Based in a tiny Wan Chai office, the firm’s Chinese name is symbolic, says Clement Kwan. Translated literally from the Chinese (gok tai man on) it means ‘country safe, people happy’. “And this is how we like to think of our work,” continues Clement. “Obviously we feel very proud that we have been a part of Hong Kong’s history. Our neon lights symbolise safety and prosperity for the people of Hong Kong.” Mr Kwan senior, who is in his mid-80s, arrived 58 years ago from the mainland, where his family had been involved in electrical work. “Before the war I put up a few small signs in Wan Chai, but after the war, in about 1946, the economy started to grow again and I realised that neon lights were going to be my business. The first big neon sign was for Long John scotch whisky.” When Clement finished school he joined his father in the business and by the mid 50s business was booming. “From then until now we have never had a shortage of work. Strangely enough, a downturn in the economy is usually good for us, because this is when people realise they need to advertise,” said Clement. Clement now takes charge of the daily operations of the business, but Mr. Kwan senior, with his 60 years of experience, is still a powerful voice. The Kwan men are passionate about neon, and take the greatest pride in telling of the labour that goes into making a sign. “We handle the whole project right from design to installation,” says Clement. “A client comes to see us and I sit down with them and design their sign on a piece of paper. Once we have agreed on how it will look, the colour, size and so on, then we start making it. Interestingly, this is one technology that has not changed dramatically over the years because a lot of the process comes down to manual labour and skill.” The first part of the process involves blowing the glass into the required shape. This is a very labour-intensive job because one turn in the lettering — the ‘B’ in ‘Budweiser’, for example — can take ten minutes. Depending on the word and the size of the lettering, the whole process can take hours. In the next stage the air from the tube is removed and gas — either neon or argon, depending on the required colour of the sign — is inserted. This is a highly complex process because it must be done at exactly the right temperature. The company then transports the sign to its place of installation, having previously organised scaffolding if required, and wires up the sign. It also repairs and maintains signs. The elder Mr. Kwan still thinks neon is the best: “You can see a neon sign for miles. The brightness is something that cannot be emulated by anything else. And, on a practical point, the amount of electricity it uses is low.”
45
50
Mr. Kwan confidently predicts that a neon saturation point will never be reached in Hong Kong. “There will not be many more big neons on waterfront buildings because there is now a shortage of suitable rooftops, and new buildings tend to have decorated or pointed rooftops which are not suitable for signs. But there is as much demand (a) . No new restaurant would open in Tsim Sha Tsui without (27) . There will always be new business in Hong Kong.” He also has his eye on China where he sees the potential for enormous (28) . “What we do is good for the spirit of Hong growth since the neon sign industry is Kong, but we will never get rich (29) . Making neon signs is just too labour-intensive to ever (30) .”
15. In lines 1–2, ‘It is no exaggeration to say’ means .... A. It is definitely not true B. Some people say C. It is definitely true D. Nobody knows
15.
16. Which word in paragraph 1 means ‘the first people to develop something new’?
17. What does ‘those’ in line 8 refer to? 18. The Chinese name for the Kwan’s company .... A. means the same as the English name B. expresses their feelings about Hong Kong C. has no significant meaning D. describes the work which they do
18.
19. According to paragraph 3, Mr. Kwan started making neon lights because of the war. (Tick the appropriate box.) True
False
Not stated
20. According to Clement in paragraph 4, what effect does a downturn in the economy have on their business, and why? (2 marks) a) the effect on the business: b) the reason: 21. According to paragraph 5, new technology .... A. has changed the business a lot. B. has had little impact on the business. C. has replaced manual work. D. has speeded up production.
21.
22. According to paragraph 6, why do they sometimes use neon to fill the tubes, and other times use argon?
73
23. Complete this flowchart of the stages in the manufacture and installation of a sign, as described in paragraphs 5 and 6. One has been done for you as an example. (7 marks)
F
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
Take the sign to the place where it will be installed. Shape the glass tubes to make letters. Attach the electrical supply. Add neon or argon. Install the sign in its place. Discuss design with client. Take the air out of the tubes. Have scaffolding erected if necessary.
24. According to Mr Kwan in paragraph 7, what are the two advantages of neon?
(2 marks)
a) b) 25. Which two-word phrase in paragraph 8 means ‘the maximum level at which no more can be added’?
26. According to Mr Kwan, not many more big neon signs will be erected because
Phrases are missing from the last paragraph. From the six phrases (A–F) below, choose the four which best complete the blanks 27–30 in the text. Write the letters in the spaces provided. One has been done for you as an example. (4 marks) D
a)
28.
27. A. B. C. D. E. F.
74
still in its infancy. to produce signs more cheaply. make a lot of money as ever for small neons. putting up a neon sign doing it.
29.
30.
Text 3
Read the following account and then answer questions 31 – 49.
(21 marks)
A childhood in Shek Kip Mei by Stephen Lau When I was young, our family lived in the first public housing estate ever to be built in Hong Kong, in Shek Kip Mei. Those buildings look grim, grey and dirty now, but to us fifty years ago they were paradise!
10
Our story was quite a common one in those days. My father, my mother, my elder sister Amy and I had arrived in Hong Kong three years earlier, as illegal immigrants from Guangdong. I was only five, but I remember how frightening and exciting it was, sneaking into Hong Kong at night by boat. Would we get caught and sent back? Luckily nobody saw us and we arrived safely. We joined my uncle and his family who were already in Hong Kong. They had built themselves a ‘house’ out of bits of wood and rusty old corrugated iron in a squatter village on the hillside above Shek Kip Mei.
15
Conditions in the squatter village were pretty awful. It was crowded and smelled of toilets. Muddy water poured into our hut when it rained. Typhoons were terrifying — the noise was deafening, and there was a constant fear that our roof would be blown off. All the same, we started making a life for ourselves. Amy and I went off to school (I don’t know how mum kept our uniforms neat and clean!) and dad got a job as a construction worker.
5
20
25
30
35
Then, on Christmas Day 1953, our worst fears were realised. A massive fire swept through the squatter village. The huts were dry as a bone and the flames consumed everything in their path. Gas cylinders exploded. Thick black smoke and the smell of burning made us cough. Everyone was screaming and fleeing for their lives. Our family just had to drop everything and run. Thankfully, none of us was injured but, along with 25,000 other people, we were homeless again. This disaster forced the government to do something to house squatter families like us, and the Shek Kip Mei Estate was the result. We moved into our ‘flat’ on the top floor of Block 30 in 1954. It was just 120 sq ft of bare concrete, without a toilet or water. In the summer it was hot as an oven. We shared toilets with the other people living on our floor. We had to collect water from a tap at ground level — seven floors down and there were no lifts! Like everyone else, my mother did the cooking on the balcony. These conditions may seem disgusting or even shameful now, but we loved it. Because at last we had a place of our own! Living so close to other families did have its disadvantages. For one thing there was no privacy – everyone knew everyone else’s business. It was also unfortunate if you did not get on with your neighbours. I remember a man called A-Chan who lived on our floor for several years. Every week he used to gamble away his wages and would then try and borrow money from us. My father lent him a few dollars the first couple of times, but A-Chan never repaid us. After that, my father refused to give A-Chan any more money. After all, we were poor too. From then on, A-Chan became our enemy. We children always had to creep past his door because if he caught us he would beat us with a broom. In revenge, when we got older (and faster!), we would call A-Chan names and then run away laughing.
75
40
The best part about living on the estate was that we shared a strong sense of community. We would celebrate festivals together. For instance, at Mid-Autumn we children would all be waving paper lanterns of moons and rabbits, beautifully made by one of neighbours. And people would help each other if they were in trouble. When my mother broke her arm and could not carry anything heavy, the Wong family next door brought water up to our flat every day for a month. We were poor, but such kindness was worth a million dollars.
31. The main point the writer is making about the Shek Kip Mei Estate in paragraph 1 is .... A. his family was the first to move into the estate. B. the estate was depressing to live in. C. living in the estate seemed like living in heaven. D. nobody would like to live in the estate now.
31.
32. What does ‘it’ refer to in line 6? 33. The writer writes ‘house’ in inverted commas in line 9 because
34. Which word in paragraph 3 means ‘very loud’? 35. ‘All the same’ in line 13 means .... A. however. B. similarly. C. and so. D. therefore.
35.
36. The sentence ‘I don’t know how mum kept our uniforms so clean’ implies that the writer his mother. A. does not understand B. does not like C. is impressed by D. is scared of 36. 37. The first sentence in paragraph 4 implies that the family were afraid that a fire might start one day. (Tick the appropriate box.) True
False
Not stated
38. Look at the word ‘drop’ in line 19. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘drop’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 19? Write the correct number in the box provided. drop v 1 to allow something to fall by accident, e.g. The bottle dropped and broke. 2 (of people and animals) to collapse from being extremely tired, e.g. She expects us to work till we drop! 3 to become lower or weaker, e.g. The temperature has dropped considerably. 4 to slope steeply downwards, e.g. The ground drops sharply down to the sea. 5 to stop doing sth or discussing sth, e.g. Drop what you’re doing and come and see this!
76
38.
39. Which word in paragraph 4 means ‘ate’? 40. In line 25, the writer describes the flat as ‘hot as an oven’ because
41. According to paragraph 5, obtaining water was a problem for the family because
42. According to paragraph 5, the writer’s family was happy with the new flat, even though its facilities were not very good. True
False
Not stated
43. According to paragraph 6, A-Chan needed money because .... A. he did not have a job. B. he did not earn enough. C. he spent his money on making bets. D. he had borrowed money from someone else and he had to pay it back.
43.
44. The writer’s father did not give A-Chan any money. True
False
Not stated
45. The last sentence in paragraph 6 implies that the children started to call A-Chan names only when they were old enough to 46. In paragraph 7, the sentence about the Mid-Autumn Festival is an example of what point made by the writer?
47. What does ‘such kindness’ in line 43 refer to?
48. An alternative title for this account could be .... A. Children grow up in fear of violent neighbours. B. New public housing estate has top-class facilities. C. Government forced to build public housing after squatter fire. D. Immigrant family happy in first public housing estate.
48.
49. What is the writer’s attitude to living on the Shek Kip Mei Estate? Give reasons for your answer. (3 marks)
END OF PAPER
77
PRACTICE PAPER 1B — WRITING
Complete both tasks.
Time allowed: 11/2 hours
Task 1 (100 words) You take this photograph of some teenagers playing in the young children’s playground of the estate where you live. You have started to write a letter to the Management Office of the estate, enclosing the photograph. Complete the letter by describing what you saw, and making suggestions about how this behaviour can be stopped. Write about 100 words in total.
Dear Sir I am enclosing a photograph of some teenagers misbehaving in the young children’s playground of our estate.
78
Some suggestions about how to stop this behaviour
Task 2 Write about 250 words on ONE of the following topics. 1. ‘Where I live’. Write a composition about the estate or area where you live, and say why you like it and/or you do not like it. 2. There has been a lot of discussion about whether people should be allowed to keep dogs in public housing flats. Write a letter to a newspaper editor giving your opinion on this issue.
END OF PAPER 79
There are 49 questions in this paper.
PRACTICE PAPER 1A — READING Text 1
Time allowed: 1 hour
Read this notice below and then answer questions 1 – 14.
(15 marks)
12th September 200-
Notice to all residents of Prosperous Mansions Estate Repairs to slopes Residents are asked to note that work will begin on October 1st to maintain and upgrade the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 of Prosperous Mansions. The work is expected to take approximately two months, with a scheduled completion date of November 30th. In order to complete the project quickly, construction work will continue until 9pm on some days, and there will also be work on Sundays. The Prosperous Mansions Management Company regrets that this work is likely to be rather noisy, especially in the first two weeks, and that a certain amount of construction dust will inevitably be blown across the Estate. The contractors (Hang Yi Construction Company) have assured the Management Company that they will do their best to minimise disruption to residents. In particular, they have undertaken not to operate noisy equipment between the hours of 6pm and 8am on weekdays, and not at all on Sundays. The Management would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that there is absolutely no truth in the rumour that the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 are currently unsafe. Residents may be aware that all slopes adjacent to the Estate are inspected annually. The most recent inspection was in August this year and nothing unusual was found. The works to the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 are part of an on-going maintenance programme to ensure that the residents of Prosperous Mansions continue to live in a safe and beautiful environment. On the subject of safety, residents are advised to keep well away from the slopes behind Blocks 5 and 6 during the two months that work will be in progress. Fencing will be erected around the construction site and residents are instructed that on no account should they enter this area. Parents are especially requested to stress to their children the importance of keeping away from the site. The contractors will put up warning notices to inform residents about particular hazards. Residents should note that the Management Company’s insurance policy will not pay compensation for any injuries that may occur to unauthorised persons entering the construction site. Residents are invited to call in at the Management Office and talk to me if they have any questions relating to these construction works. C.P. Lam, (Superintendent) Prosperous Mansions Estate Management Company Tel: 2552 5432
70
Complete the contractor’s company’s work order form containing the main details of the construction (8 marks) work:
HANG YI CONSTRUCTION Work order 258/09/06 1. Name of estate 2. Location of work 3. Description of work 4. Start date 5. Est. completion date 6. Client company 7. Contact person 8. Contact telephone number
For the following statements about information in the text, tick the appropriate box. True
(4 marks) False
Not stated
9. Dust will be a problem for the whole two months. 10. The contractors will not operate on Sundays. 11. The contractors will use noisy equipment. 12. The work is being done because the slopes are dangerous.
13. What two measures will the contractors take to protect residents?
(2 marks)
a) b)
14. The Management Company’s insurance policy states that if a resident is injured on the construction site,
71
Text 2
Read the following article and then answer questions 15 – 30. For multiple choice questions, choose the best answer for each question and write the appropriate letter in the box provided. For other questions, write your answer in the space provided. (24 marks)
A bright idea brings rewards
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
72
Behind the creation of Hong Kong’s world-famous neon skyline is one family. It is no exaggeration to say that without the vision of Kwan Hay and his son Clement Kwan Kwok-wa, the world of lights as we know it in Hong Kong could have been very different. Mr. Kwan Hay made and placed the first neon sign in Hong Kong and, with his son, has been doing it ever since. While other companies have sprung up over the years, the Kwans were not only the pioneers of neon lighting in Hong Kong, but are still undisputed market leaders. Famous giant glowing signs — ones featured on post cards of Hong Kong that tourists send around the world, like those for Foster’s, Motorola, Sharp, and Goldstar — are their handiwork. Thousands upon thousands of other, smaller signs, for restaurants, bars and clubs, also spring from the Cathay Neonlight Company. Based in a tiny Wan Chai office, the firm’s Chinese name is symbolic, says Clement Kwan. Translated literally from the Chinese (gok tai man on) it means ‘country safe, people happy’. “And this is how we like to think of our work,” continues Clement. “Obviously we feel very proud that we have been a part of Hong Kong’s history. Our neon lights symbolise safety and prosperity for the people of Hong Kong.” Mr Kwan senior, who is in his mid-80s, arrived 58 years ago from the mainland, where his family had been involved in electrical work. “Before the war I put up a few small signs in Wan Chai, but after the war, in about 1946, the economy started to grow again and I realised that neon lights were going to be my business. The first big neon sign was for Long John scotch whisky.” When Clement finished school he joined his father in the business and by the mid 50s business was booming. “From then until now we have never had a shortage of work. Strangely enough, a downturn in the economy is usually good for us, because this is when people realise they need to advertise,” said Clement. Clement now takes charge of the daily operations of the business, but Mr. Kwan senior, with his 60 years of experience, is still a powerful voice. The Kwan men are passionate about neon, and take the greatest pride in telling of the labour that goes into making a sign. “We handle the whole project right from design to installation,” says Clement. “A client comes to see us and I sit down with them and design their sign on a piece of paper. Once we have agreed on how it will look, the colour, size and so on, then we start making it. Interestingly, this is one technology that has not changed dramatically over the years because a lot of the process comes down to manual labour and skill.” The first part of the process involves blowing the glass into the required shape. This is a very labour-intensive job because one turn in the lettering — the ‘B’ in ‘Budweiser’, for example — can take ten minutes. Depending on the word and the size of the lettering, the whole process can take hours. In the next stage the air from the tube is removed and gas — either neon or argon, depending on the required colour of the sign — is inserted. This is a highly complex process because it must be done at exactly the right temperature. The company then transports the sign to its place of installation, having previously organised scaffolding if required, and wires up the sign. It also repairs and maintains signs. The elder Mr. Kwan still thinks neon is the best: “You can see a neon sign for miles. The brightness is something that cannot be emulated by anything else. And, on a practical point, the amount of electricity it uses is low.”
45
50
Mr. Kwan confidently predicts that a neon saturation point will never be reached in Hong Kong. “There will not be many more big neons on waterfront buildings because there is now a shortage of suitable rooftops, and new buildings tend to have decorated or pointed rooftops which are not suitable for signs. But there is as much demand (a) . No new restaurant would open in Tsim Sha Tsui without (27) . There will always be new business in Hong Kong.” He also has his eye on China where he sees the potential for enormous (28) . “What we do is good for the spirit of Hong growth since the neon sign industry is Kong, but we will never get rich (29) . Making neon signs is just too labour-intensive to ever (30) .”
15. In lines 1–2, ‘It is no exaggeration to say’ means .... A. It is definitely not true B. Some people say C. It is definitely true D. Nobody knows
15.
16. Which word in paragraph 1 means ‘the first people to develop something new’?
17. What does ‘those’ in line 8 refer to? 18. The Chinese name for the Kwan’s company .... A. means the same as the English name B. expresses their feelings about Hong Kong C. has no significant meaning D. describes the work which they do
18.
19. According to paragraph 3, Mr. Kwan started making neon lights because of the war. (Tick the appropriate box.) True
False
Not stated
20. According to Clement in paragraph 4, what effect does a downturn in the economy have on their business, and why? (2 marks) a) the effect on the business: b) the reason: 21. According to paragraph 5, new technology .... A. has changed the business a lot. B. has had little impact on the business. C. has replaced manual work. D. has speeded up production.
21.
22. According to paragraph 6, why do they sometimes use neon to fill the tubes, and other times use argon?
73
23. Complete this flowchart of the stages in the manufacture and installation of a sign, as described in paragraphs 5 and 6. One has been done for you as an example. (7 marks)
F
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H.
Take the sign to the place where it will be installed. Shape the glass tubes to make letters. Attach the electrical supply. Add neon or argon. Install the sign in its place. Discuss design with client. Take the air out of the tubes. Have scaffolding erected if necessary.
24. According to Mr Kwan in paragraph 7, what are the two advantages of neon?
(2 marks)
a) b) 25. Which two-word phrase in paragraph 8 means ‘the maximum level at which no more can be added’?
26. According to Mr Kwan, not many more big neon signs will be erected because
Phrases are missing from the last paragraph. From the six phrases (A–F) below, choose the four which best complete the blanks 27–30 in the text. Write the letters in the spaces provided. One has been done for you as an example. (4 marks) D
a)
28.
27. A. B. C. D. E. F.
74
still in its infancy. to produce signs more cheaply. make a lot of money as ever for small neons. putting up a neon sign doing it.
29.
30.
Text 3
Read the following account and then answer questions 31 – 49.
(21 marks)
A childhood in Shek Kip Mei by Stephen Lau When I was young, our family lived in the first public housing estate ever to be built in Hong Kong, in Shek Kip Mei. Those buildings look grim, grey and dirty now, but to us fifty years ago they were paradise!
10
Our story was quite a common one in those days. My father, my mother, my elder sister Amy and I had arrived in Hong Kong three years earlier, as illegal immigrants from Guangdong. I was only five, but I remember how frightening and exciting it was, sneaking into Hong Kong at night by boat. Would we get caught and sent back? Luckily nobody saw us and we arrived safely. We joined my uncle and his family who were already in Hong Kong. They had built themselves a ‘house’ out of bits of wood and rusty old corrugated iron in a squatter village on the hillside above Shek Kip Mei.
15
Conditions in the squatter village were pretty awful. It was crowded and smelled of toilets. Muddy water poured into our hut when it rained. Typhoons were terrifying — the noise was deafening, and there was a constant fear that our roof would be blown off. All the same, we started making a life for ourselves. Amy and I went off to school (I don’t know how mum kept our uniforms neat and clean!) and dad got a job as a construction worker.
5
20
25
30
35
Then, on Christmas Day 1953, our worst fears were realised. A massive fire swept through the squatter village. The huts were dry as a bone and the flames consumed everything in their path. Gas cylinders exploded. Thick black smoke and the smell of burning made us cough. Everyone was screaming and fleeing for their lives. Our family just had to drop everything and run. Thankfully, none of us was injured but, along with 25,000 other people, we were homeless again. This disaster forced the government to do something to house squatter families like us, and the Shek Kip Mei Estate was the result. We moved into our ‘flat’ on the top floor of Block 30 in 1954. It was just 120 sq ft of bare concrete, without a toilet or water. In the summer it was hot as an oven. We shared toilets with the other people living on our floor. We had to collect water from a tap at ground level — seven floors down and there were no lifts! Like everyone else, my mother did the cooking on the balcony. These conditions may seem disgusting or even shameful now, but we loved it. Because at last we had a place of our own! Living so close to other families did have its disadvantages. For one thing there was no privacy – everyone knew everyone else’s business. It was also unfortunate if you did not get on with your neighbours. I remember a man called A-Chan who lived on our floor for several years. Every week he used to gamble away his wages and would then try and borrow money from us. My father lent him a few dollars the first couple of times, but A-Chan never repaid us. After that, my father refused to give A-Chan any more money. After all, we were poor too. From then on, A-Chan became our enemy. We children always had to creep past his door because if he caught us he would beat us with a broom. In revenge, when we got older (and faster!), we would call A-Chan names and then run away laughing.
75
40
The best part about living on the estate was that we shared a strong sense of community. We would celebrate festivals together. For instance, at Mid-Autumn we children would all be waving paper lanterns of moons and rabbits, beautifully made by one of neighbours. And people would help each other if they were in trouble. When my mother broke her arm and could not carry anything heavy, the Wong family next door brought water up to our flat every day for a month. We were poor, but such kindness was worth a million dollars.
31. The main point the writer is making about the Shek Kip Mei Estate in paragraph 1 is .... A. his family was the first to move into the estate. B. the estate was depressing to live in. C. living in the estate seemed like living in heaven. D. nobody would like to live in the estate now.
31.
32. What does ‘it’ refer to in line 6? 33. The writer writes ‘house’ in inverted commas in line 9 because
34. Which word in paragraph 3 means ‘very loud’? 35. ‘All the same’ in line 13 means .... A. however. B. similarly. C. and so. D. therefore.
35.
36. The sentence ‘I don’t know how mum kept our uniforms so clean’ implies that the writer his mother. A. does not understand B. does not like C. is impressed by D. is scared of 36. 37. The first sentence in paragraph 4 implies that the family were afraid that a fire might start one day. (Tick the appropriate box.) True
False
Not stated
38. Look at the word ‘drop’ in line 19. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘drop’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 19? Write the correct number in the box provided. drop v 1 to allow something to fall by accident, e.g. The bottle dropped and broke. 2 (of people and animals) to collapse from being extremely tired, e.g. She expects us to work till we drop! 3 to become lower or weaker, e.g. The temperature has dropped considerably. 4 to slope steeply downwards, e.g. The ground drops sharply down to the sea. 5 to stop doing sth or discussing sth, e.g. Drop what you’re doing and come and see this!
76
38.
39. Which word in paragraph 4 means ‘ate’? 40. In line 25, the writer describes the flat as ‘hot as an oven’ because
41. According to paragraph 5, obtaining water was a problem for the family because
42. According to paragraph 5, the writer’s family was happy with the new flat, even though its facilities were not very good. True
False
Not stated
43. According to paragraph 6, A-Chan needed money because .... A. he did not have a job. B. he did not earn enough. C. he spent his money on making bets. D. he had borrowed money from someone else and he had to pay it back.
43.
44. The writer’s father did not give A-Chan any money. True
False
Not stated
45. The last sentence in paragraph 6 implies that the children started to call A-Chan names only when they were old enough to 46. In paragraph 7, the sentence about the Mid-Autumn Festival is an example of what point made by the writer?
47. What does ‘such kindness’ in line 43 refer to?
48. An alternative title for this account could be .... A. Children grow up in fear of violent neighbours. B. New public housing estate has top-class facilities. C. Government forced to build public housing after squatter fire. D. Immigrant family happy in first public housing estate.
48.
49. What is the writer’s attitude to living on the Shek Kip Mei Estate? Give reasons for your answer. (3 marks)
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PRACTICE PAPER 1B — WRITING
Complete both tasks.
Time allowed: 11/2 hours
Task 1 (100 words) You take this photograph of some teenagers playing in the young children’s playground of the estate where you live. You have started to write a letter to the Management Office of the estate, enclosing the photograph. Complete the letter by describing what you saw, and making suggestions about how this behaviour can be stopped. Write about 100 words in total.
Dear Sir I am enclosing a photograph of some teenagers misbehaving in the young children’s playground of our estate.
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Some suggestions about how to stop this behaviour
Task 2 Write about 250 words on ONE of the following topics. 1. ‘Where I live’. Write a composition about the estate or area where you live, and say why you like it and/or you do not like it. 2. There has been a lot of discussion about whether people should be allowed to keep dogs in public housing flats. Write a letter to a newspaper editor giving your opinion on this issue.
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