Bahasa Inggeris questions, unit 10

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Writing short messages: emails, notes and replies

43 marks.

Section A: objective questions

10 marks

Choose the best answer, A, B or C, for each question.

Question 1

You are writing an email to your friend Haziq. Which is the best greeting?

Hi Haziq,
Dear Sir,
hi haziq

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Use the friend's name with a capital letter and a comma. Dear Sir is for a formal letter to a stranger.

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: greetings

Question 2

What is the job of the opening of an informal email?

to be friendly and link to the friend's message
to give all the advice the friend asked for
to say goodbye and write your name

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The opening is one or two friendly sentences, such as Thanks for your email. It's great that ... The advice goes in the body; goodbye goes at the end.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: opening

Question 3

Read Arif's message.

Hi! I'm going to start a YouTube channel. What should I make videos about? How often should I post a new video? And can you help me film the first one? Arif

How many content points must your reply cover?

one
two
three

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There are three questions: what to make videos about, how often to post, and whether you can help him film. Each question is one content point.

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: finding content points

Question 4

Which is the best closing sentence for an email to your best friend?

I look forward to your favourable reply.
ok bye la
Can't wait to hear what you decide!

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C is friendly and informal but still correct English. A is too formal for a friend. B is chat language with no capital letter or full stop, and uses Malay "la".

For the teacher: Evaluating, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: tone

Question 5

I think you ______ join the art club because you are good at drawing.

should
should to
are should

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After should we use the base verb with no to: you should join.

For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: giving advice (modal + base verb)

Question 6

Which sentence is correct?

I suggest you to bring an umbrella.
I suggest you bring an umbrella.
I am suggest you bring an umbrella.

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suggest never takes "you to", and it is a verb, so there is no am: I suggest you bring ...

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: common mistakes (suggest)

Question 7

Which of these is not one of the four areas in the Paper 2 rating scale?

Content
Handwriting
Organisation

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The four areas are Content, Communicative achievement, Organisation and Language, 5 marks each. Handwriting is not marked (but it must be easy to read).

For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard Paper 2 rating scale: the four areas

Question 8

Lina's email covers all three points and has a greeting and a closing. It has a few spelling mistakes, but the meaning is always clear. Which area do the spelling mistakes affect?

Language
Content
Communicative achievement

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Spelling and grammar are marked under Language. Small errors are allowed even for a high score if the meaning can still be understood.

For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 rating scale: Language

Question 9

Wei Jie writes: "Should I buy a bicycle or a skateboard? Which one is safer?" Which reply covers both content points?

Buy a bicycle. Have fun riding it!
I think you should buy a bicycle because it is safer than a skateboard. You can also wear a helmet and ride in the park.
Skateboards are really cool. My cousin has one and he rides it every day.

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B gives the choice (a bicycle) and answers "Which one is safer?" with a reason. A gives no reason about safety; C does not give advice at all.

For the teacher: Evaluating, high difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: covering every content point

Question 10

You are leaving a note for your neighbour, Puan Lim. Which sentence has the right tone?

Hey, feed my cat on Saturday!
U can feed my cat on Sat?
Could you please feed our cat on Saturday?

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To an adult you know, be friendly but polite: Could you please ...? A sounds rude, and B uses chat language (U, Sat).

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: a note to an adult (polite tone)

Section B: short tasks

13 marks

Answer all the questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

Question 11

Read the email from your friend, Nadia.

Hi,
Our school is having a Recycling Week next month. I'm in charge of telling all the Form 1 students about it. Should I use posters, the school radio or maybe something else? Also, what prize can we give to the class that collects the most rubbish for recycling?
Write back soon!
Nadia

You are planning your reply. Complete the plan with the two things Nadia asks you about.

[1 mark] (a)Content point 1: the best way to ______

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tell (all) the Form 1 students about Recycling Week (accept: tell students about it / spread the news; posters, the school radio or something else)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)Content point 2: ______

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a prize for the class that collects the most (rubbish) (accept: what prize to give the winning class)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: finding content points

Question 12

Here are three lines from Siti's reply to Arif. Each line has one error. Find the error and write the correction.

[1 mark] (a)I think you should to make videos about cooking.

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Remove to: should make (accept: should to → should)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (b)My sister watch cooking videos on YouTube every day.

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watch → watches (my sister = she, + verb-s)1

Tick each point you got.

[1 mark] (c)We can discuss about your first video at recess.

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Remove about: discuss your first video (accept: discuss about → discuss / talk about)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: language accuracy (error correction)

Question 13

Are these statements about how Paper 2 Part 1 is marked True or False?

[1 mark] (a)The examiner gives a score from 0 to 5 in each of four areas, so Part 1 is worth 20 marks.

ATrueBFalse

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True

Content, Communicative achievement, Organisation and Language: 4 × 5 = 20.

[1 mark] (b)The examiner takes away one mark for every spelling mistake.

ATrueBFalse

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False

The examiner does not count mistakes. They read the whole message and choose the score that fits best. A few errors are fine if the meaning is clear.

For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard Paper 2 rating scale

Question 14

Read Siva's reply to an invitation. Choose the best sentence for each gap. One sentence is not needed.

Hi Kumar,
(a) ______ I'd love to come to your birthday party on Saturday. (b) ______ My father can only drive me there after my tuition class, so I will arrive at about 4 p.m. (c) ______ Should I bring my badminton racket too?
See you on Saturday!
Siva

Sentences: Thanks so much for inviting me! / However, I may be a little late. / I'll bring some curry puffs that my mother makes. / I'm afraid I can't come.

[1 mark] (a)Gap (a)

AThanks so much for inviting me!BHowever, I may be a little late.CI'll bring some curry puffs that my mother makes.DI'm afraid I can't come.

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Thanks so much for inviting me!

The opening thanks the friend before saying yes. I'm afraid I can't come does not fit, because Siva says "I'd love to come".

[1 mark] (b)Gap (b)

AThanks so much for inviting me!BHowever, I may be a little late.CI'll bring some curry puffs that my mother makes.DI'm afraid I can't come.

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However, I may be a little late.

However shows a small problem after the yes, and the next sentence explains why he will be late (tuition, 4 p.m.).

[1 mark] (c)Gap (c)

AThanks so much for inviting me!BHowever, I may be a little late.CI'll bring some curry puffs that my mother makes.DI'm afraid I can't come.

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I'll bring some curry puffs that my mother makes.

Bringing food goes with the next question about bringing a racket: "too" shows he has already offered one thing.

For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: reply to an invitation (gapped text)

Question 15

This sentence is too formal for an email to your best friend. Rewrite it in a friendly, informal way.
I am writing to inform you that I am unable to attend your party due to a family commitment.

[1 mark]

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A friendly, correct sentence with the same meaning: cannot come + a reason (e.g. I'm so sorry, but I can't come to your party because I have to visit my grandparents.)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: informal tone

Question 16

Aiman asked: "Which club should I join, the Chess Club or the Nature Club? Why?" Here is Faris's reply.

Hi Aiman,
Thanks for your email. I think you should join the Nature Club. The club meets every Wednesday after school in the science lab.
See you soon,
Faris

Which content point is missing? Write one sentence that Faris can add to cover it.

[1 mark]

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The reason (Why?) is missing; any correct sentence giving a reason for the Nature Club (e.g. You love plants and animals, so you will enjoy it. / It is fun because you can go on trips to the forest.)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Evaluating, high difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: covering every content point

Question 17

You are ending an email to your cousin, Amira, who is coming to stay with you during the school holidays. Write a closing sentence, a sign-off and your name.

[1 mark]

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A friendly closing sentence AND a sign-off with a name on its own line (e.g. Can't wait to see you next week! / Love, / Aina)1

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Creating, medium difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: closing and sign-off

Section C: writing (Paper 2 Part 1 style)

20 marks

You should spend about 20 minutes on this part. Write your answer, then mark it with the scheme: the points follow the four areas of the rating scale (5 marks each).

Question 18

Read the email from your English-speaking friend, Jun Wei.

Hi,
Our class is going on a one-day trip at the end of the year. Cikgu Faridah asked us to choose a place: Zoo Negara, the National Science Centre or maybe somewhere else? Which place do you think is best for our class? And what should we bring on the trip?
Write soon!
Jun Wei

In about 80 words, write an email to Jun Wei giving him some advice.
To: junwei@email.com

[20 marks] Your email

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Model answer (82 words): Hi Jun Wei, Thanks for your email. A class trip sounds really fun! I think we should go to the National Science Centre. It is great for students because we can try many experiments ourselves. Besides, it is indoors, so the hot weather and the rain will not spoil our trip. We should bring some money for lunch, a water bottle and a notebook. Don't forget your phone for photos too! Let me know what the others decide. Take care, Mei Ling

Content: chooses one place clearly (Zoo Negara, the National Science Centre or another place)1
Content: gives at least one reason for the choice1
Content: says what to bring (at least two things)1
Content: everything is relevant to the trip (nothing off-topic)1
Content: the reader is fully informed: each point has a detail or second reason1
Communicative achievement: greeting with Jun Wei's name (Hi Jun Wei,)1
Communicative achievement: a friendly opening that links to his email (Thanks for your email. A class trip sounds fun!)1
Communicative achievement: a closing sentence (Let me know what the others decide.)1
Communicative achievement: a sign-off and your name on their own lines1
Communicative achievement: informal, friendly tone all through; no chat language (u, pls, la)1
Organisation: at least two or three paragraphs (opening, body, closing)1
Organisation: joins ideas with basic connectors (and, but, because, so)1
Organisation: also uses another linking word (also, besides, then, too)1
Organisation: uses pronouns to point back (it, they, there, this)1
Organisation: ideas in a sensible order (choice, reason, things to bring); about 80 words (70 to 100)1
Language: verbs after should / can / will are in the base form (should bring, can try)1
Language: he / she / it + verb-s; correct tenses1
Language: articles are not dropped (the National Science Centre, a water bottle)1
Language: capital letters, full stops and question marks are correct (names, places, I)1
Language: common words are spelt correctly (because, bring, which, weather, really)1

Count Jun Wei's questions first: which place, why (advice needs a reason), and what to bring. Plan one short paragraph for the place and reasons and one for the things to bring. Then add a greeting, a friendly opening, a closing and your name, and check your verbs and capital letters.

Tick each point you got.

For the teacher: Creating, high difficulty, standard Paper 2 Part 1: short communicative message

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