NAME: Yuan Wei Ye NO: 38

CLASS: 2E4
Holiday Homework 2018 (Riverside Secondary MYE 2017)
Section A
Text 1
Study the webpage below and answer questions 1-4 in the question paper booklet.

1128/02/EL/MYE/2017/Insert [Turn over

 A friendly “Good morning” between neighbours comes easy
to us. But not for those restarting lives after prison. Each day
they face a tug of war between hope for a fresh start and fear
of an uncertain future instead.

You can inspire confidence in them by giving a kind word or

friendly greeting.

Unlock their second prison.

Section B
Text 2

The text below describes a woman who overcame her fear of flying in a plane. Read it
carefully and answer questions 5 – 13 in the question paper booklet.

1128/02/EL/MYE/2017/Insert [Turn over

1 It’s not death I’m afraid of,” I said, sipping tea, “it’s risk.” Outside, the trees in the
November drizzle looked monotone against the two fat red suitcases perched side
by side in the middle of the room like eager pets.

2 He reached over to stroke my swollen abdomen. “Don’t worry, I promise you’ll be

OK.” His expression, with eyebrows raised, was midway between questioning and 5
disbelief. It was a look that I was familiar with. Gabriel had never understood my
fear of flying, it leaves me disgruntled at times.

3 “Yeah,” I replied, sucking in the word. I rested my hands upon his. The pregnancy
showed even though it was early days and it had only increased my fear.

4 It had been Gabriel’s mission to get me on a plane ever since he came to know of 10
my phobia; and pregnancy hadn’t changed this. The pep talks, the therapy he had
insisted on (and paid for) and now this holiday. He’d made sure it was medium-
haul although far enough to reach warmer climes. This was his grand opportunity
to test the success of his pet project – fixing me. And so far it was going well. The
doorbell sounded a soulless rendition of a Bach classic, and with that we wheeled 15
our suitcases out to the waiting taxi.

5 It was at the airport, after check in, the pace of my breathing started to quicken.
We hadn’t even boarded and already waves of hot dread were tumbling through
me. Everyone always behaved as if I was the one in need of help; Gabriel, the
therapist, my support-group leader, but what if they were wrong? What if it was 20
perfectly rational to fear hurtling through the sky with only miles of nothingness
below? Perhaps, I thought, it was everyone else who was blind to the precarious
reality of flight.

6 Seated in the plane, a fleeting image of a twisted wreckage came to me. I tried to
replace it with a watery alpine scene. (“Positive visualisation” were the words my 25
therapist used). It didn’t work. The increasing howl of the engines took away the
strength in my legs. I gripped the armrests so firmly that my fingers hurt. I tried
focusing on my breathing. Forcing it to deepen and slow. One… two…three… and
out.

7 It made no difference. I was consumed with thoughts of vast empty skies, a thin 30
metal shell as the only thing between me and nothingness. As we took off, I knew I
hadn’t overcome my fear; I was enduring it.

8 When we arrived at our destination, my nerves were jangled and the flight had
sapped me of all energy. But, that first night, I slept deeply and the next morning I
felt better. “I knew you could do it,” Gabriel said. He was perched on the edge of 35
the bed waiting for me to wake. I let him believe Project Me was a success and,
after a buffet breakfast, we stepped out to visit the local bazaar. The sun laid a
blanket of warmth on my shoulders as I examined a pendant. That was when I
heard the first bang. It reminded me of fireworks, only it made my blood run cold.

9 “What was that?” I said. 40

10 “I don’t know,” Gabriel replied, as two further bangs sounded in quick succession.

11 “It sounds like…” I said, when I noticed the entire bazaar had fallen silent. Without
warning, traders leapt over their stalls, covered their wares, and dropped their

1128/02/EL/MYE/2017/Insert [Turn over

 canopies in a seamless move.
12 45
“Gunfire!” someone shouted.
13
A market trader rushed Gabriel and me out of the bazaar. We ran and ran until
eventually we reached a low wall. Tumbling behind it, I cradled my swollen belly,
protecting the promise of my life ahead. When I opened my eyes, I saw Gabriel,
red-faced, his eyes wide with fear.
14 50
At last, we reached our hotel. We later discovered that there had been a street riot
with gunfire, but no casualties. Gabriel and I didn’t speak as we packed for the
emergency flight which had been arranged. On the return flight, I admired the
ethereal glow in the carpet of clouds below us.
15
“Not afraid to look out the window, are you?” Gabriel said to me, in a triumphant 55
voice. He smiled a soft unfamiliar smile. That’s when I noticed, suspended
between earth and sky, I wasn’t afraid. In fact, I couldn’t ever recall feeling so
safe. Bemused, I thought about the gunfire and happily sank into my seat.

Adapted from: Flight by Hina-Belitz

1128/02/EL/MYE/2017/Insert [Turn over