CONFIDENTIAL 1 LG/JUNE 2020/ELC121/120/SET 1

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

COURSE : INTEGRATED LANGUAGE SKILLS I /

INTEGRATED LANGUAGE SKILLS: LISTENING
COURSE CODE : ELC121/120
ASSESSMENT : ONLINE READING TASK
TIME : 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This question paper consists of three (3) parts: PART A (2 Questions)

PART B (2 Questions)
PART C (1 Question)

2. Answer ALL questions in the Question Paper.

3. Fill in the details below:

UiTM STUDENT CARD NO. : _________________________________________

PROGRAMME / CODE : _________________________________________

PART : _________________________________________

ENGLISH LANGUAGE GROUP : _________________________________________

NAME OF LECTURER : _________________________________________

4. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator.

5. Students are allowed to refer to a printed English-English dictionary.

6. Please check to make sure that this assessment pack consists of:

i) the Question Paper

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This reading task paper consists of 10 printed pages

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PART A: READING COMPREHENSION (17 MARKS)

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

Health Benefits of Durian Fruit

I The durian is a popular tropical fruit known for its unique fragrance and flavour.
It is widely recognised as the ‘King of Fruit’ in many Southeast Asian countries
and it is botanically known as Durio zibethinus. The durian tree is tropical in
origin and belongs to the family of Malvaceae; a large family of plant species
which also include some of their interesting relatives such as okra, cocoa 5
beans, hibiscus, and cotton. A typical durian tree can bear fruit after four or five
years of plantation. The tree can grow up to 50 metres in height depending on
the species. It is a seasonal fruit which lasts typically from June until August like
the mangosteen, jackfruit, and mango.

II Durian is rich in dietary fibre and serves as a great supply of energy. The fibre 10
content helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure
time to toxins. It also helps to bind and eliminate cancer-causing chemicals from
the stomach. Apart from that, the fruit is made of soft, easily digestible flesh
containing simple sugars like fructose and sucrose which tend to replenish
energy and revitalise the body instantly. The fruit is not just rich in carbohydrates 15
and fats but also contains several antioxidants that can promote health. This
means that when taken in moderation, durian can form part of a healthy diet.

III In addition, the fruit is considered nutritious as it contains vitamin C.

Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop
resistance against infectious agents and harmful free radicals. Indeed, it is also 20
an excellent source of health benefiting B-complex vitamins; a rare feature for
fruits, such as niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, and vitamin B1. These
vitamins are essential for maintaining good health and well-being.

IV Durian also contains a good amount of minerals like manganese, copper, iron
and magnesium. Manganese is utilised by the body as a co-factor for the 25
antioxidant enzyme. On the other hand, copper is required in the production of
red blood cells while iron is essential for red blood cell (RBC) formation. A fresh
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durian also has a very rich source of potassium which is an essential electrolyte
inside cells and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
Additionally, it contains high levels of essential amino acid, tryptophan which is 30
also referred to as ‘nature's sleeping pill’. This type of acid in humans
metabolises into serotonin and melatonin; the neurochemicals that play a vital
role in sleep initiation and soothe nervous irritability.

V Durian is sold in markets all over the East-Asian world and imported into the
United States and Europe. People have different preferences for its ripeness; 35
some like it slightly ripe, some prefer it tart, and others favour it overripe.
Outside its natural habitat, durian is one of the most expensive fruits; some of its
varieties like D24 are in high demand and therefore, may command a higher
price.

Adapted from https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/durian-fruit.html

QUESTION 1 (13 MARKS)

a) What do the following words and phrases refer to?

i) which (line 5) : _____________________________________

ii) simple sugars (line 14) : _____________________________________

iii) These vitamins (lines 22-23) : _____________________________________

iv) neurochemicals (line 32) : _____________________________________

v) others (line 36) : _____________________________________

(5 marks)

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b) Write the meaning of each of the following words as used in the passage.

i) seasonal (line 8) : _______________________________________

ii) eliminate (line 12) : _______________________________________

iii) develop (line 19) : _______________________________________

iv) essential (line 28) : _______________________________________

(4 marks)

c) Write T if the statement is TRUE or F if the statement is FALSE.

i) The durian season lasts for about three months.

ii) Many fruits, other than durians, contain B-complex vitamins.

iii) A person having sleeping problems could benefit from eating fresh durians.

iv) Certain varieties of durian are more expensive.

(4 marks)

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QUESTION 2 (4 MARKS)
Complete the table with information from the passage.

Durian- The King of Fruits

Characteristics Nutritional Information

Good source of energy • Simple sugars revitalise and a) ______________

the body immediately.

Rich in vitamins • Vitamin C contains antioxidant that builds

resistance against b) _____________________.

• Vitamins B-Complex are good for health and well

being.

Contains c) _______________ • Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for

the antioxidant enzyme.
• Copper plays a vital role in the production of red
blood cells.
• Iron assists in red blood cell (RBC) formation.

• d) _____________________ helps to control heart

rate and blood pressure.

(4 marks)

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PART B: READING COMPREHENSION (13 MARKS)

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

Are E- cigarettes harmful?

I Electronic cigarettes are harmless? Think again. A new study shows that the
flavourings in e-cigarettes can harm human infection-fighting cells. E-cigarettes
work by heating a flavoured liquid to make a mist that users inhale, or ‘vape’.
These flavoured liquids, called e-liquids, usually contain nicotine. Manufacturers
add nicotine for vapers who want a buzz from their e-cigarettes. It is the same 5
stimulant that traditional cigarettes deliver.

II E-cigarettes may be useful for adults who are addicted to traditional cigarettes
and want to wean themselves off them. On the other hand, some young people
may choose to vape nicotine-free e-cigarettes than smoke traditional cigarettes
as they feel the nicotine found in the latter is harmful to them. However, new 10
data suggest that e-cigarettes can still be toxic, even without nicotine.

III Irfan Rahman and his team who are toxicologists from the University of
Rochester in New York studied whether various materials can poison the body’s
cells or tissues. In 2017, they conducted studies to determine whether certain
flavoured e-liquids are toxic. They tested several common e-liquid flavourings 15
which are made from different chemicals like cinnamon roll, cotton candy,
pineapple, and cherry. The chemical flavourings are considered safe in foods
because after a person swallows them, they are broken down in the gut.
However, these same chemicals are not safe to breathe in as they could harm
parts of the respiratory tract such as the lungs. 20

IV In one set of tests, the researchers exposed macrophage, a type of white blood
cells, directly to the flavourings. These cells are part of the immune system
which fight diseases. Macrophages hunt down and ‘eat’ particles that should not
be in the blood stream which include germs or other things that might make
people sick. Rahman’s team found that some of the vape flavourings were toxic 25
to blood cells as they contributed to high levels of cell death. The team
discovered that among the vape flavourings that they tested, cinnamaldehyde
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found in cinnamon-flavoured vape killed the most blood cells.

V In a second set of tests, the researchers used a ‘vaping machine’ to suck e-

liquids through an e-cigarette. Afterward, they measured what vapours had 30
entered the air. The researchers then exposed human cells to these vapours.
They showed that heating each flavouring in an e-cigarette created harmful
levels of molecules that can damage cells. What is more, mixing two or more
flavours together caused even higher levels of these damaging molecules than
heating each on its own. This suggests that breathing in multiple e-liquid 35
flavours could be more dangerous than exposure to just one at a time.

VI The findings bring great concern as e-cigarette users often pass their devices
around. This means they could be sharing and inhaling a lot of different flavours
while being unaware of the danger that they are exposed to from such action.
The findings of the tests could help government agencies decide which 40
flavourings to regulate or even ban. At the same time, they could also help
manufacturers create safer vape products for the consumers.

Adapted from https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/e-cigarettes-dont-

need-nicotine-be-toxic

QUESTION 1 (11 MARKS)

a) Based on the text, how do e-cigarettes function?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

b) Why do some young people choose e-cigarettes over traditional cigarettes?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)
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c) List two (2) types of e-liquid flavourings that were tested by Irfan Rahman’s team of
researchers.
i) ____________________________________________________________________

ii) ____________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

d) What is the topic sentence of paragraph III?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

e) State two (2) specific methods used by the researchers to test the dangerous effects of
e-cigarettes.
i) _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

ii) _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

f) Why is it dangerous to mix two or more flavours when vaping?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

g) The word ‘however’ in line 19 connects two ideas. What are these two ideas?

i) __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

ii) __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)
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h) In your own words, explain the meaning of the following phrase: “Manufacturers add
nicotine for vapers who want a buzz from their e-cigarettes”. (line 5)
_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

QUESTION 2 (2 MARKS)
Do you think government agencies should ban e-cigarettes? State your reason.

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

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CONFIDENTIAL 10 LG/JUNE 2020/ELC121/120/SET 1

PART C: GRAMMAR (10 MARKS)

Fill each blank with ONE suitable word.

Feeling stressed is perfectly normal especially during exam time. You might notice that (0)
sometimes being stressed-out motivates you to focus on your work. At other times, you
feel incredibly overwhelmed and cannot concentrate on anything. While stress may affect
individuals in different ways, there are two major (1) _____________ of stress; good stress
that is beneficial and motivating and bad stress that causes anxiety and even health
problems. There are benefits and side effects of stress and you should know how to tell if
you are experiencing too much of it.

According to experts, stress is a burst of energy that basically advises you on what to do. In
small doses, stress has many (2) ________________. For instance, stress can help you
meet daily challenges and motivate you to reach your goals. In fact, stress can help you
complete tasks more (3) _____________ and it can even boost memory. In addition, there
are many health benefits with a small amount of stress. Researchers believe that
some stress can help strengthen (4) ____________ immune system. For instance, stress
can improve how your heart works and protect your body from infections. In one study,
individuals who experienced moderate levels of stress before surgery (5) ____________
able to recover faster than those who had low or high levels.

On the other hand, huge amount of stress can be (6) ___________ and should not be
taken lightly. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken
the immune system and (7) __________ high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety
and even heart disease. It can change the arteries and how their cells are able to
regenerate.

It may be difficult to tell when you are experiencing good (8) ___________ bad stress, but
there are clear signs that your body shows when you are struggling with too much stress.
(9) ________________ may include body aches, headaches, changes in appetite and
trouble falling asleep or staying awake. Furthermore, chronic stress can lead to serious
health problems, including high blood pressure, digestive issues, depression and anxiety.
(10) ________________, it is important to manage stress, prevent negative stress levels
and speak up if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Adapted from http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/450-good-stress-bad-stress

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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