KOLEJ UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

CENTRE FOR PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDIES

ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021
DECEMBER EXAMINATION

FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2020 TIME: 2.00 PM – 4.00 PM (2 HOURS)

FOUNDATION IN ACCOUNTING
FOUNDATION IN ARTS
FOUNDATION IN BUSINESS
FOUNDATION IN COMPUTING
FOUNDATION IN ENGINEERING
FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE

Instructions to candidates:

1. Answer ALL questions in the format/ template requested or provided.

2. Include your FULL NAME, STUDENT ID, PROGRAMME OF STUDY and
SEMESTER in your answer submission.
3. This is an open book final online assessment; but you MUST NOT receive any help
whatsoever from any other person.
4. Read all the questions carefully and understand what you are being asked to answer.
5. Marks are awarded for your own (original) analysis. Therefore, use the time and
information to build well-constructed, concise, accurate and thoughtful answers with
supporting explanations and justifications.
6. You must submit your answer within the time frame allowed for this online assessment.
The deadline for the submission of your answers is half an hour from the end time of
this online assessment.
7. Penalty as below WILL BE IMPOSED on students who submit their answers late as
follows:
i) The final marks of this online assessment will be reduced by 10 marks for answer
scripts that are submitted within 30 minutes after the deadline for the submission of
answers for this online assessment.
ii) The final marks of this online assessment will be downgraded to zero (0) mark for any
answer scripts that are submitted after one hour from the end time of this online
assessment.
8. Any late submission after the stipulated time frame or no submission, are deemed to be
failure of the online assessment. [Note: For candidates facing problems to submit the
online assessment, please email to cpus@tarc.edu.my within 48 hours of the online
assessment to apply for "I" indicator under Extenuating Mitigating Circumstances (EMC)
situation. Attach your email with supporting documents and EMC form which can be
obtained from your student intranet.]
9. Students are required to complete the declaration section before submission of your
answer.

This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.

FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2

STUDENT’S DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY

By submitting this online assessment, I declare that this submitted work is free from all forms of
plagiarism and for all intents and purposes is my own properly derived work. I understand that I
have to bear the consequences if I fail to do so.

This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.

FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 3
READING COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY [100 MARKS]

QUESTION 1 (32 marks)

Questions 1(a) to 1(p) are based on the following passage.
Freedom for Teenagers
1 The teenage years are a phase of trials and tribulations and a period of confusion and
stress. Many regard the teenage years as dangerous minefields that can be detonated if
left unguarded and unattended. As teenage years are full of risky experimentation just to
savour certain “first time” experiences, it is extremely dangerous to leave teenagers to
themselves for long periods of time. However, as a result of modernisation, social 5
pressures and the influences of mass media, teenagers nowadays are left to themselves
far too often.

2 As our world advances into the 21st century, man’s mindset undergoes tremendous
change. The emerging teenagers of this new millennium adopt a free and modernist point
of view in contrast to restricted and conservative thinking. Gone are the days when 10
teenagers were willing to be controlled by their parents. Teenagers today demand total
freedom to do what they want. For instance, they expect to be left alone while hanging
out with their friends drinking designer coffee. Breakdancing outside a shopping mall or
skateboarding along the pedestrian pavement. After all, the new generation of teenagers
possesses confidence in their abilities to take care of themselves. It can also be clearly 15
seen particularly in the cities that many teenagers, having being exposed to modern
lifestyles, are able to support themselves by working part time. Consequently, they do
not need to depend on their parents anymore, and having tasted financial independence,
they expect their parents and others to treat them like adults too. In most cases, this is a
good thing as they mature earlier and fit into society naturally. Nevertheless, there are 20
some who will turn into egoistic and materialistic teenagers, creating problems for others
as they feel that they are the better “breed” and have experienced it all compared to
others.

3 In line with this, social pressures hike up as working parents continue to compete in a
rat race for better job advancement and material gains. These social pressures can work 25
in two ways to influence how parents treat their teenage children. First, parents might be
pressured by society to overindulge in their teenage children to the extent that they do
not bother to intervene in their teenagers’ problems. These parents might “spare the rod
and spoil the child” and let their teenage children make their decisions all the time.
Second, while working hard, parents might spend less quality time with their teenage 30
children and leave them alone all the time. In both situations, some teenagers are left to
themselves to pursue on the spur of the moment unhealthy activities such as taking
ecstasy pills and getting themselves involved in gangsterism. There are also some who
will be influenced negatively by their peers into committing vandalism, taking drugs and
committing every imaginable crime. In schools, these teenagers become bullies, and 35
more often than not, they create disciplinary problems such as playing truant, smoking,
challenging authority and the list goes on.

4 Mass media also shares some of the blame for teenagers being left alone too
frequently. The American or most Western mass media usually portray their teenagers
as being independent and free to enjoy life with their peers. Independent teenagers, who 40
are left to themselves, are depicted as enjoying their lives and having fun. With the mass
media focusing on the advantages of being independent, Malaysian teenagers are blinded
by the exaggerated ideals of independence. They naturally demand and try to practise
the same independent lifestyle. Consequently, teenagers do not wish to be under
anyone’s thumb and wish to live life freely to their hearts’ content. Once they have 45
tasted an independent lifestyle and have been clouded by the unrealistic portrayal of
independence in the media, they feel that they have become mature or adult-like.

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FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 4
However, this is not always the case as many of these teenagers will, at some point in
time, run into trouble. They may cohabitate with the opposite sex, face relationship or
financial problems, handle pregnancy issues and other social issues. Only when they 50
encounter these problems will the reality of having too much freedom sink in. Due to
their immaturity and lack of experience in handling these problems, many of them will
either try to escape from the problems or choose the easy way out by committing suicide.

5 In conclusion, the phrase “too much of a good thing is bad” sums it all up. Teenagers
should not be left on their own too much for this can lead to possible social ills as a 55
complacent mind breeds evil. Nonetheless, parents should not exert excessive control
over their teenage children as it may backfire and result in their teenagers rebelling
against them.

For questions 1(a) to 1(j), match the definitions with the vocabulary in the box.
(2 marks each)
savour conservative possesses hike up intervene

peers portray exaggerated clouded complacent

1(a) increase
1(b) friends
1(c) idle or inactive
1(d) traditional
1(e) overblown
1(f) enjoy
1(g) interfere
1(h) blinded
1(i) depict
1(j) owns

Questions 1(k) to 1(p) are based on the given passage. (2 marks each)
1(k) How do most people perceive the teenage years?

1(l) In what way has teenagers’ frame of mind changed?

1(m) What causes social pressures to rise?

1(n) How does Western mass media depict teenagers?

1(o) Give FOUR (4) specific problems encountered by teenagers as a result of having too much

independence and exposure to unrealistic portrayals of independence by the media.

1(p) State the TWO (2) reasons why some teenagers decide to end their problems by taking their

own lives.

This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.

FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 5
QUESTION 2 (30 marks)
Questions 2(a) to 2(o) are based on the following passage.

1 Brandon’s best friend is Milo. Milo and Brandon are inseparable. They teach each other
things and they look after each other. Milo has helped Brandon become more responsible,
more caring, and a better friend. Brandon is a five-year-old boy, and Milo is a ten-year-old
dog. Brandon and Milo are an example of how owning a dog can have a positive effect on a
child’s development. Having a dog develops a child’s sense of responsibility, broadens his 5
capacity for empathy, and teaches the nature of friendship.

2 Having a dog helps a child learn how to act responsibly. As a dog owner, the child must
take care of the animal’s daily needs. The dog must be fed and exercised every day. A dog
is completely dependent on its owner for all its needs, including the need for good health
and a safe environment. Therefore, being responsible for a dog also means taking care of the 10
dog so that it stays healthy. Furthermore, the owner must take responsibility for the safety
of the dog and the safety of the people it comes into contact with. If the child forgets any of
these duties and responsibilities, or ignores any of the dog’s needs, the dog will suffer. This
teaches the child that his responsibility to the dog is more important than his desire to play
with his toys, talk on the phone, or watch TV. This is true not only for the care of a dog, but 15
also for the care of oneself, another person, or one’s job. Learning how to take
responsibility for the health and welfare of a dog leads to learning how to take responsibility
for oneself.

3 Another lesson that a child can learn from having a dog is how to be empathetic.
Empathy is the ability to put oneself in another person’s, or in this case another creature’s, 20
situation and imagine that person’s or creature’s feelings or problems. A dog cannot express
itself with speech, so its owner must learn how to interpret its behaviour. The child must
learn to understand what the dog’s behaviour means. Is the dog frightened, aggressive, or
sick? The child needs to understand what is going on in the dog’s mind. Understanding a
situation from the dog’s perspective helps the child understand why the dog is behaving in a 25
certain way and what the dog needs. The result of learning to read a dog’s behaviour is that
the child develops empathy. By learning how to empathize with a dog, the child also learns
how to empathize with other people. This leads to the child becoming a more considerate
and caring person.

4 Being considerate and caring are important characteristics of a good friend. One of the 30
most significant benefits of owning a dog is the example of true friendship that a dog
provides. A dog gives unconditional love to its owner. A dog will not stop loving its owner
because of a little anger, indifference, or neglect. The dog will wait patiently for its owner to
pat its head and say a few kind words. This acceptance of the negative qualities and
appreciation for the positive qualities of its owner provide a wonderful model of how to be a 35
good friend. A child soon realizes that his dog will always listen to him, will always be
ready to play with him, will always protect him, and will always forgive him. A child who
has learned to be even half as good a friend to others as his dog is to him will have learned
one of the most valuable lessons in life.

5 These are some of the most important lessons a child will ever learn. The benefits of 40
owning a dog will last the child’s entire lifetime. The understanding and appreciation of
responsibility, empathy, and friendship that a child develops from the experience of having
a dog will help him or her grow into a reliable, caring, and mature adult.

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FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 6
(2 marks each)
2(a) The word ‘inseparable’ in paragraph 1 is best replaced with
A. united.
B. very intimate.
C. distant.
D. disjoined.

2(b) According to the passage, which is not a positive effect of having a dog on a child's development?
A. Feeling empathy
B. Feeling responsible
C. Building trust
D. Building friendships

2(c) A child learns how to be responsible for a dog by

A. knowing the right type of exercise to do with it.
B. feeding its favourite yet unhealthy food.
C. becoming dependent on the dog.
D. providing a secure environment.

2(d) According to the second paragraph, what should a responsible child do when he has a dog?
A. Play with his toys
B. Watch TV
C. Talk on the phone
D. Walk the dog

Provide the comparative adjective and superlative adjective form for the following words:
healthy (line 11)
2(e) comparative form: _________________________
2(f) superlative form: _________________________

mature (line 43)

2(g) comparative form: _________________________
2(h) superlative form: _________________________

2(i) Learning how to care for a dog can help children

A. to choose his toys over the pet.
B. to ignore the dog’s welfare sometimes.
C. to care for themselves too.
D. to prepare the best welfare for the dog.
This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.
FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 7

2(j) What form is the word ‘needs’ in paragraph 2 used as?

A. adverb
B. noun
C. verb
D. adjective

2(k) A dog owner can be empathetic towards his dog in the following ways EXCEPT
A. putting himself in his dog’s situation.
B. imagining his dog’s feelings and problems.
C. communicating with his dog.
D. interpreting his dog’s behaviour.

2(l) What kind of love does a dog provide?

A. selective
B. unconditional
C. shallow
D. everlasting

2(m) Which of the following is a positive result of learning how to interpret a dog's behaviour?
A. Becoming boastful
B. Becoming self-centered
C. Becoming compassionate
D. Becoming inconsiderate

2(n) The following are positive qualities that a child can learn when owning a dog EXCEPT
A. maturity.
B. companionship.
C. negligence.
D. friendship.

2(o) A dog shows loyalty to its owner through the following ways EXCEPT
A. demonstrating unconditional love.
B. guarding them.
C. tolerating their bad traits.
D. abandoning its owner.

This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.

FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8
QUESTION 3 (38 marks)
Questions 3(a) to 3(k) are based on the following passage.
How One of the World’s Heaviest Men Beat Coronavirus

1 The world’s former heaviest man survived a gruelling battle with COVID-19. Originally
fighting underlying illnesses brought about by his obesity, Juan Pedro Franco is
considered a high-risk individual in this pandemic. This means that his risk of catching
the disease is high, and suffering from a weakened body from secondary infections is
highly likely. It took him a whole month to fully recover. Now, he is back on his feet 5
thinking he would never live another day to tell the tale of how he survived the world’s
modern-day pandemic. His story of survival is truly inspirational.

2 2016’s World’s Heaviest Man

His peak weight of 595 kg (1,312 lb) gained him the Guinness World Record for being
the world’s heaviest man in 2016. He was the size of a large bear! Born in Mexico in 10
1985, this 32-year-old man never thought that he would go on to win the Guinness
World Record for having the heaviest weight in the world. His record was beaten in
2017 by a man who was 617 kg (1,340 lb) heavy. He may have won the title for being
the heaviest in the world, but Franco was unhappy with his weight. Walking and running
is difficult. He could barely sit or sleep properly. Standing has become a chore. These 15
physical difficulties were worsened by the presence of underlying illnesses like diabetes,
heart disease, and hypertension. Even at his young age, he could suffer an infection and
easily die from it because of his body’s such an unhealthy state.

This is when he decided to go to a medical professional to get his health status assessed.
He was recommended to lose more than 50% of his body weight. To do so, he had to 20
undergo several operations, go through intense exercise routines, and be strict with his
nutrition.

3 Shedding all the former weight

What many doctors believe was Franco’s saving grace was his weight loss that continued
for several years. His weight loss treatment since he won the title in 2016 has kept his 25
diabetes and hypertension in control. He had multiple surgeries done, like gastric bypass
and gastric band surgeries. He also underwent a Mediterranean diet consisting mostly of
vegetables and fruit. Franco successfully shed more than 400 kilos of weight. The former
titleholder is still heavy at the weight of a little over 200 kg, but it is a far cry from what
his body was more than four years ago. 30

4 Does obesity affect COVID-19 survival?

Multiple kinds of research explore the idea that people with obesity are more likely to be
succumbed to COVID-19. Almost half of the people with obesity who contracted
COVID-19 are likely to suffer an unexpected death. Three of a quarter are likely to be
admitted to an ICU facility. The likelihood of an obese person contracting COVID-19 is 35
1.13 times higher than those people with healthy weights.

According to some researches, the blood of people with obesity has higher tendencies to
clot. This could create significant damage and clotting to small vessels in the lungs
leading to more difficulties in breathing. Furthermore, the immune system of people with
obesity is much weaker because fat cells replace healthy immune cells in areas like bone 40
marrow, thymus, and spleen. The presence of fat in such organs does make the blow of
infections much severe in obese bodies.

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FPEN1033 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 9
However, this does not change the fact that people with healthy weights are still likely to
get the disease upon exposure. It relies on how well the body recovers from infection and
how the immune system reacts to the presence of the virus in the body. 45

5 Understanding coronavirus co-morbidities and high-risk individuals:

Young children
Since it is much difficult to tell young children to often wash their hands, put on some
sanitizer, and keep on their masks, the spread of the disease in young children is likely.
The immune system of young children may not be potent enough to kill off a virus. They 50
are more likely to show symptoms of the disease than adults. It is always best to keep
children away from harm. Keeping the children home is best to keep them safe from
infection.

People with underlying diseases

Although they may not likely die directly from COVID-19, people with underlying 55
illnesses are likely to perish from existing medical conditions which are worsened by the
presence of the virus. Patients with weaker immune systems are more likely to contract
the disease than normal adults.

Elderly
It is true that the risk of COVID-19 increases with age. People in their 50s and 60s have 60
higher risks of contracting severe illness than those in their 30s and 40s. It is best to limit
interactions with other people as much as possible. Observing health precautions is also
recommended. The elderly have weaker immune systems and have higher chances of
having underlying illnesses. Their bodies may also take a longer time to recover from the
illness than younger individuals. 65

3(a) The word ‘gruelling’ is best replaced with ______________. (2 marks)

3(b) What was Juan Pedro Franco’s heaviest weight? (2 marks)
3(c) According to paragraph 2, what physical difficulties did Franco experience? (4 marks)
3(d) Which statement in paragraph 2 suggests that the action of standing is an
inconvenience to Franco? (2 marks)
3(e) In line 19, what is the meaning of ‘assessed’? (2 marks)
3(f) What professional advice did Franco receive in order to lose more than half
his body weight? (6 marks)
3(g) What THREE (3) things did Franco do to lose weight in 2016? (6 marks)
3(h) In your opinion, what do you think the phrase ‘a far cry’ in line 29 means? (2 marks)
3(i) Give THREE (3) ways how obese people are at a higher risk of contracting
COVID-19. (6 marks)
3(j) According to the passage, why should young children be kept at home during
this pandemic? (4 marks)
3(k) Which group of people have compromised immune system, underlying
diseases and need a longer recovery time? (2 marks)

This question paper consists of 3 questions on 9 printed pages.