My Best Pal

Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with
people striving to achieve their interpretation of preordained success, it is hard to know
who your true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best pal early at the tender age of
seven. We were both enrolled at the same school and were at wits ends as we
searched tirelessly for our designated classes.
Samantha and I got acquainted as both of us were in the same class and sat next to
each other. Samantha was a happy-go-lucky girl who always managed to breathe fresh
air into the sometimes arid classroom. She always knew what to say and would voice
them at the best possible moments. Both pupils and teachers alike enjoyed her
company and liveliness. There was hardly ever a dull moment when she was around
with her funny quips and expressions.
Samantha was born with a silver spoon. Her father was a businessman and her mother
owned and ran a boutique. Both her parents were very caring towards her as she, just
like I, was the only child of the family. Samantha came to school each day with a
perpetual smile. She was a very nice person to be around with. She and I used to go
everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen apart. We used to talk about so
many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time together.
One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I was
not hungry and thought I could bear going without a meal but soon, my stomach began
to growl. Without asking, Samantha generously paid for my meal and drinks during
recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and
compassionate friend.
As time went on, people started teasing us as we were spending more and more time
together. We seemed to know what each other thought and we cared for each other
deeply. Was I in love with her? I did not know then and we both knew we were too
young for all that emotional roller coaster.
Currently, Samantha and I are studying at different schools. It was hard to be apart at
first, but technology in the form of instant messaging and e-mails have helped to bridge
the gap in our friendship. I sincerely wish our friendship will never end as it would be
equivalent to waking up from a beautiful dream.

My Favourite TV Programme
The television (TV) is part and parcel of many households. Therefore, watching
television is a culture of todays modern society. It is a favourite past-time of many
people, cutting across the culture, creed, gender and age. I must admit that I too enjoy
sitting glued to the TV as mum often laments. Since I watch TV whole day long, I dont
blame mum. However, whenever I watch my favourite TV programme she doesnt
complain. In fact, she often sits together to watch it, the National Geographic.
The National Geographic is a well-known documentary programme, focusing mainly on
the ever-changing world, on Mother Earth and on nature and peoples and creatures that
colour it with. Just the press of a switch and a button and Hey Presto!, the whole world
is brought before me, for me to savour its beauty and wonders. Personally, I am often
awed and amazed with them.
I like this programme because it is very educational. It is a window to the world. By
watching it, I can travel, explore and discover the four corners of the world. I have
trekked up the highest peak and conquered Mt. Everest. I have dived down the deepest
trenches. I have walked through the wilderness and be amongst the wild beasts, big
and small. Thus, this programme has helped to expand my horizon and improve my
knowledge and experience. I can proudly say I am no more a frog in the well.
I also enjoy watching the National Geographic because it is entertaining, interesting and
stimulating. I never imagined that such an educational programme can be very
enjoyable. I get a chance to enjoy the kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and colours of the
world and its different peoples, all in the comfort of my own home.
In addition to that, this programme is of very high quality and it is produced by a team of
experts, all are authorities in their own field of interest. The photographic footage is
extremely breath-taking and inspiring. Besides, the narration is very accurate,
informative, vivid and descriptive. Thus, I have never felt restless, distracted or bored
watching this programme.
The National Geographic is my favourite programme as it has helped me to grow and
mature. I have watched it since I was a seven-year-old innocent child. Now, I am more
sensitive and aware of the world and Mother Earth. I learn to be more appreciative of
Mother Earth and its beauty and wonders. I am more concern about the preservation
and conservation of the world not only now but also for posterity. In short, the National
Geographic has converted me into a more responsible citizen of the world and a
caretaker of Mother Earth.

It is a touching and heart-warming TV programme and I will not hesitate to recommend

it to others so that they too have a chance to savour amazing moments and appreciate
and care for the one and only world we live in.

My Life 20 Years From Now

Everyone has their own future plan for their own good. To see myself from 20 years
from now would be a great gift, but it is indeed impossible. We got no time machine to
make it happen, so we just can plan, predict and pray. I have many dreams for myself.
20 years from now, I would love to see myself as a success man in career. Being on the
top of the particular carrier such as CEO, maybe a boss or a corporate worker; thats
what I want myself to be. This time my occupation is in stable, and my personal
economy flows out smoothly. I am a rich man right now, able to buy anything of my
desires easily. That would be a perfect thing to see my own future self.
Also, I want to see myself to be a great father of my children. I am able to teach and
train them well. Make sure they would never forget their customs, and enrich them with
many moral values. This can be a challenge, to teach my children in these wild social
problems. But, I will do what it takes to make sure my bloods are worth to be known as
human.
Furthermore, in the future I really hope I can get myself a car different from the locals
here. Its my favourite dream car, called BMW Z8 or maybe something better. There
must be new models to come out at the future. This is the only chance for me, I am
going to be old, so still with the local cars would be a shame to me, since it shows me
that I made no improvements.
Last but not least, I want to build myself a nice home for myself and my beloved family.
This home will hold many of our great and sweet memories together. I will decorate it
with superb flora landscape for my future wife and a nice playground for my children to
play with.
There are more things I want to achieve in the next 20 years, these are nothing but
some examples of many other. Hopefully I can do it well to achieve these dreams, so
my desire will be fulfilled while I am still alive.

A Road Accident

Road accidents are reported in newspaper and on television every day. There
are more frequently caused by reckless drivers rather than faulty vehicles. Last
Saturday, while I was travelling from Ipoh, I witnessed a serious accident. The scene of
the accidents was vivid in my mind.
A motorcyclist was following behind was taxi very closely. He was so impatient
that he was trying to overtake my taxi even near a sharp bend. At that critical moment,
there was an oncoming car. The taxi driver swerved to the roadside and I got a terrible
jolt. It was too late for the motorcyclist to avoid the car. His motorcycle ran against the
bumper of the car and smashed its windscreen. The motorcyclist somersaulted over the
car and was found lying in a pool of blood. It was a scene to chill the flesh! The car
driver, who was cut by the flying glass, was in a state of shock. All that happened in split
second and fear overwhelmed us.
The taxi driver stopped his taxi and I quickly ran to the nearest to the nearest
telephone booth to inform the police and the hospital. From a distance I could see some
people trying to help the injured motorcyclist and the car driver. They carried them into
one of the onlookers car and sent them to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile the taxi
driver tried to control and directs the traffic. Soon the police arrived and they promptly
took some measurements and evidence. After that they moved the damaged car and
the motorcycle to the roadside to ease the traffic congestion. They also took down the
evidence provided by witnesses and onlookers. Some sweepers were clearing the
debris and the blood stains on the road.
When the taxi finally continued the journey, I silently thanked God for my narrow
escape. I learned a good lesson that impatience and recklessness would bring harm
and danger. I was happy to see that Malaysians are public-spirited and they render help
to others readily. Since then I remember and follow the saying more haste less speed
and prevention is better than cure. I believe good road manners and roads safety
campaigns can help to reduce the number of road accidents which cause injuries, loss
and lives and properties.

A Terrifying Experience
"If mum finds out that I'm going to the beach, I'll be in big trouble." I muttered to myself
softly.

I crept slowly down the stairs and tried to walk casually into the kitchen. As I was
walking towards the back door, mum asked without looking up from her "dish-washing",
"Where are you going?" I answered back without hesitation, "I'm going to the garden to
play." After I got out of the kitchen, I breathed a sign of relief. My plan had worked out
fine so far. I scaled the fence and jumped onto the muddy field next to my house and
started running towards the bus-stop at top speed.
After half-an-hour, I was at the beach scanning the crowd for my friends, Jimmy and
Bobby. After a while, I spotted them near a coconut tree. I ran towards them and got into
my swimming trunk. For about an hour, we played volleyball happily.
Suddenly, Bobby hit the ball too hard and the ball fell into the sea. Just as Bobby was
going to pick up the ball, the tide came in and carried the ball further and further away
from the shore. I wanted to show off my swimming skills so I decided to get the ball for
them.
I dived into the water and started swimming at a steady pace. After swimming for about
ten minutes, I became tired but when I saw that the ball was only a few feet away from
me, I put in an extra burst of speed. However, just as I was going to grab the ball, a very
strong current swept the ball further away from me. At that moment, a string of weed
tangled up with my feet and I could not swim properly.
I struggled to keep afloat but it was no use. "If I had listened to mum and dad, this would
never have happened," I thought silently.
Finally, after struggling for a minute or two, I had no more energy and got pulled
underwater. I tugged at the weed which finally broke. I swam back to the surface,
gasping for breath. I saw two young men in canoes, racing each other. I was exhausted
but I shouted to the men for help. The two men, instead of helping me, ignored me and
raced on. By the time, a lifeguard who was holding a life buoy reached me, I had
already fainted.
When I woke up, I was in an empty room lying on a bed. It was not until a doctor came
into the room that I realised that I was in a hospital. After a few minutes, my parents with
half angry and half worried faces walked in. My parents scolded me for sneaking out of
the house but were also glad that I was not seriously injured.
I will never forget that terrifying experience. Neither will I ever want to show off again.

Describe An Afternoon at The Bus Station

It was two oclock in the afternoon. I was heading towards the bus station with Mohan
after Mrs Wongs extra class. The sun was beating mercilessly on my back and I could
feel my sweat trickling down my spine. I have often wished that my mother would allow

me to ride a motorcycle to school. She says that I am not ready but we both know that
she is terrified that a car would knock me down.
When I reached the bus station, it was nearly empty except for a handful of boys.
Mohan and I strode to a bench near the stationmasters office. I could feel the tension
on my shoulders as the straps of my school bag ate into my shoulder. Where is the
bus? I sighed to myself. An elderly woman came and asked me where I was going. She
started a conversation but gave up after my monosyllable answers.
Suddenly, someone shouted and I saw a bus swerved into the station. I got up, thankful
for the chance to escape from the woman. . It was Mohans bus. The group of boys
were jostling each other to get into the bus. Masuk! Masuk! shouted the conductor but
nobody seemed to be moving. The black fumes made me nauseous. All of a sudden,
people started appearing from all directions to board their bus. In no time, the
passengers were packed like sardines in the bus. It started to move, leaving some
unfortunate passengers behind. I waved at Mohan when I noticed him dangling on the
steps of the bus. The bus swerved out of the station again. It left another trail of black
smoke.
I decided to go to Panjangs ice stall. The iced sugar cane juice soothed my parched
throat as I sipped slowly, all the while keeping an eye on the bus. Then I saw the bus
heading towards the station. I paid for my drinks. See you tomorrow, I waved to
Panjang.
Once more, the crowd began to swell near the bus. I noticed that the elderly woman
was being shoved around by the boys. She started hitting them with her umbrella. Then,
I saw Raja, my classmate at the back of the bus. I hurled my bag through the window
and he caught it. By the time I got into the bus, it had already started moving. I got into
my seat and told myself that I must really try to convince my mother about the
motorcycle again.

It Was The Last Day of School

I could hardly wait for the school bell to ring as it was the last day of the term. Although I
had just finished my last exam, I couldn't help but daydream about the fun I would have
for the next few months - getting up late, watching movies with my friends, spending
time with my relatives in Pakistan and generally doing things I enjoy doing but don't find
the time to.
When the bell finally rang, we rushed out of our classrooms as if released from prison.
Chattering and yelling to be heard, we all gathered in a corner of the schoolyard to
discuss our plans for the coming weeks. Everyone had something to say.

To begin with, we decided to have a water fight right there and then and did. We got
soaked through and through and got caught by one the school nuns. We were lucky to
escape with a scolding.
My friends decided they were coming to my place and I had to hurriedly phone and
warn my unsuspecting mother. Luckily mom made dozens of hot dogs and French fries
and we had a fun lunch in my room.
After lunch we decided to go to the City Centre to watch the third Harry Potter film. We
got there an hour too soon but had fun all the same checking out the cosmetics shops,
video games outlets and other shops that interested us.
Finally, we bought large bags of popcorn, gigantic paper glasses of cokes and trouped
into the cinema hall. The movie was terrific as expected and when it got over I had to
overcome the urge to see it again.
The day was not over for us, however, as we still had a friend's birthday party to attend.
The only problem was that we had almost run out of money so we pooled together what
we had and bought a gift that all thought was just perfect. Luckily, the birthday girl
thought so too, so that was a relief.
The party turned out to be full of fun and games and we really enjoyed it no end. When
we finally headed our different ways, it was with no regrets. It had been an eventful day
and a full one... the perfect start to the summer holidays.

Safety Tips When Going To School

Every year, hundreds of children are injured and sometimes killed in an accidents. this
is because, they are neglecting the rules and regulation of roads safety. however, there
are many ways to prevent from the increasing of road accidents that effectuate
students.
For those who walks to school alone, needs to be companied by the elderly. Besides,
they can also walk in pairs or groups if that makes them feel more safe. Don't ever use
short cuts especially through a dark and quiet place such as the back alleys. This place
is dangerous for girls to pass through it.
Next, you have to be aware with your surroundings. Watch out for any suspicious
person. When you smell anything fishy, immediately inform it to the security guard or
straight forward to the principal. This action, sometimes can scare them away from you.
Discipline is very important. When you are well disciplined, you will never break any

rules for every place that you'll go. For an example, students who attends to school by
bus. Always queue up before ascending the bus. Patience is needed, because this will
prevent them from pushing other bus users whether they are boarding or alighting the
bus .Thus, for them who attends to school by public or private transport are also the
same. Its just that when you're waiting for your transport to fetch you up, never play on
the road or joke with your friend while crossing the road. This may cause an unexpected
accidents that occurs to you or life of others.
In a nut shell, students must follow the tips mentioned. Actions speak louder than words.
Therefore, you must ensure that you are always alert whenever you are to and from
school so, that you will stay safe. Like all people said "safety comes first".

Teenagers Don't Smoke

Smoking is one of the worst things teenagers can do to their bodies. Yet every day,
almost 5000 teenagers under age of 18 try smoking for the first time.
No wonder, tobacco companies spend billions of dollar ever year on advertisements and
other ways to make sure that these young people start smoking and buying their
product. The companies count on them to become hooked for it keeps in them in
business.
The nicotine in cigarettes is a poisonous drug. It even be used to kill insects. Nicotine
and dozens of other poisonous chemicals in tobacco can cause illness like heart
problems and certain kinds of cancer. Some of these illness take years to develop but
others can show up right away.
Generally, smoking makes a teenager's body less fit and more susceptible to infections.
For example, teenagers who smoke are much more likely to get a cold on pneumonia.
Each time they like up, it hurts their heart, lungs and brain. And the longer the smoke,
the worse the damage becomes.
Smoking has such a long list of bad points that wonders why teenagers smoke. Along
with bad breath and stinky hair and clothes, smoking makes it harder to run and to play
sports. It also cause a difficulty for blood to move around in the body.
Smokers often feel tired and cranky and cannot think quickly, not surprisingly, there are
more likely to get in trouble in school and get lower grades. There are also more likely to
lie to their friends or their parents about their activities; what they do and how they
spend their money. Smoking therefore not only brings about health problems but may
also develop undesirable traits. Teen smokers can become lazy, irresponsible and
dishonest.

The Night Market

One of the most interesting places in Malaysia is the night market. You may visit and
experience the night market yourselves. Both locals and foreigners agree that the night
market is the most common feature in the local society.
The night market begins when the vendors arrive in the late afternoon. More and more
goods laden vans arrive to begin a brisk day of business. Most of the vendors busily set
out to set up their stalls respectively in order to get ready for a brisk day of business.
The sun gradually sets and the night market picks up momentum. More cars and vans
are arriving. By now, the stalls are neatly and strategically arranged to entice their
customers. There is an assortment of goods sold ranging from food, toys and clothes, to
name a few. A variety of goods is sold at low prices.
Large rainbow-coloured parasols are used to shade the people from rain and shine. A
concoction of blaring music can be heard in the night market background amidst the
constant shouting. It is an amazing kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, smells and colours.
The night market is known as a haven by local gourmets who can enjoy various kinds
of mouth-watering local cuisine. Still more people arrive, they come from all walks of life,
mingling freely and harmoniously. Crowds are walking up and down in an endless
stream. Some of them are stopping by the stalls and haggling before making purchases.
Little children tag along, amused and excited. Sprinklings of tourists join in to
experience the lifestyle of typical Malaysian folks.
When night falls, lighted lamps brighten up the place, they add gaiety to this
atmosphere, and it is like a funfair. The night wears on and the traffic of people recedes.
Vendors get a chance to rest their weary legs besides bantering with each other.
By 10.00 pm, all the stalls call it a day. The vendors pack up and close the van doors.
One by one, they leave, leaving behind pieces of papers, plastic bags and discarded
boxes. It us an eyesore! Finally, the night market disappears. The place becomes quite
and still once more.

Why Should We Have Good Manners ?

Good manners are important to live happily among people. Without good manners we
are only slightly better than animals.
The modern society consists of more people than it did in the past. These people are of
various cultural, racial, religious and professional backgrounds. It therefore requires

great powers of endurance and abilities of mixing with people. Good manners enable
one to tolerate the disagreeable attitudes of others to a great extent. They also help to
promote friendship among the people around.
If one has good manners, that person is respected by those who associate with him or
her. Having good manners, however, does not mean that being polite, understanding,
and sympathetic when not only outside but also inside his or her home. There are many
people who are very kind and polite to people outside their homes, but within their own
homes they are worse than the devil himself. Such people do not really have good
manners.
Having good manners means being good to others. Our speech and habits as well as
our behavior should not hurt the feelings of others or cause them any inconvenience.
We should not also talk ill about others or boast about our achievements or personal
possessions. We must not laugh at the weaknesses and failures of others. Further, if we
are angry we must try to use words in such a way that others are not offended.
If we have all these qualities, we will have more friends and well-wishers. We will also
have less trouble from others, and those who associate with us will also learn how to
behave well. In this way, our good manners will help to spread better understanding and
good-will among others. Thus, we can live a happier life. It is for all these reasons that
we should have good manners.

FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING

There has been a considerable increase in the average temperature of earth
in the past century. This rise in temperature is attributed to the effects of
global warming brought about by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere. This phenomenon is called Global Warming. The effects of
global warming are numerous. The main culprits in the issue are excessive
discharge of green house gases in the atmosphere.

The effect of global warming is very evident on the animal kingdom also.
Some animals have become extinct due to loss of their natural habitat or
their inability to evolve to the rapid changes in the climate. Also there is a
change in their life style because of the changes in the seasons. The
migrating birds have changed their time of travel and also their place of
migration.
The effect of global warming can be felt on seasons too. There is shift in
season cycle, as the summers are getting longer than the winters. This has
affected the animals and made them to change their lifestyle accordingly,

and those who failed to do so have perished or on the verge of extinction.

The global warming is also responsible for the introduction of some new
diseases. The bacteria are more effective and multiply much faster in
warmer temperatures compared to cold temperatures. The increase in
temperature has led to increase in the microbes that cause diseases.
Global warming is also effecting the crop production, as the crops are getting
destroyed by the sudden change in temperatures or sudden on set of rains.
Also the flash floods and other natural calamities affect the crop.
As a matter of fact, because of global warming, the earths atmosphere is
getting more unpredictable with heavy rains in the areas, which have scanty
rainfall or drought in the areas, which received good annual rainfall. The
months of rainfall has also getting affected.
But there are some people on the other side of the wall also, they believe
that the global warming is a natural process and cannot disturb our
ecosystem. The earths surface mean temperature was even higher a long
time ago, and the ecosystem has evolved from that temperature to this. So it
can evolve further. But the changes that are happening now are rather fast
compared to earlier times.

How to Lead a Stress-free Life

In recent years, life has become more stressful than it has ever been. Many people are
suffering from stress-related problems. Stress results from a variety of aspects of the modern life
such as the development of the modern world at a very high speed and population growth.
However, there are several ways to lead a healthier and more stress-free life.
While quick fixes can make a difference, sometimes we have to make bigger changes in life
to deal with stress. Keeping our bodies healthy can help us to bounce back from stress more
quickly and it also has a great impact on our mental stress level and health.
Here are some ways to lead a stress-free life. Firstly, do exercises regularly. Do something to
get our blood pumping. Jog, run, swim, hike, climb rocks, swim, do aerobics or yoga - the
options are endless. Just be beware of the competitive sports if we tend to become angry when
playing to win. Pick a sport to help us relax, not increase our stress.
Secondly, we can adopt a hobby. We need to have an activity that is strictly for our own
pleasure. This could be dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, shopping... Again, the
options are endless.
Thirdly, we must eat healthily. Remember "what you eat is who you are" and sticking to a
healthy diet helps to keep our bodies strong. We must eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and
whole grains, and drink more water so that we will have enough energy to overcome stress.
However, try not to make our eating habits another stressful part of our lives.

Besides, it is important for us to sleep regularly and get enough sleep. Each person has
different sleeping needs. Once we know how many hours we need to sleep at night, try to stick to
a regular sleep schedule. Then, we can also learn and practise some relaxation techniques, such
as making funny face to help us relax.
Apart from that, it is also very important for us to keep the negative thoughts away as such
thoughts will always tear down our self-confidence. Lastly, we can try keeping a fixed schedule
each day such as getting up and going to bed at a certain time daily. Do not eat our lunch or
dinner to late or too early as having meals at irregular hours is not good for health.
In brief, stress is caused by many things and it will continue to increase. It is the responsibility
of the society, government, corporations and individuals to take steps so as to minimize its
impact.

Money
It is truly undeniable that in this science and technology millennium, we can hardly live
without money. Even buying something small such as sweet will cost you some money.
However, this does not mean that money can buy happiness, unlike the misconception
of most people in the world. In fact, wealth is a far cry from happiness. If you disagree
with me, let's look at the reasons for my stand.
Firstly, one of the main gates to happiness is to stay healthy. Maybe some people think
that when one is rich, he can be healthy or it does not matter even if they have diseases
because these rich men have lots of money to pay their medication. This is totally
wrong. Good health is acquired from a healthy lifestyle progressively and not in a day.
With lots of money we are tend to temp ourselves to exotic, luxurious food. If this food is
taken excessively, it will let to obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension and other
serious illness. Moreover, rich people are probably lack of exercise as they hardly walk
outdoor due to 24 hours-service debar fetching them about causing them to be at a
higher risk of getting these unnecessarily health problems. How a person can enjoys his
life and feels happy when he is confined to a wheelchair or bed-ridden. He would not
even be glad spending his money and time curing his sickness. Therefore, wealth
cannot bring happiness.
Professionals like doctor, nurse, lawyer, engineer, food technologist and accountant
earn a lot of money per month. They are considered the high class citizens who can
afford large, expensive house with huge beautiful gardens. But do they really enjoy the
pleasures of life? Most probably not because they are simply too busy with their work.
They frequently burnt the midnight oil in their work place. It is even more miserable if
they have to turn their home into a working place. Most specialists have to stand-by 24
hours in case of emergency calls from the hospitals. Hence, they can hardly spend any
relax, restful night at their home even if they posse a huge two and a half storey

bungalow with a beautiful garden and artificial waterfall. Successful businessmen may
always have a chance of flying to all parts of the world when they go out station to make
business. However, very few of them can really take it as a holiday as a treat for
themselves for their schedules are always full and they are so stressful with their works.
Even fewer businessmen can ignore urgent, pursuing calls from their clients or office
when they are going for holidays or resting. In other words, one can make lots of money
but he may not enjoy even the beauty of nature around them or the branded, expensive
things with them. So what is the use of money when we do not even enjoy a meal
properly and discontented with lives. One with a moderate income can feels happier if
he leads a simple life and be grateful with what he has.
Finally, a children or a teenage brought in moderate family is better than in a rich family.
As the sons or daughters of billionaires, their parents will give them whatever that they
want in material. These children or teenagers get a lot of pocket money from their
parents and can afford to buy many expensive things like branded, latest handset,
expensive clothes and branded sport shoes. But the question is, are they happy if their
parents are always working with only an Indonesian maid to accompany them. If they
are asked to choose between wealth and love from their parents, I believe that they
were undoubtedly choose love. A healthy family is not created for the children. These
children mentally are not as healthy as those being cared and loved by their parents.
Children need parents who can listen to their problems and give them words of wisdom,
teaching then day by day. Parents who are not rich may not be able to buy branded
things to satisfy their children but with more communication and understanding, these
teenagers will understand the difficulty of their parents in earning money, learning to be
thrifty. In short, money does not promise a happy, caring family.
Money may be able to buy a lot of things but not love, friendship, health and others.
These are the main ingredients for a happy life. Thus, it is a controversy if money can
bring happiness. Even, if we can afford many things we desired with lots of money, we
may not be happy and enjoy our lives if we are always dissatisfied with what we had,
yearning for more. Thus, I stand firm that money cannot bring happiness.

My Most Embarrassing Situation

Everyone has been embarrassed at one time or another. It is that moment in time
when you wish the earth would open up and swallow you. The anxiety and discomfort
felt during that time which may only last a few seconds feels like time has stood still.
I remember so well when I had my most embarrassing moment. I was in Form 4
and it was during the school recess. The minute the bell rang for recess, I rushed to the
toilet because I had been controlling my urges since class started. I didnt want to miss
class because the lesson taught that morning was to include tips for the forthcoming
examination.

Without realising, I had rushed to the girls toilet. The prolonged control and an
upset stomach made worse by two glasses of cold milk in the morning made me grunt
and groan in what I thought in what I thought was the privacy of the cubicle. I thought I
heard giggling outside and wondered why the giggles sounded unusually near. A few
minutes later I came out the cubicle and discovered my horror that I had entered the
girls toilet. To make matters worse, the few girls standing outside didnt even turn away
when I came out. Instead they looked down at me, then only they turned quickly away.
Horror of horrors, I had forgotten to zip up! No beetroot could have matched the colour
of my face at this point in time!
They news of my predicament spread like wild fire throughout school. I was truly
the talk of the town. I felt like I could either walk around feeling perpetually selfconscious and embarrassed or I could turn the situation round, perhaps even to my
advantage. I remembered my mothers words that if you cant beat them, join them. So
I decided to make fun of myself, to laugh at myself too. It works. Everyone got bored
after a while and nobody teased me after that.
It was indeed an eye-opening experience for me. I have learnt that when people
laugh at you, you should laugh along. You must not take yourself seriously. Learn to
look at yourself through other peoples eyes and you will realise that most of the time
when they laugh at you, they just want to have some fun. They mean no harm. If you
can make people laugh, its like bringing sunshine into their lives and as someone said,
those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

Which Do You Prefer, Living in The Countryside or Living in The City?

(Countryside)
I think living in the countryside is far better than living in the city. There are numerous of
reasons why living in countryside is the better than the city. The scenery, the streets, the
people and the paced are totally different compare to the city.
The first outstanding characteristic about the countryside is that it is beautiful and
peaceful. The air is fresh and the surroundings green. This is because the countryside is
free from pollution, be it air, land or noise pollution. There no such perfect peaceful view
that you can see other than in the countryside.
There are no crowded streets and heavy traffic in the countryside. Thus there are no
fumes from cars and smoke from factories buildings to pollute the air. The trees
surrounded the countryside help the people from inhaling the polluted air. The freshness
smell of plant somehow helps the people of the countryside to have a healthy life.
Furthermore, people in the countryside are more conscious of keeping their
surroundings clean and so there is little throwing of rubbish everywhere, only at

designated places. This is unlike the cities where if the garbage trucks do not collect the
rubbish disposed by household or restaurants, the city will be overflowing with rubbish!
This will attract the mosquitoes, fly, rats and wild dogs to pollute their surrounding that
will cause them to have diseases like dengue and cholera.
Thirdly, heavy traffic and crowded streets increase the level of noise pollution. The
honking of cars in the streets is continuous and the crowds on the roads increase the
hub of activity. There are also sound of the machine used in manufacturing factories,
loud radio in and out the mall. These add to the noise of the city. Even if one lives in
residential areas, one is never far from busy streets.
However, in the countryside, life is slow-paced. There is no need to rush around
because there are not too many places to go. Most places are close by and people can
walk or cycle. Less vehicle used, so less fumes is released.
The most heart-warming thing about the countryside is the attitude of people. People
are friendly and helpful. If there are any happy or festive occasions, everyone pitches in
to help. This feeling of cooperation and neighbourliness is what separates the
countryside from the city.
In the city, people are too busy to take note of the people around. Some hardly even
know their neighbours. So they would not even be bothered about what happens to
people around. This is why the crime rate is increasing in the city because bystanders
do not rush in to help if a crime is committed on the streets.
The pace of life in the countryside is slow so people have more time to enjoy life as the
day goes on. Thus, for me to enjoy the quality of life, I prefer to live in the countryside.

Which Do You Prefer, Living in The Countryside or Living In The City? (City)
In my opinion, one has not experienced life until one has lived in the city. There is so
much to see and experience in the bright lights of the city that you cannot get in the
countryside. Here in the city, you can learn about how to get along with people of
different types, encounter varied situations and solve problems. All these help a person
to grow in maturity. After all, experience is the best teacher.
In the countryside, however, you only move around people you are used to. So, you
seldom encounter strangers or new and demanding situations. Life is more mundane
and routine-like. Staying in a secure, safe place does not allow for one to gain new
experiences and grow in maturity.
Furthermore, young people need a life that is exciting and pleasurable. It is the city that
offers you entertainment- cinemas, parks and eating places. Here you can hang out with
friends and family members. Life as fast-paced and this keeps you active and alert all
times. And when it comes to educational opportunities, the city abounds in this. There
are good school and libraries that are necessary for your mental development.

Furthermore, there are places like museums and educational centres where you can go,
to increase your knowledge.
Such places that offer you entertainment or learning opportunities are of course not
available in the countryside. For entertainment, there is only the occasional festive
celebration or marriage feast or fishing outing. Some may find this appealing but not
me. Moreover, opportunities to widen your knowledge are limited in the countryside.
Another point in support of living in the city is the available of jobs. In the city, you can
find a job that suits your qualification or interest. If you find a job unsuitable, you can
always move to another. This, naturally, increases your earning power and you have
better chances of a more comfortable life. Of course, one may argue that one can live in
the countryside and work in the city but this will only incur extra expenses and
unnecessary inconveniences.
Thus, for all the reasons mentioned above, I think that life in the city is better than living
in the countryside. After all, you are young only once.

A Difficult Life (Story)

BEING illiterate is like a curse. It closes all doors to your life even before they can be
opened!
My mothers words rang loud and clear in my mind.
She had literally been plucked from a remote village in India and brought to the then
Malaya by my father, a man she had obediently married some sixty years ago.
Being the only daughter of a well-heeled man, she had believed that her aunt had got
her a good match. My mother was fair, tall and willowy. Everyone had remarked on her
big eyes and thick lashes when she entered her husbands house as his bride.
The marriage celebrations had gone on for three days and she had yet to see what her
groom looked like. As custom dictated, she had kept her head bowed and eyes
downcast throughout the numerous ceremonies that went on during the three days.
The fact that her head scarf had been drawn low to cover her face did not make things
any easier.
When she was finally introduced to her spouse, she was shocked. He was stocky and
quite dark while she was as white as snow, by North Indian standards.

The fate that awaited her shattered all the dreams that her aunt had spun for her, the
very aunt who had made the match.
Being the typical Indian bride, she became a dutiful daughter-in-law to her husbands
childless aunt and uncle who had cared for him ever since he had been orphaned at the
age of seven.
Life was difficult as there was nothing of the luxury that she had been used to in her
fathers house but she did not complain.
When her in-laws, asked her to pawn her jewellery to release their land from mortgage,
she did so without question.
When her husbands aunt insisted that she wove blankets for them, she did so
submissively. After all, she was illiterate and her only skills included cooking, sewing
and embroidery.
Six months later, her husband announced that they would be leaving India to seek their
fortunes in Malaya. She cried for days but remembered her fathers parting words,
Your husband decides your life for now. Go with Gods blessings.
The trip to Malaya took almost a week by ship. All sorts of fears tortured her but she did
not dare utter a single word for fear of displeasing her husband.
Upon arrival in Penang, they travelled to a little town in Perak where they lived with
another uncle until her husband secured a job.
Life in Slim River was not easy. Her husband often left her alone, unaccompanied for
days at times as he eked out a living as a lorry driver at a tin mine.
The kind Malay ladies, sensing her loneliness, tried to make small talk with her, despite
knowing that she did not understand a word of the local language.
Undeterred, they slowly taught her simple words which she would need in her daily life.
This life went on for three years.
There was no electricity or water supply. She did her washing and bathing by the river.
Despite her frail form, she could carry two pails of water all the way home for cooking
and drinking. Every night, she cried herself to sleep.
A few months later, she gave birth to a daughter. Her husband had not been pleased
and he had refused to see the new child.
He had expected his first born to be a son. His ego had taken a slight dent, but he did

not know that there was a worse fate awaiting him the tin mine ceased operations and
he lost his job.
They had no money and no savings. Not about to give up, he decided to take her and
their little daughter to the capital.
For the next few years, they lived with his second uncle and his wife who were also
childless.
Life for the young couple was no bed of roses. Jobs did not come easily those days and
after failing to secure a job, her husband gave in to the demands of his uncle and aunt.
For two meals a day, he had to wash the drains on the five-acre piece of land and cut
the grass while she had to do all the tedious household chores.
Without fail, the old woman would insist that she scrub all the brassware (even though it
had not been used) with ash every day before beginning the days chores.
She had to wash second uncles white trousers and white shirts by boiling them in
caustic soda over a charcoal fire and then scrubbing then clean before ironing them
using a hot coal iron.
Her daily chores kept her busy and she barely had time for her first-born.
The poor child was often hungry as second aunt did not provide them with breakfast.
Deprived of essential nutrients, the poor little girl was thin, almost skeletal.
The young couple endured this terrible life for several years. Even when her husband
got a job as a watchman she still had to submit to the will of second aunt.
The couple had a second child, a boy, but he died when he was ten months old. Three
years later they had me, another girl. This time my father was not so disappointed. I
suppose the hard life had made him more accepting.
Why did you allow these things to happen, ma? I asked furiously as she related her
painful past.
I held her battered hands in mine; the cuticles were swollen and the nails had turned
yellow due to all the washing with caustic soda.
... because I was illiterate and I had no one.
That was her simple answer. She had no options as she was financially dependent on
others for every single need. She could not go out to work as her husbands uncle and
aunt had a reputation to maintain. They were the cream of the town. No one knew or
even suspected that she and her husband were being ill-treated. Worse still, she had to

tolerate all forms of verbal abuse.

My father had never raised his voice. He showered me with love after the death of my
mother when I was five.
My father, who himself had lost his mother when he was twenty-six days old and his
father when he was seven, could not do much.
I am now thirteen. I know mother is telling me these stories so that I will be resilient. I
also know she wants me to study hard so that I will not have to have a difficult life.
As much as I admire my mother and her perseverance in the face of adversity, I will not
allow a similar fate to befall me.

A Holiday I Would Never Forget

Holidays, a time everyone gets hyped up over, parents planning activities for the family
to spend quality time with and school children ( as well as teachers) jumping for joy.
Hello, waking up late, celebrating, going for tuition and best of all, vacations! In my
case, a holiday I would never forget is a fruitful one I expereinced five years ago, where
my family I spent six days in the land of K-Pop and ' kimchi '- Korea.
Finally, after ages of waiting, our family arrived in beautiful Korea. Stepping out of
the plane, we could feel the chilly weather to our bones. Never experiencing that kind of
weather, my siblings and I were totally excited. Passing through immigration and
baggage claim, we were talking animatedly about our new surroundings. Since we went
with tour group, we knew we were in good hands.
Incident number one. We were supposed to take a bus to check in at the hotel, as
instructed. I guessed I was overeager and without thinking. I ran to a random bus and
knocked on the door. The young bus driver opened the door and looked at me with a
puzzled expression. He started asking me something in Korean, which of course I did
not understand. I tried to reply in English, but before I could make the attempt, my father
quickly apologized to the driver and walked me back to the tour group who was
watching from afar, shaking with laughter. It turned out that the bus I was running to was
not the bus we were supposed to take. I dismissed my burning cheeks. I was glad I
could be the butt of everyone's jokes on my first day in a foreign country.
It was a bit past lunch time when we were done checking in our hotel. Not doubt,
everybody's stomachs were grumbling. Thank God after checking in, we were going to
have our lunch and do a bit of sightseeing. While waiting for the others outside the
hotel, we walked around nearby. There was a row of vending machines that sold various
snacks and beverages, including Haagen Dazs ice-cream , and instant noodles. My

mother had a craving for Nescafe, so she spent her first Korean money on that.
At the restaurant, a delicious meal was already spread out for us. That was the first
time we all tried kimchi, a spicy and sour vegetable side dish.I did not think it was
horrible, but I preferred the fish kimchi much better. We all ate using chopsticks, so that
was kind or awkward for me and my siblings, as we were not skilled at using them yet.
Being Malaysians, we were used to rice, so it was a good thing that the Korean meal
included rice and a few other side dish, eaten from a Bento box. It was weird though,
the rice was stickier compared to the rice we eat at home, mainly to make it easier to
eat using chopsticks. There was also hot and scumptious miso soup together with the
meal. Since my sister and my brother did not like it much, I finished up theirs. I gulped
the warm soup down my throat- a nice contrast from the shivering weather outside.
One of the highlights of our activities that we did in Korea was skiing. Everybody
from the tour group was looking forward to that, even the 52-year old couple traveling
with us. Since it wasnt fully snowing yet, the hill was covered with artificial snow. After
grobbing our ski gear, we listened to a briefing by the instructor. He was very helpful,
especially with us kids and the elderly couple.
Feeling jumpy and hyperactive, me and my sister made our way to the cable car
and successfully skied down a slope. I thought, We're natural at this," and my sister
could not agree more. When we came to see how our parents and brother were doing,
my brother started to throw a snowball towards me and my sister. It hit me, and we
started having a small snowball fight of our own, just like in the movies! I guessed we
got a bit out of hand and my sister accidentally hit a woman's back when she turned
around, she had this angry look on her face and started to walk towards us .I hurried my
siblings to continue skiing with our parents ,and we ran away before she could catch us.
Breathless, we giggled in naivety as we recapped the moment.
In a way, skiing is like swimming. Why do I say so? Well, when swimming, you do
not feel tired, but you would see the effect when you get ravenous and eat more after a
session or when you intend to take a nap, but it is extended to long hours. The same
goes to skiing. When we arrived at the hotel after skiing, we were drained out and
starving. Instant noodles saved the day! We all ate curry-flavoured Maggi together,
savouring the momentary pleasure. We also dozed off quite early that night, right after
going for a walk to enjoy the amazing night view of the mountains, and breathing the
cool, fresh winter air.
Shopping in Korea was also different compared to Malaysia. Its malls were packed
with small shops or stalls on every floor. Big boutiques were not seen as much as the
quaint kiosks. Nevertheless, I found shopping at their markets more enjoyable,
especially because you could haggle the price. Their specialities were crystals, fabrics
and outerwear. Apart from that, I also liked their wet market , mainly because they were
very clean and they did not have that fishy smell. I remembered a shocking incident
when walking through the stalls of the wet market. A large fish jumped out its aquarium
and onto the floor. I stared at it and suddenly, I saw a huge cutting knife slicing through

the fish's neck! It was the owner of the stall's doing. Then, the owner left the fish
flapping around lifelessly without a head.
There was also a treasure trove among the stalls of the wet market- a tiny shop
which served grilled seafood. My family stepped into the shop and ordered some grilled
fish and cockles.
After saying our prayers, we devoured our mouth-watering find of the day. Dripped
in a type of sauce, the seafood was the best I had ever eaten, as you could taste the
freshness. Or maybe I was just hungry after a full day of activities.
If it was up to me, there were so many things to write on my memorable trip to
Korean. Not only we got to spend quality time together as a family, but we also learnt
countless new things and even discovered hidden talents. My father always said we
should travel with an open mind and an open heart. This is when you get to see your
capability to adapt to changes. Just enjoy the simple things in life and be thankful of
what you have. So, do just that. Who knows you might discover a part of yourself you
never know existed?

A Horror / Tragic Story

I opened the door, to my horror, a few skeletons lay there, chained on the wall.
Okay, time to recap. I and my friends, Jack and Peter, were playing around an old,
abandoned mansion. We were told that no one was allowed to enter. However, curiosity
overcame us and we picked the lock, granting us entrance into the sacred lair of the
unknown.
At the sight of the skeletons, the three of us were completely stunned. Our jaw hung
wide open for a few minutes before we came back to our senses. My sixth sense told
me that something was about to go wrong, so I urged the other two to back out of the
mansion.
Dont be such a chicken, said Jack, with a shaky voice.
Arent you scared too? I challenged him.
Yes, but we might never get the chance to explore here again if we leave now.
All right, but we leave as soon as the first sign of danger shows.
We ventured deeper into the mansion. The design looked like some sort of torture room,
or a prison. Even though I was afraid, I was eager to discover more. Throughout the lair,

we did not lose sight of skeletons or spider webs. These were at every corner, at every
turn. The occasional howls from a distance made the hair on our backs stand up
straight. We finally arrived at a long hallway. Jack picked up a piece of wood and lighted
it up with his lighter. The flame seared at first, but after it simmered down, I was able to
see the walls clearly. There were ancient writings, the kind we usually see in an
Egyptian grave robber movie. As the expert in history, Jack tried his best to decipher the
carvings. Meanwhile, Peter leaned towards the wall to catch his breath. At that very
moment, a cold chill went down my spine.
Watch out! I shouted.
Before he could react, that portion of the wall he was leaning against flipped, trapping
him on the other side. All he could let out was a loud shriek and he vanished behind the
walls. I pounded against the wall, shouting his name. Only then did I know what real
terror felt like. However, the chance of rescuing him was bleak. I sank to the ground,
desolated and hopeless.
Lets get out of here, we have to inform the adults! suggested Jack.
I got to my feet swiftly and both of us sped through the building. My heart was racing. I
knew that danger may be waiting at the next corner. I could hear blood pounding in my
ears. Wait, was that a creak I heard? Uh-oh, I thought to myself. The ceiling began to
crumble. My sub-consciousness took over. I sprang forward and tackled Jack. Both of
us fell to the ground. Just as I thought that trouble was out of the way, the burning piece
of wood slipped out of his hand and landed in a pile of grease. Fire started spreading
like mad. I struggled to get up.
Come on, theres not much time left! I screamed as I turned towards the exit.
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
In a split second, my head turned 180 degrees. A gigantic marble pillar fell on Jack. I
mustered all the strength from every single cell in my body, trying to lift it up, to no avail.
My eyes were watery. I was completely out of ideas.
Save yourself, leave me, please, muttered Jack, with a weak tone.
This was certainly a tough decision for me. All the moments we had spent together
flashed through my mind. How could I leave him now? As the fire was close to sealing
my only exit, I knew that I had to be rational. I dived for my escape route.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as the mansion erupted into flames behind me.

Cell phones - One of Our Greatest Technologies Misused

Cell phones have lost their meaning over the years. These small devices were once
developed to get in contact with someone else in case of emergencies, and now talking
on the phone while driving has turned out to be a way of life for millions of American
drivers. More than 85 percent of the 100 million cell-phone subscribers frequently talk
on the phone during driving.(www.smartmotorist.com) Talking on the cell phone while
driving should be illegal, because of the dangers they cause. Driving while using the cell
phone is one of the major problems here in the US. Cell phones should not be used
while driving. This matter is too dangerous to let it go unnoticed.
According to the essay, Yes, Prohibit Their Use, which appeared on the congressional
quarterlys web site on March 16, 2001, the Harvard Center for risk analysis printed a
study in 1999. They appointed a crash risk factor to using cell phones. In the summer of
2000 it came out to 450 to 1,000 fatalities each year. The NHTSH says that for every
fatality, there are 666 property-damage and injury-producing crashes. There are about
300,000 and 650,000 different crashes due to cell phones! This same essay states that
Japan is one of the 14 countries banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving.
The accidents caused by the use of cell phones dropped by 75 percent the next month,
proving cell phones are not necessary parts of the driving nature.
There are major dangers connected with driving and cell phone use. Drivers have to
take their eyes off the road while dialing. Also, drivers can get so deep into their
conversations that their ability to concentrate may be dangerously limited. This
jeopardizes the safety of the people inside the vehicle, and the pedestrians outside. In
order to drive safely, the driver should be able to put 100% of his or her focus on the
road. Cell phones are simply a huge distraction while driving.
It is understandable that there are some cases where the use of a cell phone is needed.
In these cases, I agree with the author of Yes, Prohibit Their Use, the driver should pullover somewhere safe to use the phone. If someone receives an incoming call, he
should wait until the car has come to a complete stop. Then he should proceed to use
the phone. If he feels that the emergency is urgent enough to take action right away,
then the person should use the hands free headset. Only in emergencies should cell
phones be used.
Some people argue that there are other distractions other than cell phones. While using
a cell phone when driving may not be the most unsafe distraction, studies prove that it is
the most common cause of car crash accident, and common cause of death here in the
US.
The use of cell phones while driving should be banned in Philadelphia, because many
people die due to distraction of cell phones. Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths
and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. (www.livescience.com/technology).
Another reason to not use the cell phone while driving is devastating the many lives of
the victims and their families in the case of an accident.

When driving, cell phones should not be allowed. Help the statistics decrease not
increase.

Description on a Person - A Prominent Malaysian Leader

As the fourth and most dynamic Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin
Mohamad will indelible impression on the sands of Malaysia for many years to come.
He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest-serving
Prime Minister, and one of the longest-serving leaders in Asia.
Born on 20th December, 1925 in Alor Setar, Dr. Mahathir is the son of a teacher. He is
the youngest of nine children of a school teacher and a housewife. His father, Mohamad
Iskandar, was of Indian descent, being the son of a Muslim and a Malay mother, while
Mahathir's own mother, Datin Wan Tempawan Wan Hanafi, was Malay. He is married to
Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali, they have seven children, four sons and
three daughters. From an early age, Tun Mahathir had the importance of education
drummed into him by his father, who was also a strict disciplinarian.
After his early education at the Maktab Sultan Abdul Hamid in Alor Setar, he
enrolled at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in the University of Singapore.
Armed with a MBBS degree in medicine, he set up his own clinic, the Maha Clinic in
Alor Setar. As a doctor, Tun Mahathir came into close contact with people from variety of
social strata and enjoyed a close rapport with them. He understood their problems.
Thus, when he was thrust into the politic limelight, he strove to fulfil the needs of the
people.
He was first catapulted into the world of politics when he became the Member of
Parliement for Alor Setar in 1964. After holding a number of portfolios, including Minister
of Education, Minister of Trade and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister, he finally
became the Prime Minister on 16th July, 1981. The country flourished with Dr. Mahathir
at the helm of the government. His contributions to the nation are so immense and par
excellence. He has left his mark in every aspect in politics, economy or education.
Realizing that government-owned enterprises are neither efficient nor profitable, he
initiated the privation policy in 1983. This had immediate effect of cutting down
bureaucratic ineptitude and operational cost while at the same time generating more
revenue.
With collapse of the prices of agricultural commodities in the eighties, Tun Mahathir
decided that it was time to shift the nations focus to more profitable areas. Thus, he
started the industrialization programme. Reputed as the countrys top salesman, he
showcased Malaysia to investors abroad in a bid to woo them. As a result of the heavy
industrialization drive, major projects like national car project or PROTON and the steel

company, PERWAJA, together with other mega project were launched one after
another. Next, realizing that industrialization would require a good infrastructure, he set
about improving it. The Mahathir era saw a successful completion of the North-South
Highway, the East-West Highway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport in Sepang and many more.
An astute politician, he charted the growth of the countrys progress from the day he
took office. He envisages that Malaysia can only attain the status of a fully developed
country if it becomes an industrialization one and this ambition has been his main
agenda during his tenure. With this in mind, he announced Vision 2020, his most
ambitious vision.
Frank and outspoken by nature, Tun Mahathir speak without fear nor favour. This has
been the hallmark of thus much respected statesman. The inefficiency of local and
international organizations has always come under his scrutiny and critism.
It has been almost two decades since Tun Mahathir took over reins of the government.
It has undoubtedly been the golden era for Malaysia with many notable achievements.

Pollution
Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. There are
many types of pollution, namely air, water and noise. Pollution in our environment will
undoubtedly affect our quality of life. Our naturally beautiful world becoming ugly
because it is suffering from the effects of environmental pollution. Pollution can also
cause various health problems and other negative effects.
Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles, factories and open
burning. Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles on the road as society gets more
affluent. More and more people strive to have a better quality of life by having the
convenience of driving to their destinations instead of taking public transportation.
Automobiles provides transport to millions people around the world to enable them to
travel to their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us is getting
more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon monoxide is another type of
gas which harmful to the environment as it can cause the reduction of oxygen in the
bloodstream.
Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing factories. The
manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing demand of society is also
causing air pollution. Factories release toxic gases to the environment. Some factories
also use coal to generate heat and energy. As a result from the burning of coal, carbon
dioxide is released into the environment.
Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as a way of

disposing their household wastes. Although burning our household wastes is a

convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is harmful to the environment as it
contributes to the worsening of the air quality. As a result, air pollution causes people to
suffer from health problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme cases, people
can contract lung cancer.
Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The marine life is
the first to suffer from water pollution as they depend on the nutrients in the water to
survive. As a result, we are robbed of beautiful sea corals and unique species of fishes.
Besides ruining our marine heritage, the disappearance of marine life will affect the
livelihood of fishermen, not to mention our source of food. Water pollution is caused by
harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are dumped into
our sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This irresponsible act contaminates our
drinking water and can cause serious health problems and can even culminate in death.
Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy machinery and
vehicles can cause hearing problems and in extreme cases, deafness. As there is
growing number of vehicles on the road, we are exposed to noise pollution every day.
The government in advanced countries encourage their citizens to take the public buses
and trains by providing an affordable and efficient transportation system. This effort
discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently reduces the
number of vehicles on the road.
We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future generations can
live in a healthy, unpolluted environment. As the saying goes, precaution is better than
cure. Lets hands on hands together by recycle and conserve the world for the better
future.

What Would You Do If You Had A Lot Of Money

When I was small, I often dreamt about being rich as my parents were quite poor. We
had difficulty making ends meet each month. So, if I had a lot of money, I would
certainly fulfill my dreams. First and foremost, I would buy a house for my parents,
preferably a bungalow, in a quiet town. I would equip the house with the latest
technology so that it would be a smart home. My mother would have a state-of-the-art
kitchen as she loves cooking. I would also get a maid to help her with the household
chores. I will ensure that my family is comfortably settled in this house.
The second thing I would do is to go on a world tour with my parents. I have never been
overseas but I long to see the places I have only read or dreamt about. First, I would
like to visit Europe, especially Italy, the city of romance. I would visit all the museums
and buildings I have heard so much about. My next stop would be Hong Kong or China.
There is something mystical about China and her people. This would be my dream
come true.

Apart from that, I could finally go on a shopping spree, which is my favourite pastime.
Thus far, I could only go window shopping and if I had a lot of money, I would go into
these stores and buy whatever I fancy. Just imagine that for once in my life, I do not
need to look at the prices of the items that I like. I could just shop till I literally drop. The
salesgirls would be hovering near me with their latest outfits and my wish would be their
command. Ah, I would not be ignored anymore as I walk into their stores!
Besides shopping, I would also remember the poor and the less fortunate. First, I would
certainly build a better home for the orphans in my town. In fact, I would also sponsor
their education till they could stand on their own. They would receive an allowance
monthly and I would definitely take them shopping.
Finally, I would take the opportunity to further my studies. When I was younger, my
parents could not afford to send me overseas. So, I would love to pursue a course in
interior decorating in London and once I graduate, I would like to set up my own
business with the rest of the money. They say that a fool and his money are soon
parted. Thus, I would be very careful with how I spend my money. I would invest my
money with my parents advice and keep some for rainy days.

The Importance of Studying English

It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of
the importance of English language as they tend to ignore to learn the
language. Students attitude towards the language is also crucial to make
sure that these teenagers can face the future world better by learning
English language as it is an international language.
Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance
of English, many students are still not bothered about studying it seriously.
There is also a campaign that still on to make all the Malaysian becomes a
better English learner, which is Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia,
Strengthen the English. English is the most important and the most useful
language in the world today. There are many reasons why you should study
the language properly.
First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you
want to further studies. Almost all books at university are written in English
in all subjects. Plus, it is a compulsory for any candidate to pass English with
credit before entering any universities. So, if you are poor in English, you will
blow you chance for better education or worse, you are going to have a big
problem studying at university.

The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will
help you to get a job. When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will
surely talk to you in English. The first impression you should give in order to
success and have the job is, to respond in English fluently. Your chances of
getting the job are very slim if you stutter while interviewing.
A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job.
If the company you work is actively involved in international trade, you have
to speak to prospective customers in English. Miscommunication might occur
if your English is bad. And this will put your company at risk and you will
likely be dismissed if this happen.
Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country
in the world studies English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak
fairly good English! At least some of the people you meet on your travels in
other countries can understand English. The language is certainly practical
when you are lost in your trip. Communication problem will not happen if
you can converse well in English. Inevitably, English is one of the languages
used in any airport in the world in making announcement. Knowing English
well, therefore, make travelling overseas easier.
Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you
will experience if you good in English. You will enjoy televisions best
programmes. We must admit that many of the best programmes are
produced by the Americans and British companies. High self confidence
influenced by the programmes will indirect inculcate in yourself when you
are fluent in the language. Quality time is worthily spent if you understand
and enjoy the programmes.
Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see
the importance and realise how importance the language is for their own
future. Although it is a second language in our country, it is now a main
language all over the world.
Tips On How To Improve Your Reading Habit
Reading is an activity that is both fun and enlightening. Reading also gain
knowledge and get it into ones head. Having said that, it is an activity that
many people do not engage in often. For you to advance and not to get left
behind, it is important that you must improve a good reading habit.
If you have not cultivated a reading habit yet, these are some useful tips to
improve your reading habit. First and foremost, we must have a book
around. Therefore, try to carry a book or any reading material wherever you

go. As the saying goes, armed to the teeth. Subsequently, set aside a
regular time to read. If you are busy in the daytime, during the night time or
before going to bed, you can take a book and read.
In addition to this, visit the library or bookstore. Take time to browse and let
your eyes find things of interest. Last but not least, set a reading goal. Start
with something attainable and stick to it. As your reading habit gradually
improves, you may start to set a higher goal.
In a nutshell, reading habit will develop your mental aptitude and it is a
proven fact. Similarly, it improves your ability to think and analyze things.
Taking actions by following the tips given to improve your reading habit.

Drug Abuse: Problems and Solutions

Drug Abuse: Problems and Solutions
Drug abuse is rife in many countries. Billions of dollars are spent
internationally preventing drug use, treating addicts, and fighting drugrelated crime. Although drugs threaten many societies, their effects can also
be combated successfully. This essay looks at some of the effects of drug
use on society, and suggests some solutions to the problem.
Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and communities. The
medical and psychological effects are very obvious. Addicts cannot function
as normal members of society. They neglect or abuse their families, and
eventually require expensive treatment or hospitalization. The second effect
is on crime. Huge police resources are needed to fight smuggling and
dealing. Criminal gangs and mafia underworlds develop with the money from
drugs.
However, the menace of drugs can be fought. Education is the first battle.
Children need to be told at home and in school about drugs. People need to
be aware of the effects so that they can make avoid this problem. A second
approach is to increase police manpower and powers to stop dealers and to
enforce the law. However the main target should be the user. Families and
counselors need to talk to children and people at risk. Parents need to look
at their children and help them to Jobs are needed to give people a role in
society.
In conclusion, although the problem of drugs may seem impossible to
eliminate, there are concrete steps that can be taken to weaken the hold of
drugs on society. The danger from drugs is too great to ignore.

Friends
Friends are people whom we turn to when our spirits need a lift. They are always by our side
through thick and thin. They stand beside us even when our disposition is not perfectly right and
will fight for us if we are oppressed. Therefore, it is clear that friends play a vital role in shaping
who we are today. But what qualities exactly do we need to look for in a friend?
A friend should always be caring towards you. He or she should take interest in your
problems no matter how big or petty your problem may be. A friend should be able to sit
beside you and encourage you to keep your chin up even when everyone else is
against you. A friends empathy and lovingness will also replenish your worn-out soul
and will make you realize how important a friend really is.
Apart from that, a friend should be an honest person. An honest friend will dissipate any
worries that he or she is lying towards you. A friends honesty will enable you to trust his
or shes opinion when it comes to telling you the truth about yourself. For example, an
honest friend will remand you on your declining grades and will ask you to work harder
while a dishonest friend will see it with a blind eye. Therefore, an overall improvement in
yourself will be noticeable if you have an honest friend.
Moreover, a friend should be generous both emotionally and knowledge wise. A friend
who is generous ought to be able to connect with you and provide emotional support.
He or she should also be generous when it comes to sharing knowledge. A true friend
must be ever-ready to help you when you are inept in certain subjects. A friend can
easily guide you towards understanding the subject matter better as he or she is often
on the same page as you. The only difference is that you cant quite grasp the content
of the page per second.
Besides that, a friend must also be able to humour you. Humour plays a quintessential
role in making your day more lively and enjoyable. Friends who pull your leg and mess
about will indefinitely make life seem so much better. As they say, laughter is the best
medicine and a little levity on rainy days is always welcomed.
In conclusion, friends are people we spend most of our time with. Thus, we have to be
selective when it comes to choosing our friends.