Use the following notes to construct a readable story. Remember to state the moral of the story.

An old lady becomes blind-calls in a doctor-agrees to pay large fee if cured, but nothing if not-doctor calls daily-covers lady's furniture-delays the cure-every day takes away some of her furniture-at last cures her-demands his fees-lady refuses to pay, saying cure not complete-doctor brings a court case-judge asks lady why she will not pay-she says sight not properly restored-she cannot see all  her furniture-judge gives verdict in her favour-moral.

Hints on writing your narrative:

1. Make sure your points are connected properly so that your story doesn't become disjointed or jerky.
2. As this is a story, make sure your story is idiomatic and remember to include dialogues.
3. In the SPM exam, if you are asked to provide a title, make sure you have one.

SPM English 1119 New Literature Component from 2011

Poems

• In the Midst of Hardship - by Latiff Mohidin
• He Had Such Quiet Eyes - by Bibsy Soenharjo
• Nature - by H.D Carberry
• Are You Still Playing Your Flute? - by Zurinah Hassan

Short Stories

• QWERTYUIOP - by Vivian Alcock
• The Fruitcake Special - by Frank Brennan

Novels

• Catch Us If You Can - by Catherine MacPhail
• Step by Wicked Step - Ann Fine
• The Curse - by Lee Su Ann

Understanding Rudyard Kipling's Poem "If".

One of the poems in the SPM English 1119 Literature Component is 'If' by Rudyard Kipling. It is also one of my favourite poems as it tells me what leadership means.Although it is addressed by a father to his son, it should not be interpreted as only for sons. I would use it just the same for my daughter. Sadly, this poem has been taken off the list from 2011. Anyway, this is a sampling of a new course I am writing for my website at : www.spmenglish1119.com. 
The course is expected to be ready in three months' time.
                       If
                by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

1.       What do you call the first two lines (stanza 1) where the last word in both lines rhyme?

A.                A. couplet  B.  free verse  C. verse

2.       Which line in stanza 1 tells us that he must allow others to disagree with him?

A.                A.  Line3   B. Line 6    C. Line 4

C.      

3.       What does ‘And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise’ (stanza 1)mean?

A.               A.  The clothes you wear are not important.

B.                B.  Do not pretend to look good when you are not.

C.                C. Do not be too proud even if you think you are good.

Answers

1. A

2. C

3. C. It is good to be righteous (behave in a way that is morally correct). However, if you are too proud or arrogant in your righteousness, you have become self-righteous (behave in a way that you think your behaviour is better than others).