Sec 3: Morning Reads

When I started secondary school, I felt nervous about my first monthly exam. I had studied hard, which made me very tired, and my brain had a hard time keeping up with the quick questions. I couldn't even answer the easy ones, and my maths score was very low. When I saw my paper covered in red marks, I felt like giving up. But then I looked at my classmates and knew I couldn't quit. I wiped away my tears and decided to be strong. I promised myself I would fix every mistake and get it right. I started to believe in myself.

For fifty nights, I studied hard under my study lamp. Finally, I did well on my next monthly exam and walked out of the exam room with a smile, telling myself that I could do it. But I also faced failure. I thought I would cry and be upset, but instead, I chose to be strong. I felt like the ugly duckling, but I knew I still had wings to chase my dreams. Even when things were tough, I stayed determined.

As the final exam approached, I pushed myself to do better. I thought about my goals, my teacher's hopes, and my parents' wishes. These thoughts encouraged me to keep going. Even though I failed again, I kept trying. I never said, "I give up." I didn't expect to be so strong, even when I faced failure again and again.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you faced failure and how you overcome it. 📢

• Some people say that a person who is not successful in school will not be successful in life. What is your opinion? 📢

"Find someone else, please… I can’t do this,” Sally begged her teacher, Mrs. Lee.

“But we can’t find anyone else. You are the best,” Mrs. Lee replied.

Sally was supposed to play the piano while Rachel sang for the Teacher’s Day concert. At first, Sally was sure she could do it, but now she was very nervous.

Sally peeked out from behind the curtains and saw hundreds of people. She quickly went back backstage, scared. Rachel saw Sally's worried face and tried to comfort her. Rachel had been scared of performing on stage before, too.

Just then, Mrs. Lee announced, “Here comes Sally, who will be playing the piano, and Rachel, who will be singing!” The teachers and students clapped loudly. Sally was shaking as she walked to the stage. Rachel gave her an encouraging nod and squeezed her cold, clammy hands.

The spotlight shone on them, and the hall was decorated with colorful balloons. The audience whispered excitedly. A lump formed in Sally’s throat, and her face turned pale. She forgot the notes she was supposed to play.

“Rachel, help me! I’ve forgotten some of the notes!” Sally whispered frantically.

“Don’t worry, Sally. Play the first few notes, and it will all come back to you. Trust me,” Rachel smiled. Sally was desperate and clung to every word. When the music started, Sally nervously played the first few notes. 

Sure enough, the notes came back into her mind. Soon, the hall was filled with the melody of Sally’s piano playing and Rachel’s singing. The performance ended, and everyone clapped louder for them than for any other performance.

Sally thanked Rachel for helping her on stage. Without Rachel, she felt she couldn’t have done it. The performance helped Sally overcome her fear of performing on stage. From then on, it was always a joy for Mrs. Lee to have Sally and Rachel perform at special events.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you have to perform on stage. 

• Some people say that it is better to be a member of the audience than to be a performer. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

I had a headache again. I had been working extra hours at my job. Every day, I stayed late at the office to finish my tasks. My headache was turning into a migraine. I turned off the computer and stretched my body, but it didn't help.

Then I saw the medicine. The green and yellow pills always stopped my migraines. I reached out with a shaky hand, took the bottle, and popped two pills into my mouth. Normally, they tasted minty and soothing, but this time they didn't. I didn’t think much of it and went back to writing my proposal.

After a while, my migraine was still there. Strange, I thought. It should have gone away by now. I took out the bottle again and swallowed two more pills. Still, there was no minty flavor.

Hours later, I finished my proposal. When I stood up to leave the office, I felt a sharp cramp in my stomach. It hurt so much that I had to sit back down. Soon, the pain stopped, and I continued on my way out. In the lobby, the sharp cramps came back. My vision became blurry, and I fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, I smelled strong disinfectant and heard beeping noises. My hands felt clammy and tingly. I turned my head and saw needles in my left hand, connected to an IV drip and some machines. Before I could look around more, I fell unconscious again.

The sound of people talking woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw my mum, dad, brother, and sister. My dad checked on me.

"What happened?" I asked, confused.

"You took some very dangerous medicine," he said. The doctor explained that the medicine I took wasn't painkillers, but another type for a different illness. I didn't have that illness, so my body reacted badly. 

Days later, I was discharged from the hospital. I went back to the office to check the bottle of pills. I found my own pills in my drawer and realized that the pills I took belonged to my friend. Without the lights on, I didn't see that the bottle was on her part of the desk, not mine.

I sighed. If only I had paid more attention to the bottles. If only I hadn’t taken the wrong pills. If only I hadn’t been so careless…

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you made a mistake. 

• Some people say that work is more important than rest. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

Every time I look at the old result slip on my wall, I remember how arrogant I was about my cleverness, and I feel ashamed.

I was proud of myself for getting high marks in all my Math tests. I was the best in class at Math and had never scored less than ninety marks. There was another boy in my class named Tim. He had never been able to keep up with his work or pass any test we had. We always called him “Stupid” or “No Brains.” Little did I know he was going to show me who the real “No Brain” was.

One day, we got our latest Math test papers back. As expected, I got full marks, and Tim failed, as usual. My teacher, Mr. Yap, did not scold him for failing but praised him and told him he could do better next time.

That day, I could not hold back what I wanted to say anymore. I stood up and exclaimed, “Why are you praising him, Sir? He has always been failing his Math. Shouldn’t you be scolding him?”

The whole class turned to look at me, and Mr. Yap, with a furious face, told me in an icy cold voice, “David, meet me during recess in the staff room.” I knew I was in deep trouble and now had to face the consequences.

I knocked timidly at the staff room door. When I went in, Mr. Yap told me to take a seat. I was confused. “Isn’t he going to scold me?” I wondered. He said, “The reason I am not scolding you is because Tim told me not to.”

“But I have been insulting him all the time!”

“He actually has a reason why he cannot pass his tests. It started ten years ago. His father passed away when he was only two years old. Now he is big enough to help his mother with the chores and serve at her food stall. He has little time to study.”

All this time, I had been filled with pride and never thought about others.

That day, I decided to help Tim instead of laughing at him. I spent time with him as much as I could. Soon after, with my coaching, Tim went from an F to a B+ in Math. That is why I have Tim’s result slip stuck on my wall. It reminds me of how I gained a new friend and learned an important lesson about being too proud.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you had a rivalry with a classmate. 

• Some people say that competition between students should be encouraged while others say cooperation should be taught instead. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

The way we eat our food is habitual. This means that we are usually not aware of it. I have noticed some of the ways people eat and they range from elegance to gluttony.

My father slurps his soup. It is disgusting but we dare not say anything. He will be sorely offended if we did. On the other hand my mother is so graceful in her ways. It is a pleasure to watch her daintily scoop the food up into her mouth and then chew it slowly and gently.

A fat friend of mine literally gobbles up his food. He eats at least three times as much as I do in about half the time that I take. While he is eating, he is totally oblivious to his surroundings. He puts the food into his mouth as fast as he can, chews a couple of times and then swallows. It does not matter whether he is using a spoon, chopsticks or his hands. He is skilled with all. After finishing, he sits up, gives a couple of burps and rubs his belly. It is all very disgusting, but at the same time it is very amusing.

Another friend of mine, a thin one this time, hardly, eats at all. He sits at the table and, half-heartedly picks up the food with a fork. He says he has no appetite. No wonder he is so thin.

Then there are many who talk while they eat. So little pieces of food and drops of saliva start flying. Only a sharp "Shut up and eat!" can silence these talkers. They usually shut up but only for a while.

How do you eat your food? Do you eat quickly, slowly, like a glutton, sparingly, daintily or noisily? Do you lick your fingers, spoon or plate? Are you aware of how you eat?   

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you were shocked by someone's eating habits. 

• Some people say that eating at home is better for friends and family than eating outside. What is your opinion?

"What are you doing?" the teacher boomed, her face as dark as a stormy sky.

"Nothing..." Leia murmured, her head lowered in shame.

"Nothing? Then what is that piece of paper on your lap?" the angry teacher shouted at Leia, whose face had turned pale and was trembling. She snatched the piece of paper from Leia's lap. Leia felt a mix of guilt and regret swirling inside her.

Just two hours earlier, Leia had faced her biggest challenge: the Mathematics exam.

"I hope all the time I spent studying will pay off!" I told my good friend Leia.

"You always pass your exams, unlike me. No matter how much I study, I can't seem to get the formulas or solve the problems. But I have a plan, and I’m sure I’ll pass this time!" Leia replied, grinning mischievously.

Her over-confidence and playful grin felt strange, but I brushed it aside. I wished Leia good luck and took my seat in the exam hall.

The air in the hall was tense as we waited for the Maths papers to be handed out. I stared hard at my paper, feeling confused and worried. The hall was silent except for the rustling of papers and the clicking of pens. All heads were bowed as students worked hard on their problems, racing against the clock. I was about to check the time when I saw something shocking!

Leia was cheating! When the teacher turned her back, Leia pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and laid it on her lap. She started writing furiously. I could not believe my eyes! Should I report her?

I was in a tough spot. Leia was my good friend, but cheating was wrong, and as a prefect, I had to uphold the school rules. I struggled with what to do. Should I report her or stay silent?

After a moment of indecision, I raised my hand. Leia noticed and gave me a desperate look, mouthing, "Please don't tell." I almost put my hand down, but I stood by my decision and kept my hand raised.

To my surprise, the teacher did not come to me. Instead, she stormed over to Leia and boomed, "What are you doing?"

Snatching the piece of paper from her lap, she snapped, "How dare you cheat in the exam? Follow me to the headteacher's office now!"

Tears streamed down Leia's face. She bowed her head and apologised to the teacher before following her to the headteacher's office. I watched with a heavy heart before continuing with my work.

The next day, news about Leia being caught cheating spread quickly. According to the school rules, she got a big fat zero for her exam. Although my friendship with Leia was ruined, I believe I did the right thing. Maybe one day, she will realise it too.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you helped your friend even if you know they were wrong. 

• Some people say that it is better to be an accomplice than to lose the friendship. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

A tropical jungle is an amazing place. I recently had the chance to visit one. My friend Rahim, who is a forest ranger, took me along on one of his trips into the jungle. I had always wanted to see for myself what he had talked about.

As soon as we entered the jungle, it became quite dark. The sky was almost completely covered by the thick leaves high above us. On the ground, there were plants growing everywhere. The air was damp and had a strange smell.

We could hear the sounds of insects, birds, and animals all around us. Even though we couldn't see most of them, except for some birds, we knew they were there. The sounds echoed everywhere, making the jungle feel eerie and mysterious.

I didn't know how Rahim could find a way through the bushes and trees. He said he was just following a path used by the native people. I couldn't see any path at all. I realised then how easily someone who didn't know the jungle could get lost and even die.

I followed Rahim as we walked slowly. The most uncomfortable thing about being in the jungle were the leeches. These little bloodsuckers never gave up. Even with thick boots and clothes, they still managed to bite me.

For the first time in my life, I saw strange birds, insects, huge spiders, snakes, trees, flowers, and vines as thick as a man's hand. I also saw various animals. The experience was unforgettable. I was amazed by the power of nature.

When we came out of the jungle, I felt as though a great weight had been lifted from me. The clear blue sky was a welcome sight. Outside, the world was definitely easier to cope with. The jungle made me feel trapped and helpless. It was a good experience, but I would prefer to stay outside it.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you visited a place of nature. 

• Some people say that protecting the environment is the society's responsibility while others say individuals should also be responsible. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

Wendy was busy with her work, scanning and handing products to the packer next to her. She tried to ignore the long line of customers waiting and the grumpy man coughing and muttering behind her. But when the man suddenly shouted, asking why it was taking so long, Wendy got startled and dropped a can of tuna.

The man kept complaining, and soon the supervisor and a security officer came over to calm him down. But he only got angrier, demanding to skip the queue and pay half the price for his groceries because he felt his time was wasted.

Wendy sighed quietly, knowing this was not the first time she had to deal with a difficult customer. She watched as the supervisor took the man to a closed counter to meet his demands and stop the fuss.

Once the angry customer had left, Wendy went back to her work, wondering when the next challenging encounter would happen. Working in a shop could be a tough job, but Wendy knew it was important to stay calm and professional, even when faced with upset customers.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you witnessed a quarrel. 

• Some people say that shopping online is better, while other prefers going to the shops. What is your opinion?

I put on the harness and slipped my fingers into the gloves. I really wanted to run away from the rock wall. "No, I can't back out now," I thought firmly. I was starting to regret accepting this challenge. It felt like being on that really tall roller coaster again.

When I was seven, I was tall enough to go on roller coasters. My confident cousin took me on the highest roller coaster in the theme park. From far away, it looked like a small ride, but as I got closer, it grew bigger and bigger until it seemed enormous. The view from the top would have been amazing if I wasn't so scared. Instead, I was terrified.

Since then, I've never liked being up high and have always kept my feet firmly on the ground. "You can do it," I told myself over and over again.

One, two, three steps. I pushed myself up to reach the first handhold. Slowly, I reached for the next rock, and then the next. My palms started to feel sweaty, and I had tiny drops of sweat on my forehead. After what felt like a very long time, I dared to look down. I was only a few metres off the ground! I wondered how much longer it would take to reach the top. My anxiety grew as I climbed higher.

I got to a point where I felt stuck. I held onto two rocks tightly while my feet searched for somewhere to rest. Even though I had a harness, I started to have doubts. I struggled to find a place for my feet. Without thinking, I did the last thing a nervous rock climber should do – I looked down. I winced. The ground looked hundreds of metres below me. I even thought I could see clouds beneath my feet.

"Help!" I shouted desperately.

"Don't worry, I'm here to help you," a reassuring voice said.

I looked up and saw a trainer a few metres above me. He had a harness on and had lowered himself down. He guided my feet to the places I needed to step and pointed out the rocks I needed to hold onto. Step by step, I climbed up. Finally, I reached the top. The view and my relief were incredible.

"Thank you! Oh thank you! I couldn't have done it without you!" I told the trainer gratefully.

He smiled and said, "Helping people like you is what I enjoy doing."

Together, we sat and watched the sunset.

This achievement gave me confidence in myself. I couldn't believe that I had faced and overcome my fear of heights that had haunted me for years. In life, there are some things we can't control. However, we can face and conquer our fears if we try our best.

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Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you tried something new. 

• Some people like to try new things while other people prefer to stay in their comfort zone. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/

I was starting to get annoyed. Many people were getting upset and driving away in their cars. The sponges, buckets, and Rachel still hadn't arrived.

"Come on, Rachel! Hurry up and get here!" I muttered impatiently.

Our car wash was supposed to start already, but Rachel was nowhere in sight. It was the school holidays, and usually, I would enjoy relaxing. But this time, I felt really bored. Then, I had an idea. I wanted to do something for charity. I didn't have much money saved, but I could wash cars. I smiled as I imagined raising lots of money for charity. But I needed some help.

I emailed my friends, Rachel and Alice. They seemed interested from their replies. I told them the date of the car wash and asked Rachel to bring the sponges and buckets from her home.

Now here I was, grumbling about Rachel. Alice stood quietly beside me. She didn't like talking about people behind their backs.

"Rachel, come on! Lots of cars are leaving, and we're losing business!" I grumbled again.

"What if we can't make much money? What if we can only donate a few dollars? What if we only make five or six dollars?" I worried. The thought of donating so little money horrified me. I wanted to give a big sum to charity, but Rachel's lateness was ruining everything.

"Hey! Why not text Rachel? We can't afford to lose any more cars. Look!" Alice suggested.

I smacked my forehead. It was so obvious! I quickly took out my phone and texted Rachel. Soon after, I saw that Rachel had read the message.

A few minutes later, Rachel arrived with the buckets and sponges. "What took you..." but before I could start scolding Rachel, Alice interrupted, "Save it for later. We have work to do."

I glared at Alice for butting in. How could she stop me from scolding Rachel? But the honking cars reminded me of our urgent task. I nodded and got to work.

Before long, we finished washing all the cars. It was harder work than we expected. We were exhausted but really pleased with what we'd achieved. I shook the coins in the box we used for collecting money.

"$205!" I counted.

It was more than I had hoped for. Later, I found out I had given Rachel the wrong date by mistake. I felt my face go red and blushed as I apologized to Rachel. She forgave me and didn't dwell on it, instead talking about what a great job we had done.

Charity work was hard but fun, and definitely worth it.

Click on this to listen to this text.

Practice Questions for Oral:

• Tell me about a time when you did something for charity. 

• Some people say it is better to help those in need directly while others say it is better to donate to charity. What is your opinion?

Adapted from https://writingsamurai.com/model-compositions-singapore/