Nadhirah, Zahariah, Jia Qi, Ting Huan

1.     Do you believe in fortune-telling? Why/why not?

I don’t believe in fortune-telling because in my opinion, it is not very convincing. Sometimes also, not all the visions given come true. It somehow gives you a certain expectation of something to happen in your future life. I feel that fortune tellers are somewhat giving us false hope as not all the things that they vision will come true. These false hopes might depress one, especially if the visions given to them did not really come true. Hence, this will make them feel that their life is not worth living for. Therefore, I don’t believe in fortune-telling because it is just another of cheap and easy ways people do to get money by getting naïve people to believe them. Furthermore, our fate is not decided by the fortune-teller. Our fate is in our own hands. If we work for something that we badly want, our dreams will become reality. However, when we just sit there, and expect miracles to happen, obviously it won’t come true.

2.     Young Singaporeans are a pampered lot. Do you agree?

I agree to a large extent. However, it all depends on the children’s upbringing. Not all young Singaporeans are pampered, but most are. Most of these pampered children come from families with both working parents. Since the parents of these children are hardly at home, they use materialistic love to compensate the times they are not at home. These in turn gets these children pampered as they are used to getting everything that they desire. However, some parents are aware that this materialistic love would do more harm than good. Parents play a part in their child’s upbringing. With proper upbringing, the children will be able to adapt to changes in the environment easily and know what is wrong and right. Hence, when they grow up, they will know that it isn’t always easy to get the things that they want just and it all depends on the efforts that they put in.

3.     Some people like being in a group, others hate it. How do you feel about being in a group?

I am very versatile person hence I am comfortable being in or out of a group. However, if given a choice, I would rather not be in any group. Even though being in a group let you feel this certain sense of belonging, sometimes it can get rather demanding. It would unintentionally also restrict one from broadening their circle of friends. As I can socialize with people well, I like to mix around and meet different people. I am not really fond of the idea of always sticking to a group of people. Sometimes, it is always better to be independent and not depend on our group members.

Being alone also sometimes gives me time to reflect on my daily happenings. By reflecting, I will realize what benefits I have achieved and also what wrong I have done. When I realize my mistakes I will try not to repeat it. Being alone also, allows me to be independent. When I am independent, I am able to rely on myself, rather than on others. It prepares me for adulthood too.

1.     Are the national examinations like the O levels necessary?

I think it is necessary. The O levels should be to test our understanding. They should not make it like as if it will determine the course of our future. By making it be the course of our future, it will stress us up as one wrong move, will crumble our future. Now, O levels are becoming more and more difficult. This forces children to push themselves.

Like myself, I feel very demoralized when I fail a subject, say maths. Seeing others ace through it, disturbs me. I feel slowed down and unmotivated. O levels really have brought stress to our lives.  On the other hand it also prepares us for a stressful work force.

Nonetheless, O levels are the minimum certificate to get a decent job. Without O levels, we would not have a proper job. Therefore it is very important to get an education. If we have no education, we will have no income. We will not be able to pay all the fees that we have.

O levels also have raised our deterrence level. We are able to deter the problems and overcome it. Since we are able to resist the stress, we are like ly able to handle the stress we face in our adulthood.

44) Many teenagers spend much of their time playing computer games. How interested are you in these games?

As a teenager, I do not really spend my time mostly on computers games. I am more interested in watching television.  The reason may be due to that I am a girl because most of the boys prefer to hang around their computer and play their computer games such as those actions games, for the whole day. Computer games are very addictive. Once a person start playing, it will be difficult for him or her to get off from the computer. For them, bring able to play computer games, is a pleasure because they will be able to play online games with their friends or they can also make new friends during the game. Although playing computer games can somehow relieve the stress level, it may harm the body too if teenagers were to play the computer for long hours. This may damage the eyesight, or can also lead to obesity. I am not very interested in the action games because I do not want to waste my time in playing games that will be no use in future. By spending my free time on watching television, I can be able to learn interesting knowledge from channels such as discovery channel.

1.     63) What is your opinion of school children taking on part-time work?

I feel that it is alright for students to take up part-time work if they are able to manage their studies well. It will be better if student were to take up the jobs during the school holidays because students can be able to use the time wisely to get as much job experience from the work they have took up. Students nowadays choose to go for part time work after school because there are some reasons to it. The reasons are firstly, they may be facing financial problems; secondly, they need more cash to buy what they want as they are materialistic and lastly, they have friends who are working too. However, I feel that it is not appropriate to work during school days, especially when the examinations are nearing, because as a student, he or she should concentrate on their studies and avoid the idea of earning money. By having a part time work, a student will not have enough time to revise their school work. This will easily affect the studies of a student.

 In conclusion, although it is alright for school children to take up part time work, I feel that student should only take up during December school holidays.

1.         What would you do if you had to look after a five-year- old child for the day?

•           Suggest some ways of entertaining the child

•           What kind of activities do you think the child would enjoy?

If I had to look after a five-year-old child for a day, I would try to be one of them. I would think like a five-year-old child. I think that a child will have fun if there is someone who doesn’t say CANNOT and also if there are no rules. Usually five-year-old kids are very hyperactive, once they start playing, there will be no end to it. Probably I will come out with certain games to play with them. For example uno, catching or even colouring. I have a five-year-old cousin, and he loves to play uno.

If the five-year-old child gets bored, I would buy ice cream and eat together with them. Children love ice cream. Eating ice cream its only part of the fun and to entertain the five-year-old child, maybe I will eat stupidly and act silly so that the child will laugh. After eating ice cream, probably I will play their favourite song, and dance to the music together. Seeing them smile and laugh makes me feel the sense of satisfaction as I know they had fun.

The five-year-old chid would definitely enjoy games without rules, and games which they always win. Therefore, they will enjoy any games provided we let them win on purpose. Let say, we are playing soccer with the five-year-old child. We have to pretend that we cannot score a goal and we have to try to let them score a goal instead. However, once they try to mock us, we have to show them that we can win at least one. After which let them win again.

Yes. It is necessary. Without national examinations like the o levels, we will forever be competing only within our own school and will never have a break through in our results. By having national examinations, we will get to know our standard among the nations and set higher improvements. As a student in a neighboring school, we can have the chance to compete with students from other good schools which allow as seeing the different between the results, hence wanting to beat students from other good schools to proof that neighboring school can still do as good as good schools

National examinations like O levels act as an internationally recognize qualifications.

The O level examination questions are set in the UK and the scripts are sent back to the UK for grading. Many commonwealth countries sit for the same examination, hence its worldwide recognition. This in return allows us to compete with a wider ranger of people which therefore set a greater target.It’s a qualification in order to compete with other people from different country for jobs.without such examination,no one will know how good they are among the world. besides that,These national examination provide a fair test for everyone as everyone will be taking the same paper,the same questions.The difficulties of it will all be equal.Hence the result is a result of hardwork and not luck.People who are able to cheat during school’s examination will not be able to cheat at national examination. Therefore everyone have to work hard for a greater future.

1. What sports do you most enjoy taking part in or watching?

     I love to watch volley ball matches. As the Olympic is now holding in china, this gave me the chance of watching the exciting volleyball matches. Those were played by potential players that were specially chosen by their country to take part in the world event.  I support all the players, in regardless of which country they are from.

     When the players stand on the court preparing for competition to start, the serious look on their face will tense the atmosphere. The players will spread themselves out on the court. When one of the played starts the ball by hitting the ball to the opponent side, this would indicate the start of the match. When the ball flew to the opposite side, the opponents will try all their best to save the ball, so as to prevent the ball from touching the floor. This is always the exciting part of volleyball matches.  Once the ball drop to the floor, this shows that they have lost one point to the opponent team. Everyone will cheer for them. Each of them has different roles such as saving the ball or spiking the ball. Sometimes, I may have the intention of joining volleyball as my co curriculum activity in school.

I love watching the part when the spiker spikes the ball to the opponent side. The posture of way they jump and hit the ball with all their might looks cool to me.

In what ways can Singapore try to reduce air pollution?

 The main sources of air pollution in Singapore are from the burning of fossils fuels for energy generation in industries, power stations and in the transportation sector.

Be it land or sky, all vehicles produced harmful gases which may diffuse to the surrounding air and hence led to air pollution. Therefore the most critical way reduce air pollution in Singapore is to first reduce the number of vehicles use in Singapore. Firstly, I suggest that the government can encourage people to make maximum use of public transports rather than their private car. We may also join a carpool or vanpool to get to work. Secondly, people can choose to Cycling or walking for short trips. This as human power produces no air pollution. All these will reduce the use of vehicles used, hence fewer gases are produced. Besides Drivers should also regularly maintain your car and do not leave the engine idling in traffic. While car-buyers should choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles.

At home, we should switch off unwanted electrically appliances and light bulbs because this will reduce amount of air pollution emitted by power stations. Also buy energy efficient lighting and appliances as the lesser energy used for heating and cooling, the lesser pollution from electric power plants burning coal, oil and natural gas.These products are environmentally friendly. People should also learn to recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. This conserves energy and reduces production emissions. This can be done by choosing products that have less packaging because packaging consumes energy when it’s made, generates harmful VOC’s when it’s printed and produces carbon dioxide.Also, minimizing the amount of paper and plastic you have to toss away clears the air. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags and buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently allow a great reduction of air pollutants. For painters, use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers moreover, never to leave dry paint opened as they contain many pollutant compounds. Besides that, we should make lesser use of air condition as Leaky air conditioners are the greatest source of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), a greenhouse gas. The propellants used in aerosol cans of hair spray, deodorants and household products contribute to pollution. Therefore users should consider buying products in their non-aerosol form. Government can also play a part by stopping massive deforestation as trees add oxygen to the atmosphere, break down some pollutants and reduce dust.

In conclusion, if everyone in the nation is willing to play a part, reducing air pollution will be a problem in this small country                                                                                                           

23. When you have an important decision to make, how do you go about it?

When I have an important decision to make, I will always consider the consequences of the decision I made. In life I have made a lot of important decisions. One of the important decisions that I made was choosing the right subject combinations. When I was in secondary two, I had to make a choice of class that I would like to go to. Also, the class that I enter shall be the subject combination I will take.

Initially I did not know what class I wanted to go to. I wanted to take up Art elective, at the same time I wanted to take biology. Then, I sat down and think. What do I want to be when I grow up? I want to be a psychiatrist. I did a research on the qualification of becoming a psychiatrist and it states that to be a psychiatrist, the minimum qualification is a degree. After knowing that, I reflected. If I take up Art elective, that will mean I have to take up only 6 subjects and I must take all 6 subjects for my L1R5, and if I flunk one subject, I might get a very high L1R5.

If I take up biology, I will get more choices to use for my L1R5. I thought of the consequences. If I take up Art, I have limited choices, and if I take up biology, I will have a lot of choices. However, I will not get to expand my knowledge on Art. I also thought of my future. I needed to get to a university and the shortest route is to go to a junior college. I also went to various polytechnics and they told me that there are no polytechnics in Singapore that offers only pure psychology studies.

I evaluated all my findings and the consequences, and I decided to take up biology and I did not regret taking it up. While making the decision, I felt a little depressed. I was afraid that I made the wrong decision. However after evaluating, the decision I made was worthwhile. Therefore, there is how I go about making an important decision.

Do you think that cars, buses and motorcycles lead to people becoming unhealthy and that we rely too much on them?

In my opinion, transportation such as cars, buses and motorcycles is not the main reason why people are becoming unhealthy nowadays. One of the reason people are becoming unhealthy is due to the unbalanced diet they are having and also due to their inactive lifestyle.

However, an easy access to transportation have somehow cause some people to be very reliant on them especially so for those who have their own vehicles such as cars or motorcycles. Owners of cars and motorcycle, sometimes rely on their vehicles to take them to places that are just a few blocks away. Hence, car owners usually chose to drive to these places instead of taking the healthier choice of walking. Over time, driving will become the easiest alternative for most car owners and no doubt, this will cause more drivers to see walking as a chore instead of an alternative to take them to places.

Nevertheless, advances in transportation has enable us to travel to many places in a short period of time and not to mention its easily available to almost everyone in the world. Without transportation, traveling will take a much longer time.

Therefore, cars and motorcycles, have bring advantages and disadvantages to all of us. However, it greatly depends on individuals on how they make use of the facilities that are accessible to us.