Does the word have more than one meaning?
Can you use the word in a sentence?
Can you relate the word to any of your subjects?
Do you know the meaning of the word?
Do you know how to spell it?
Can you define the word to a friend?
Optimistic
If you can use the word of the week in any of your lessons then you will be rewarded!
Skimming is a fast reading technique. It can help you to quickly identify the main ideas in a text. You
don’t need to read the whole text word-for-word. Skimming will help you to decide if the text is
interesting and/or relevant.
You use skimming or skim-reading when you want to find out the general meaning or gist of a text
quickly.
To skim read quickly you need to run your eye down the page and look for:
1. Titles
2. Headings
3. Types of words used
4. 1st line of each paragraph
5. Last line of each paragraph
6. Pictures/Captions
7. Keywords
Year 7 Task
Skim the text and to answer the following questions as quickly as possible
1 Spreading powder over the cheeks, adding some rouge and then drawing a pair of eyebrows and adding eyeliner,24 year old Jiang Yanyan
is doing make-up for a girl. “ I try to make the face look more pink and composed,” Jiang said. Though she makes people look prettier, as
other beauticians do, Jiang is special as she does make-up for the departed.
5 After applying the final touches, Jiang shows the deceased to the family members in the farewell room. “ She looks like she’s asleep,” one
of them said. “Thank you so much.” This is a common scene in Jiang’s work and one she finds rewarding. “ I have eased some pain for the
family,” she said.
9 Graduating from Luzhou Medical College in China’s Sichuan province, Jiang became a mortician by chance. “ I just thought it would be a
very challenging and unique job and then decided to give it a try,” Jiang said. “ Actually I felt proud to tell my classmates about my choice. It
makes me different.” After a series of strict tests, Jiang and her colleague Zhang Qingping, who graduated from Chengdu University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, stood out among the 3000 candidates and became morticians at the Funeral House of Chengdu,in the capital
city of Sichuan Province.
16 “ Sometimes we even competed to do a challenging job,” Jiang said. However , their parents disapproved of their choice at first. Jiang’s
parents asked a cousin to persuade her to give up the job as they wanted her to pursue postgraduate studies.
19 However, Jiang persuaded her cousin that it was a stable job that enables her to shoulder some of the family’s financial burden. Jiang
earns about US$590 per month including bonuses, which is higher than the average salary in Chengdu.
22 “ After taking up this job, I feel I’ve gained a better understanding and attitude to life, and I’ve learned to take things easy. Like others who
work in the funeral business , Jiang has developed a strong heart when dealing with difficulties in her life and she also tries to persuade her
friends to adopt this approach as well.
26 Jiang is also a normal girl just like others of her age. She likes clothes, going shopping, and spending time in restaurants. “ Many of my
colleagues don’t talk about their job with strangers . “For me, there are not many taboos. Many think that our world is black and white. I will
show them the colourful life of the departed.”
State whether the following statements are True ( T ) or False ( F )
1 Jiang is special as she does make-up for the dead. _____
2 Jiang graduated from Chendu University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine.______
3 The two girls were scared when they began their work. ______
4 Jiang has developed a strong heart and persuades her friends to adopt
this approach. ______
5 Jiang likes clothes, shopping and going to restaurants. _______
Year 7 Answers
Answers
State whether the following statements are True ( T ) or False ( F )
1 Jiang is special as she does make-up for the dead. _____
2 Jiang graduated from Chendu University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine.______
3 The two girls were scared when they began their work. ______
4 Jiang has developed a strong heart and persuades her friends to
adopt this approach. ______
5 Jiang likes clothes, shopping and going to restaurants. _______
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
True
false
false
True
true
Year 8 Task
Skim the text and to answer the following questions as quickly as possible
1 Spreading powder over the cheeks, adding some rouge and then drawing a pair of eyebrows and adding eyeliner,24 year old Jiang Yanyan
is doing make-up for a girl. “ I try to make the face look more pink and composed,” Jiang said. Though she makes people look prettier, as
other beauticians do, Jiang is special as she does make-up for the departed.
5 After applying the final touches, Jiang shows the deceased to the family members in the farewell room. “ She looks like she’s asleep,” one
of them said. “Thank you so much.” This is a common scene in Jiang’s work and one she finds rewarding. “ I have eased some pain for the
family,” she said.
9 Graduating from Luzhou Medical College in China’s Sichuan province, Jiang became a mortician by chance. “ I just thought it would be a
very challenging and unique job and then decided to give it a try,” Jiang said. “ Actually I felt proud to tell my classmates about my choice. It
makes me different.” After a series of strict tests, Jiang and her colleague Zhang Qingping, who graduated from Chengdu University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, stood out among the 3000 candidates and became morticians at the Funeral House of Chengdu,in the capital
city of Sichuan Province.
16 “ Sometimes we even competed to do a challenging job,” Jiang said. However , their parents disapproved of their choice at first. Jiang’s
parents asked a cousin to persuade her to give up the job as they wanted her to pursue postgraduate studies.
19 However, Jiang persuaded her cousin that it was a stable job that enables her to shoulder some of the family’s financial burden. Jiang
earns about US$590 per month including bonuses, which is higher than the average salary in Chengdu.
22 “ After taking up this job, I feel I’ve gained a better understanding and attitude to life, and I’ve learned to take things easy. Like others who
work in the funeral business , Jiang has developed a strong heart when dealing with difficulties in her life and she also tries to persuade her
friends to adopt this approach as well.
26 Jiang is also a normal girl just like others of her age. She likes clothes, going shopping, and spending time in restaurants. “ Many of my
colleagues don’t talk about their job with strangers . “For me, there are not many taboos. Many think that our world is black and white. I will
show them the colourful life of the departed.”
1 Why is Jiang special ?
_________________________________________________________________________
2 Where did Jiang graduate from?
_ ________________________________________________________________________
3 Why did she give the job a try?
_________________________________________________________________________
4 Where did Jiang work ?
__________________________________________________________________________
5 What does Jiang want to show the world?
___________________________________________________________________________
Year 8 Answers
Answers
1 Why is Jiang special ?
She only does make up for the departed / dead.
2 Where did Jiang graduate from?
Luzhon Medical College in China’s Sichuan province.
3 Why did she give the job a try?
She thought it would be a very challenging and unique job.
4 Where did Jiang work ?
Funeral House of Chengdu, in the capital city of Sichuan province.
5 What does Jiang want to show the world?
Jiang wants to show the world the colourful life of the departed.
Year 9 Task
Skim the text and find the answers to the following questions
1 Architect Toto Sugito cycles about 15km from his home in Tebet, South Jakarta, to meet his clients in downtown Jakarta, almost daily. The bicycle is the
preferred mode of transport for Toto, the co-founder of an organization that encourages people to cycle to work. And when his son asked for a motorcycle
upon turning 18 three years ago, Toto bought him a bicycle instead.
5 "He had been asking for a motorcycle since he was in high school, but I told him: 'Your father is using just a bicycle ... so why are you asking for a
motorcycle?' He felt ashamed and did not ask again. He used my bicycle sometimes, so I decided to give him one when he entered university," Toto said.
8 "One of my clients began using a bicycle after noticing that I am fit for my age," said the 47-year-old, whose non-governmental organization is aptly
named Bike 2 Work.
10 Toto is one of the driving forces behind a new trend sweeping across Jakarta - cycling. But Indonesia's capital, teeming with nine million motorcycles
and three million cars on its pot-holed roads, is hardly a cyclist's paradise. Indeed, Toto himself has seen his fair share of near misses: reckless drivers
often swipe past cyclists, missing them by a hair's breadth. Last year, his good friend became paralysed after a car crashed into him and his bicycle.
15 Still, despite the apparent dangers, Bike 2 Work's membership has swelled to 40,000 since it was formed in August 2005.
17 Since the city government designated two Sundays a month as Car-Free Days - clearing the main thoroughfare of Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin of traffic
until noon - the number of cyclists and joggers has shot up.
20 On a recent Sunday, more than 50,000 cyclists zipped past the tall office buildings on either side of the thoroughfare, while street vendors selling
everything from water, ice-cream and food, to bicycles, bicycle parts, jerseys and bandanas, set up shop along the entire stretch of road.
23 The atmosphere was festive, with music blaring from roadside kiosks. The road was taken up mostly by cyclists, including family members on outings.
Some enthusiasts rode unicycles or tall bikes. Even police officers traded their motorbikes for rollerblades to go about their duties.
26 The cycling community said the trend has caught on, with many people seeing the eco-friendly activity as part of a healthier lifestyle. Besides, it is
relatively cheap. A bicycle costs 2 million rupiah (S$255) compared with about 13 million rupiah for a motorcycle. The ease of carrying bikes, some of
which are foldable, has seen groups, even families, buying into the fad.
30 As a result, there has been a surge in bike groups. South Jakarta's Mayor Syahrul Effendi, who is also a leader of the Bicycle Congress of Indonesia, said
that while there were only 20 bicycle associations in 2005, the number has grown about tenfold now.
1 The bicycle is the _______________ mode of transport.
2 The ______________________ organization is aptly
called Bike To Work.
3 Indonesia’s capital is hardly a _______________ paradise.
4 Bike To Work’s membership has increased to
______________ since 2005.
5 Police officers ________________ their motorbikes for
roller blades.
6 A bicycle costs ____________________ .
7 There has been a ________________ in bike groups.
8 The number of bikes has grown _________________ now.
Year 9 Answers
Answers:
1 The bicycle is the preferred mode of
transport.
2 The non-governmental organization is
aptly called Bike To Work.
3 Indonesia’s capital is hardly a cyclist’s
paradise.
4 Bike To Work’s membership has
increased to 40,000 since 2005.
5 Police officers traded their
motorbikes for roller blades.
6 A bicycle costs 2mn rupiah/US$ 225 .
7 There has been a surge in bike
groups.
8 The number of bikes has grown
tenfold now.
Year 10 Task
Skim the text to answer the following questions
1 Architect Toto Sugito cycles about 15km from his home in Tebet, South Jakarta, to meet his clients in downtown Jakarta, almost daily. The bicycle is the
preferred mode of transport for Toto, the co-founder of an organization that encourages people to cycle to work. And when his son asked for a motorcycle
upon turning 18 three years ago, Toto bought him a bicycle instead.
5 "He had been asking for a motorcycle since he was in high school, but I told him: 'Your father is using just a bicycle ... so why are you asking for a
motorcycle?' He felt ashamed and did not ask again. He used my bicycle sometimes, so I decided to give him one when he entered university," Toto said.
8 "One of my clients began using a bicycle after noticing that I am fit for my age," said the 47-year-old, whose non-governmental organization is aptly
named Bike 2 Work.
10 Toto is one of the driving forces behind a new trend sweeping across Jakarta - cycling. But Indonesia's capital, teeming with nine million motorcycles
and three million cars on its pot-holed roads, is hardly a cyclist's paradise. Indeed, Toto himself has seen his fair share of near misses: reckless drivers
often swipe past cyclists, missing them by a hair's breadth. Last year, his good friend became paralysed after a car crashed into him and his bicycle.
15 Still, despite the apparent dangers, Bike 2 Work's membership has swelled to 40,000 since it was formed in August 2005.
17 Since the city government designated two Sundays a month as Car-Free Days - clearing the main thoroughfare of Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin of traffic
until noon - the number of cyclists and joggers has shot up.
20 On a recent Sunday, more than 50,000 cyclists zipped past the tall office buildings on either side of the thoroughfare, while street vendors selling
everything from water, ice-cream and food, to bicycles, bicycle parts, jerseys and bandanas, set up shop along the entire stretch of road.
23 The atmosphere was festive, with music blaring from roadside kiosks. The road was taken up mostly by cyclists, including family members on outings.
Some enthusiasts rode unicycles or tall bikes. Even police officers traded their motorbikes for rollerblades to go about their duties.
26 The cycling community said the trend has caught on, with many people seeing the eco-friendly activity as part of a healthier lifestyle. Besides, it is
relatively cheap. A bicycle costs 2 million rupiah (S$255) compared with about 13 million rupiah for a motorcycle. The ease of carrying bikes, some of
which are foldable, has seen groups, even families, buying into the fad.
30 As a result, there has been a surge in bike groups. South Jakarta's Mayor Syahrul Effendi, who is also a leader of the Bicycle Congress of Indonesia, said
that while there were only 20 bicycle associations in 2005, the number has grown about tenfold now.
1 Who is Toto Sugito ?
2 What does Bike To Work encourage ?
4 Describe the condition of roads in the capital.
5 What do you mean by Car- free – Days ?
3 Name Indonesia’s capital?
6 Why are groups and families buying into this fad?
Year 10 Answers
Answers
1 Who is Toto Sugito ?
Architect and co-founder of Bike 2 Work.
4 Describe the condition of roads in the capital.
Pot- holed roads teeming with 9 mm
motorcycles and 3 mn cars.
2 What does Bike To Work encourage ?
Encourages people to cycle to work.
5 What do you mean by Car- free – Days ?
The city government has designated 2 Sundays
a month as Car-Free-Days.
The city’s thoroughfare is cleared of traffic
until noon.
3 Name Indonesia’s capital?
Jakarta
6 Why are groups and families buying into this fad?
The ease of carrying bikes, some of which
are foldable has seen groups, even families
buying into the fad.
Year 11 Task
Skim the text to find the answers to the following questions
Even when he was in his 50s, Kiyoshi Takizawa had the physical strength to run a marathon. But in recent years, his legs weakened and he began to
exhibit signs of dementia.
Takizawa, 89, began spending most of the day cooped up in his room. But last spring, his 60-year-old eldest son Norio suggested he and his father go
for daily walks. The pair now take 15-minute walks every morning near Takizawa's house in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. Takizawa uses a wheeled walker
supplied through a nursing care insurance service. "Walking has provided a certain rhythm to our lives," Norio said.
For aged people such as Takizawa who tend to withdraw from society when they weaken and begin needing nursing care, it becomes important that
they remain active and can go for walks with the help of their families. In such cases, families should know how best to care for their elderly
relatives so they can walk safely at their own pace.
"When elderly people are alone and inactive, they can fall into a vicious cycle. They begin to lose their desire [to exercise] because of their declining
physical strength. But even walking outside the home and exchanging greetings with neighbours can bring about change," said Mio Ito, a researcher
at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology.
Yuka Tanabe, deputy head of Komone Zaitaku Service Center, a nursing facility in Tokyo that provides day care services for the elderly, recommends
carers select roads with light traffic and feature seasonal flowers and greenery. The centre suggests roads leading to a park as ideal walking courses.
"People accompanying elderly people should chat with them and have them name the flowers they pass along the way," she said. She also advised
including resting places, such as park benches, along walking routes.
However, not all elderly people are interested in walking and looking at nature. "If attendants stop at the supermarket or convenience store to buy
food or confectionery, it encourages old people normally uninterested in the outdoors to go for a walk," said Tsutomu Ebihara, a senior official at
the center.
Experts also recommend carers or walking partners make a trial run over planned routes to see if there are any uneven surfaces, as elderly people
often stumble as their stride becomes shorter when they age. According to Ebihara, it is also important for elderly people to walk at their own pace.
It is unwise to force elderly people to walk if their health is questionable. "Physical strength varies from person to person. I advise the elderly and
people looking after them to consult with their family doctor and nursing care experts before beginning a walking regime," Ebihara said.( ASIAONE /
HEALTH / NEWS / STORY )
1. Describe Takizawa in his 50’s. What is his present condition ?________________________________________________
2. What did Norio suggest? _____________________________________________________________________________
3. How can families help elderly relatives ? _________________________________________________________________
4. Who is Mio Ito ? ____________________________________________________________________________________
5 . Name a nursing facility in Tokyo. _______________________________________________________________________
6 . What encourages elderly people to go for a walk? ________________________________________________________
7. What is Ebihara’s advice to the elderly people ? ___________________________________________________________
Year 11 Answers
1. Describe Takizawa in his 50’s. What is his present condition? his legs weakened and he
began to exhibit signs of dementia.
2. What did Norio suggest? suggested he and his father go for daily walks.
3. How can families help elderly relatives ? remain active and can go for walks with the help of
their families
4. Who is Mio Ito ? a researcher at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of
Gerontology.
5 . Name a nursing facility in Tokyo. Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of
Gerontology.
6 . What encourages elderly people to go for a walk? Remain active/company
7. What is Ebihara’s advice to the elderly people ? consult with their family doctor and nursing
care experts before beginning a walking regime