A heroic deed

The story of man is full of heroic deeds. One of the acts of heroism that I have seen myself was that of my uncle, who was attacked by a huge tiger while we were in our plantation, one day.

My uncle, a young and well-built’ man, and I had left our home early in the morning to do some work in the plantation. When we reached there, we could hear some dogs barking in the distance. But we did not suspect anything and began to do our work.

While we were working, however, we noticed some foot-prints of some animal. We then examined them closely and were satisfied that they did not belong to any member of the cat family, the most ferocious of animals. We then resumed our work. My uncle took a long knife and began to cut some sticks and branches of plants scattered throughout the plantation, while I did some other work.

Soon, however, I saw a movement in the bush, a short distance away. I was alarmed. I ran up to my uncle to draw this attention, but he was hardly interested in what I had to say. He continued to do his work. But shortly after wards, my uncle himself observed the movement in the bush. Yet he showed no signs of fear, and his composure dispelled my anxieties. He warned me, however, to be careful, and picked up an axe that had been lying on the ground. His knife, he gave to me. Then, he moved slowly and cautiously towards the bush, ready for any attack.

To our horror a huge tiger soon emerged from the bush. But my uncle was prepared to face it, to escape seemed impossible. The tiger too seemed to be fully aware of the strength and courage of its adversary. It paused several times while advancing towards my uncle. Then, all or a sudden, it sprang on my uncle, but his agility enabled him to escape the sharp claws of the brute with the slightest injury. Now with the axe still in his firm grip, my uncle struck the tigers face again and again, until it was bleeding profusely. The length of the handle of the axe made it difficult for the tiger to get to close to my uncle. That the tiger was at a disadvantage was clear to me from the beginning.

In the end, however, the tiger collapsed and died. Within hours, after that all the people in our area heard of my uncle’s bravery, which saved us both from death. It was indeed a greatest act of heroism that I had

Why is agriculture important ant in the world of today

Since the dawn of history, agriculture has been one of the important means of producing food for human consumption.  Today more and more lands are being developed for the production of a large variety crops. In Asia, vast areas of land are being used to produce rice, wheat, rubber and a variety of other crops. More than half of the lands occupied and developed by human beings in the world are devoted to agriculture.

That agriculture is one of the most essential means of producing food is realised easily when we think of the types of things that we eat. The rice or wheat that we eat comes from the land. Even potatoes and other roots or vegetables and even leaves such as tea, as well as the fruits that men eat are the products of the soil that covers the earth. In fact, everything that we eat, except meat, fish and other kinds of flesh comes from the land, and what grows on the land is part of agriculture. Even the sugar, oil, coffee and other beverages that we use are products of plants that grow on land. In the same way, many of the medicines that we use are made of plants that grow in various parts of the world. The tobacco that we use for relaxation also comes from a plant.

Thus, it can be easily observed that without agriculture we would be almost without food. It is true, however, that in the remote last men did live mainly on flesh that he obtained by hunting. But such a kind of life was unhappy and inconvenient for animals were not found everywhere easily. Therefore, men turned to agriculture for his livelihood. Today, agriculture continues to provide almost all the foods that men require to survive on the earth.

What career would you like to choose after leaving school

Today, it is not easy to choose a career. Hundreds of students pass various examinations every year and compete with one another for positions in the various professions which are not so many as there are applicants. I would, however, like to choose teaching as my career.

Teaching is an interesting career for several reasons. As a teacher I can  learn  many  things,  especially  if  I  teach to an upper-secondary school. If I teach History or English, for example, I have to read many books to make my teaching lessons more interesting to my pupils. Thus, I can acquire more knowledge of the subjects that I teach than what I can learn from the class text books. It is indeed a fact that a teacher learns a lot from the class text books; but that is hardly enough to make the teacher's lessons interesting to pupils. A good teacher must therefore read many other books.

Again, as a teacher, I have to speak well so that my pupils will be able to understand my instructions well. In this way I can improve my powers of expression. Even my pronunciation of words will improve to great extent.

Further, as a teacher, I shall have enough leisure to read and prepare for various examinations. It is possible today to sit for many important examinations by studying entirely6 at home. Thus, I can acquire important qualifications.

Finally, as a teacher I will be respected as an educated person. People will assume that I have certain qualifications and show their regard for me and the opinions that I express. Thus, I shall be able to live a happy life.

Describe some of the interesting places in your country

Though my country is small, yet there are many places of interest spread throughout the country.

In the southern most part of the country, where the state of Johore lies, there are some very interesting and beautiful places. In Kota Tinggi, for example, there are beautiful waterfalls which are visited by many people everyday. Then, there is Johore Lama, a place of great historical interest. In Johore Bahru, there is a beautiful beach which is visited daily by several people who love the sea. In Batu Pahat, another town in Johore, is Minyak Buku, an interesting place on the coast.

As we go towards the north, we arrive at Malacca, the oldest town that the Europeans occupied in Malaya in the past. The influences of the Portuguese and the Dutch can still be seen in many of the buildings there.

Further north lies Port Dickson which is well known for its beautiful beaches.

In Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, there are many places of interest such as Batu Caves, the zoo and the museum. The city itself is an interesting place to visit.

Another beautiful town is Penang, situated on an island. The sea around it makes it the most beautiful town in the country.

Finally, the paddy fields in the northern most parts of the country are also very beautiful and interesting to look at. On the east coast of the country too there are some beautiful towns such as Kuantan and Kuala Trenganu. All these places have indeed made my country an interesting place to live in.

The advantage and disadvantages of the cinema

The influence that the cinema exerts on the minds of those who visit it is at once beneficial and harmful.

Today, there is a cinema in almost every town. The cinema provides so much entertainment that few people fail to visit it. One or the reasons for the popularity of the cinema is that, it entertains all types or people, young and old, literate and illiterate. Because it is so popular, it must exercise some influence on those whom it attracts.

The films shown in the cinema are often very instructive and informative. Almost every film shows something about the activities and customs of the people in other lands. By seeing such films, one learns a lot about human activities. One also gains a better understanding of people of the world.

Further, some films show the battles that were fought in the past. They also sometimes show very vividly how man has struggled through the centuries to remove discomfort from his life. In this way, some films have given many people an insight into the past. Even illiterate people have benefited from such films. What they cannot acquire from books owing to their inability to read, they can acquire from films. School students, too, often benefit from a visit to the cinema. What they see and hear in the cinema makes a better impression on their minds than only the spoken words or their teachers. For example, a teacher of history can hardly describe a battle scene to his students as vividly as a film does. For  all  these  reasons,  the  cinema  is  often  regarded as  an  important means of spreading knowledge.

It must be admitted, however, that some films have exerted an evil influence on many people. Films which show the activities of criminals have encouraged many youths to commit acts or crime. Other films, too, such as those dealing with adult content and other natural weaknesses of man, have corrupted   the morals of many people. As a result, the governments of many countries have been compelled to interfere in the display and production of certain films. Yet the cinema continues to retain its popularity.

The value of music in the happiness of man

Music has always been a source of happiness to all men on the earth. From their primitive days, men's love of music has led them to make instruments of all descriptions to produce beautiful  music for their enjoyment and happiness.

Without music the world would indeed be a very dull place to live in. Even nature is full of music. There is music in the movements of the winds, the sea, as well as the trees; there is music in the calls of the birds, flies and insects and also in the flight of the birds and animals. It is from all these things that, men have learnt to appreciate' the value of music. The same things have also taught men how to produce music from the simplest of things such as sticks, bamboos, and animal horns. Men make many kinds of flutes with bamboos which produce beautiful music.

That music is very important for men's happiness is hard to deny. Music removes men's depression and tills them with gladness. It is for this reason that music is played even in hospitals to cheer up the sick people.

As music has the capacity to make men happy, it contributes greatly to men's success in life. A happy man is a good and hard worker. He works happily among people and earns the good-will or all around.

People like to associate with him and to employ him in all kinds of work. Thus, he leads a happy and successful life. The value of music in the happiness of man is therefore great.

An incident I shall never forget

Certain incidents so impress us that they leave an indelible mark on our memory. I was once involved in an incident of which I shall always have vivid recollections.

The incident occurred when I visited a village in India together with my parents, sometime during my holidays last year.

Early in the morning on the day the incident occurred, I was talking with a few of my new friends in that village. All of a sudden a boy of my age came rushing towards us to break the news that violence had broken out in the neighbourhood. Alarmed at this news, we began to protect ourselves, and before long the violence spread like wild fire throughout our area.

I was a little confused at first for I had no idea about the cause of the outbreak of violence there. One of my friends told me that the area had been notorious or such occurrence owing to rivalry between two parties. Each party tried to destroy the influence of the other in that area, and the bad blood that existed between them had caused several deaths and great misery to innocent people for a long time. Official influence could not be exercised effectively in this area owing to its remoteness from the centres of authority. The members of the rival parties therefor enjoyed almost complete freedom of action. The police arrived only when there was news of violence, and often long after the damage has been done.

While I was listening to this account of facts and events, the situation suddenly took an ugly turn. A man who had been standing a short distance away from us ran into his house most unexpectedly, and within minutes his house was ablaze. My friends and I then ran towards his house to put out the tire; but we were stopped by a few burly men who were holding lethal weapons in their hands. They threatened to kill if.

We offered any help to anyone. One of them had even struck me on my head with a stick. We realised instantly that we were no match for them and that discretion was the better part of valour. We therefore decided to proceed no further.

Soon the fire from that house began to spread and several houses were burning. There were frantic cries for help.  Men, women and children were running in all directions in their desparate attempts to save whatever  they  could  from  the fire,  in  spite of  the  interference  of  the gangsters. A few of the unfortunate ones were burned to death, including the man who had set tire to his own house. We then concluded that the man must have been so disgusted with what we had seen for so long that he had more desire to live, and this was his way of putting an end to himself. It was indeed a pathetic sight.

Then, after several hours, the police arrived when more than a quarter of the village had already been burned to ashes. They asked us several questions to find out if we had ourselves participated in the violence. As I was foreigner who would be leaving that village the following day, I had the courage to answer all their questions and to point out the men who had threatened to kill us. Those men were then arrested together with other suspects.

Early next morning, my parents and I left the village with no more desire to re-visit this place; but my memory of this incident will remain fresh forever.

The subject I consider most important

Of all the subjects that I study in school, I think that English is the most important subject. It is mainly through the English language that we gain access to the various sources of knowledge.

English is a language which is spoken and understood by many people in most countries of the world. It is, in fact, the most important means of communication among the various countries of the world. Knowledge of new discoveries and inventions in one country is transmitted to other countries through English for the benefit of the world. In this way English helps to spread knowledge and progress.

It is true, however, that in the modern age, the study of Science and Mathematics too should be considered very important. Science has conferred many benefits in man. But it requires little thought to realize that scientific principles cannot be understood well without a good knowledge of a language. And, though other languages such as German and Russian are important in the world of Science, it is English that plays the most important role in spreading scientific knowledge. 

There is in fact no branch of study that has not been communicated in English. The original writings of great scientists, economists, philosophers psychologists and others who did not speak and write the English language have all been translated into English. Therefore, one who has a good knowledge of English has access to all the sources of information.

Further, as the English language is used by people of different lands and cultures, it has become very rich. It contains so many words, ideas and thoughts that a good knowledge of English enriches the mind and enables one to express oneself well. It also helps one to think better and to understand the people of other lands. It is for all these reasons that I consider English the most important subject in school.

The most important day in my life

The most important day in my life was the day when my parents decided to send me to school.

I was then about seven years old. I had been playing with the children living around my house for some years. I had no thought of ever going to school. I enjoyed playing to catch fish from the shallow streams nearby. Sometimes we went to the forest to catch birds and squirrels and I had always thought that life would continue to be the same for me. But, one day, to my great sorrow, my parents suddenly announced that I was no longer to play about and that I was to go to a school.

Words can hardly describe how sad I felt at the thought or having to go to a school. I had often heard that school teachers were very strict and cruel. I had also been told that there were many difficult subjects to learn in school, and I could not bear the thought of being compelled to learn them. But everything had been decided for me and I had no choice but to go to school.

Soon after I was admitted to school, however, I discovered to my great joy that learning in school was a pleasure. I began to learn about the people and other wonderful things spread throughout the world. The teachers were very kind and friendly and they often told many interesting stories. The subjects that they taught were also very interesting. As a result of all this, I began to take a keen interest in my lessons and I no longer wanted to waste my time playing about.

Today, I am older and I am in a secondary school, learning more and more about the world around us. The knowledge that I have gained has enriched my mind and I have a better understanding of human problems. I am also able to speak the English language with some ease, and I know that my knowledge of English will prove of great value in all my future activities. I also know that if I can pass all my examinations, I wall someday occupy an important position in some profession. I might even become a minister in the government of my country or a well-known person in some way.

Therefore, when I now think of the day when my parents arrived at the decision to send me to school, I am filled with love for them. That was indeed the most important day in my life, a day which has changes the whole course of my life.

The Rights And Duties Of A Citizen

Almost every modern state, especially a democracy, allows its citizens several rights; but in return, it expects its citizens to perform certain duties.

Among the rights enjoyed by the citizen in a democracy are the right to pursue his own affairs as he prefers; the right to express his views, however silly they may appear to others, and the right to move about as he pleases. The citizen is considered so important that his rights are protected by the law of the state, and whenever they are infringed, he can secure redress.

But in a totalitarian state, the rights of the citizen are so restricted that he has practically no freedom. The citizen is supposed to exist for the state. His interests are always subordinated to those of the state. Thus, his duties exceed his rights.

Even in a democracy, however, the citizen is expected to exercise his rights within the limits of the law. He should not do or say anything that may affect the rights of others. In exercising his right to act as he pleases, for example, he should not try to elope with another man’s wife or say anything slanderous about her or anyone. In the same way, his actions should not cause injury or damage to any individual or his property. He cannot kill as he pleases.  If his conduct infringes the rights of others, then those who have been affected by his misconduct could take legal action against him and he will be punished according to the law of the state.  In this way, the state protects its citizens and their rights from the thoughtlessness of any individual in the state. This means, of course, that every citizen in the state is expected to do his duty to his fellow citizens.

The citizen is also expected to give his services for the protection of the state in times of war, and to maintain law and order in his state, at all times.

Thus, every citizen who is conscious of his rights should also be conscious of his duties to the state and his fellow citizens.

Science And Its Effects

One of the most striking features of the present century is the progress or science and its effects on almost every aspect of social life. Building on the foundation laid by the predecessors the scientists of today are carrying their investigation into ever-widening fields of knowledge.

Modern civilization depends largely on the scientist and inventor. We depend on the doctor who seeks the cause and cure of disease, the chemist who analyses our food and purifies our water, the entomologist who wages war on the insect pests, the engineer who conquers time and space, and a host of other specialists who aid in the development of agriculture and industry.

The advance of science and technology has brought the different parts of the world into closer touch with one another than ever before. We are able to reach distant lands within a very short time. We are also able to communicate with people far away by means of the telephone and the wireless. The invention of the printing machine has made it possible for us to learn from books and newspapers about people in other lands.

Indeed, man's curiosity and resourcefulness have been responsible for the steady stream of inventions that have created our civilization.

At the same time, however, there have been harmful effects. Our machine civilization is responsible for numerous accidents and industrial rivalries among nations. Everyday hundreds of people are dying from serious wounds and injuries. Further, the rapid tempo of modem life results in wide-spread nervous disorder. Moreover, science, which has helped man to secure control over nature, has also made it possible for him to develop more deadly weapons or war. More and more countries are competing with one another in the production of war material.  But in  these  instances  the  fault  lies  not  with  science,  but  rather  with  man's intention to misuse the discoveries of science.

Science is admittedly the dominating intellectual force of the modem age.

A Horrible Sight

On the main roads of West Malaysia accidents occur almost every day. Most of them are caused by young drivers who are long of speed. The recklessness has caused the death of even careful drivers. What I am about to relate concerns the death of some young people, resulting from the reckless driving of a young man.

On the day in question, I was travelling with my brother to Ipoh. As my brother's car was old, he had to drive slowly. We left Singapore, our hometown, very early in the morning, so that we could reach our destination before dark. The slow journey soon made me so tired that I fell asleep. However, we broke our Journey at Yong Peng, a small town in Johore, for some refreshment. When we resumed our journey, we saw a number of badly damaged vehicles in front of the Police Station of that town. My brother then began to talk about the various accidents that he had seen on that road. I began to grow uneasy about the rest of the journey. My brother had told me that most of the accidents occurred within a few miles of that town. I now began to fear for our own safety. Then, suddenly, a car, running at great speed, outtook our car.  My brother then predicted that the car would be involved in an accident soon. After that my heart began to beat fast.

The car was soon out of sight. My brother, however, assured me that I would have an opportunity to see a very bad accident, and sure enough, we soon arrived at a distressing scene.

The car that had overtaken our car was in a ditch and four young girls were lying dead on the road-side.  Their faces and clothes were covered with blood.  Some people were trying to extricate the other occupants, including the young driver, who were still alive in the car. But all of a sudden, the car was on fire, and their efforts failed. Thus, the occupants in the car were burnt alive, and it was indeed heart-rending to hear their last screams. Soon a fire engine and the police arrived with an ambulance, but it was too late.

This was indeed a horrible sight, and even today the mention of accidents reminds me of those piteous screams of the dying ones in that car.

The Value Of The Libraries

A good library is an ocean of information, whose boundaries continue to extend with the endless contribution of the numerous streams of knowledge. Thus, it has a peculiar fascination for scholars, and all those whose thirst for knowledge is instable.

The usefulness of libraries in the spread of knowledge has been proved through the years. The field of knowledge is so extensive and life is so brief that even the most avid reader can never expect to absorb it all. Those who have a love for knowledge, therefore, try to master only a small fraction of it. Even this requires reading of hundreds of books, cheap and expensive, new and old. But few people are able to buy all the books on the subject in which they wish to attain proficiency. It is therefore necessary for them to visit a good library, where they can read a great variety of books on the subject they love. Besides, many old and valuable books on certain subjects are found only in a good library.  Even the original manuscript of an author, who died several years ago, can be found in it, sometimes.

Today, men everywhere have discovered the benefits of learning. More and more books are being written to extend human knowledge and experience. Governments and individuals throughout the world are, therefore, opening more and more libraries to enable people to read as many books as possible. Libraries have been opened even in the remotest regions of the earth, so that people who are unable to buy books from the towns can still gain access to the various sources of knowledge. Mobile libraries serve the people in various parts of the earth.

The importance of libraries, however, is felt most acutely by students in schools and universities, where most students are engaged in deep studies. The number of books that a student has to study, especially at a university, is so large that unless he comes from a rich family, he can hardly buy them all. Besides, many of the books may not be available in the book-shops within his reach. It is therefore to his advantage to visit a good library.

Some people even have their own private libraries in which they spend their leisure, reading the books that they have collected over the years, and drive great intellectual benefit and pleasure.

In short, libraries have contributed so much to the extension of knowledge that they have become almost indispensable to all literate men.

A Unusual Opportunity I Had

Seldom does one have opportunity of seeing a fight between a tiger and a crocodile. I, however, had this opportunity one day when I went with my father into a forest, in search of some wild plants.

I had never been to a forest before. Therefore, whatever I saw in that forest interested me greatly. I looked at the rich vegetation all round as well as the variety of colourful flowers and birds, large and small. I saw the activity of some of the wild creatures, such as snakes, squirrels and insects. Occasionally, I heard the cry of some strange animal in pain, perhaps while being eaten by a larger animal. I also heard some rustling noises in the undergrowth; but I was not afraid of all these. Such things, I knew, were natural to the forest.

My father whose only interest was in the type of plants he wanted for my  mother's  garden,  however,  paid  little  attention to the sounds and movements in these f:reen depths. He continued his search for more and more of those plants until we reached one of the banks of a large river in the forest. There we stopped for a while to enjoy the sights around.

The scene was peaceful. Then, to our surprises and horror, we saw a tiger on the other side of the river. It was moving quietly and cautiously towards the water for a drink. A hush fell upon the jungle.  My father and I were now too frightened to move from there.

However, as the tiger put its mouth into the river there was a sudden swirl of the waters, and before the tiger could rush out, it was seized by a huge crocodile. The tiger's howl of pain and anger filled me and my father with terror. Yet we waited there to see the end of the struggle between these two lords of the forest and the never. The crocodile had the advantage from the beginning. It used all its strength to pull the tiger deeper into the water, and the tiger too fought desperately to free itself from the jaws of the merciless reptiles; but the tiger soon gave up the struggle and all was quiet again. I now felt pity for the tiger which had died just to slake its thirst.

Then, my father reminded me of the narrow escape that we had ourselves had. If the tiger had been on this side of the river, one of us might have died in the way the tiger did, a victim of animal appetite. And as we were returning home, I began to think of the struggle for life and savagery that lurks beneath peaceful scenes.

Adventure in a forest

A few months ago some of my class-mates and I made a trip to Borneo with our Geography teacher to seek adventure in the forests of Borneo.

Soon after our arrival in Borneo, we made all the preparations and began our journey to the forest early one morning. After miles of travel through the forest, we arrived at an open space. As it was already late in the evening, we decided to erect our tent and spend the night there. Night soon fell on this place and we lighted our oil lamp.

Feeling tired, we had out meal early and went to bed. There was silence all around; but soon, creatures that love the night world became active. The forest was now full of frightful noise. Breaking through this noise, came another noise, more frightening; the noise of native drums. And as the minutes slipped by, it seemed tit come nearer and nearer. We all froze into deathly silence. The tension  mounted  rapidly,  but  still nothing happened. Then, as suddenly as it began, the noise stopped. We were alarmed. We were now sure that some natives has seen us and we would he attacked. In such a situation, we could not sleep. Death might come at any time.

Minutes lengthened to hours; but in our anxiety to preserve our lives, we hardly noticed the coming of day. Then, all of a sudden, we found ourselves surrounded by half-naked natives with spears in their hands. Surprised and terrified, we remained speechless for some time.  Then, one of them, presumably their leader, uttered a word. He seemed eager to talk, but there was no language in which we could understand each other.

Our teacher, who is always full of ideas, then offered a cigarette to the man who uttered the word. The man, however, seemed to suspect our teacher's intentions. He refused to accept the cigarette. Our teacher then put it between his own lips and after lighting it, began to puff' at it. The man now made a sign which showed that he would not mind having a cigarette after all. At once our teacher gave him one and helped him to light it. As he was puffing at it, we observed signs of satisfaction. Realising that in this way we could become friends, our teacher gave him a few more cigarettes. The man was so delighted at this demonstration of friendship that he uttered some words, and soon all those who came with him, began to dance and sing.

After they had stopped singing, they made several gestures which showed that they had enjoyed our company. They left us after about an hour with smiles on their faces. Our journey into the interior 5 f Borneo was indeed an adventure. 

Visit to a famous city

A few months  ago my father and I visited  Singapore, one of the most famous cities in Asia.

Singapore, a small island, lies at the southern and of West Malaysia. A long and narrow piece of land joins Singapore with Johore Hahru, the southern-most town of West Malaysia. Singapore is now an independent state.

The city of Singapore is extremely beautiful. It is well known for its centres of business and other activities. There are many places of interest' such as the Ti8er Balm Garden, the Botanical Gardens and Raffles Museum. There are also many important centres of learning such as the University of Singapore, Science Centre, the Nanyang University and the Polytechnic. Being a famous city, hundreds  of  people  come every day from various parts of the world to do business or to enjoy the sights of the city. Singapore therefore has large and beautiful airports and its harbours are full of ships.

There are many night schools where people who cannot go to the day schools for some reason or other can continue their studies. And, the government of Singapore is still doing its best to make further improvements in the city for the benefit of the people.

During my stay in Singapore, I went out every day with my father to see the beautiful and interesting places and things in the city. One day we went to the Tiger Balm Garden where I saw several statues of people, animals and other strange creature' beautifully made and kept. The sea near this garden makes this a pleasant place to visit. We spent almost half of the day at this place.

Another day we visited the museum where I saw hundreds of curious’ things preserved for scholar 4 and others. It was indeed an education to see all those things. There is so much to learn here that every visit by any person is sure to add to his knowledge.

I also visited some of the harbours and saw the large ships anchored 5 there. The sight of the ships roused a desire in me to cross the oceans and go round the world. I was indeed deeply impressed by the activities at the harbour.

Then every night, I went round the town and visited some of the parks and other places  of  interest. The numerous light and the constant stream of traffic kept the city alive. I visited a few of the cinemas as well. In short, I enjoyed every moment of my stay in this famous city of Singapore.

Modern inventions

Modern inventions have made life more comfortable than what it was before. More and more new things are being made in all countries throughout the world to make life even more comfortable.

In the past men had great difficulty in ploughing their lands to grow food. But today, giant machines are used to plough thousands of acres of land. As a result more food can be grown in a shorter time than was possible before. Food grown in one country is sent to another country where it is needed badly. To carry the food motor-vehicles, steam-ship and various other means of transport have been invented.  Shortage of food in one place no longer causes anxiety as it can be brought from another place within a very short time.

The invention of the means of transport has also made it possible for people to work in places miles away, and children can attend schools in distant places. In the past, this was not possible. The children of today are therefore better educated than those of the past. Invention of the means of transport has also increased human activity. A man can now go to several places, and do a variety of things in a day's time.

Other inventions like the radio and the telephone have also contributed much to human progress. The radio keeps us informed about developments in other parts of the world. We do not have to travel to know what is happening in places away from our homes. The telephone too is a convenient means of knowing about others, miles away. It helps in business transactions by reducing time and travel. A businessman in one town can talk to another in another town, several miles away, to do some important business. In all these ways, people are able to do many things without much loss of time.

In the same way, every invention has helped to increase our comforts. Television, for example, now makes it possible for people to stay at home and enjoy. At the same time, however, modem inventions have caused many deaths and much sorrow to many people. Motor vehicles and other machines have killed hundreds of people. Many have lost their hands or legs, and accidents continue to occur in every increasing numbers. Yet modern inventions have made the world what it is today.

Discuss the part that money plays in our lives

Money plays an important part' in our lives. In several aspects it is the most important thing in life. It is therefore much sought after.

Without money we could not buy our food, clothes and all the other things that we need to live comfortably. We require money to travel, to buy medicine when we are ill and also to pay for the services rendered' to us by others. In truth money is almost indispensable to our survival’. Most of our activities are therefore directed towards earning as much money as possible.

We use money not only to meet the basic needs of life but also pay for our own advancement. We use it for education which helps us to live a better life.  Thousands of students are unable to attend school or continue their studies for want of money. Lack of money also causes great hardship’ and sorrow in hundreds of families. Thousands of people are dying every day throughout the world because they are not able to pay their doctors fee or because they cannot buy nutritious food.

As money is so important, many crimes are committed everyday in all parts or the world to gain possession of it. Some are driven by hunger and desperation to steal, rob, and even kill to get at least that they require to keep body and soul together. Others commit the most serious crimes out of sheer greed for money. Such people cause much trouble and unpleasantness in society, and to bring them to justice, large sums of money are spent by every government.

Today, millions of dollars are being spent by the various governments in the world for the betterment of the people. Numerous schools and hospitals are being built and hundreds or acres or land are being cultivated to produce more food for the growing population of the world. As a result, the world is gradually becoming a better place to live in.

At the same time however, much money is being wasted   in producing deadly weapons of war. Countries which have more money than the others have become more powerful by strengthening their armed forces. This has led to rivalries among the powerful nations, and several parts of the world are in turmoil’. All this shows what an important part money plays in human affairs.

Living in a multiracial community

Living in a community where there are people of various races' could be a rewarding and an exciting experience. Such a community is like  a small world with many types and races of people in it.

Everyone, young or old, enjoys listening to stories about people in other lands. We read books and newspapers to learn about the habits, customs and beliefs of people who do not belong to our race, hut when we live in a community composed’ of many races, we have the opportunity to meet and talk with people or various races. We can learn about their customs and beliefs directly from them. In this way, we have a better understanding of their ways of life. For example, in Singapore and Malaysia, which are known  as multiracial countries, Malays, Chinese, Indians and others have lived together for several  decades.

They have learnt a lot about the cultures of one another, more than what they could have learnt by reading books or newspapers. By living together, they have also absorbed’ many of the habits of one another to their common benefit.

Further, living in a multiracial community teaches us how to respect the views and beliefs of people of other races. We learn to be tolerant and to understand and appreciate the peculiai’ities of those who are not of our  race.  In  this  way,  we  learn  to  live  in  peace  and  harmony  with foreigners whose ways of life are different from ours in several respects. We become less suspicious strangers and foreigners.

The relationship that develops among the people from common understanding in a multi-racial community makes life in such  a community very exciting. Any celebration of any race becomes a celebration of all the other races. Thus, there is a lot of fun and excitement during every celebration. In this way, better understanding is  promoted' among the peoples of the world. Through each of the races of the people in a multi-racial community, we come to know about their respective countries. For example, through the Chinese and the Indians in Malaysia or Singapore we have come to know much about China and India. As a result, we have a better understanding of the peoples of China and India as a whole. It could therefore be said that life in a multiracial community teaches us many useful lessons in human relations.

Life in the City

Life in the city is full of activity. Early in the morning hundreds  of people rush out of their homes in the manner ants do when their nest is broken. Soon the streets are full of traffic. Shops and offices open, students flock' to their schools and the day's work begins. The city now throb' with activity, and it is full of noise. Hundreds of siuht-seers, tourists  and others  visit  many places of interest in the city wkile businessmen from various parts of the world arrive to transact business

Then towards evening, the offices and day schools begin  to close. Many of the shops too close. There is now a rush for buses and other means of trans.  Everyone seems to be in a hurry to reach home. As a result of this rush, many accidents occur. One who has not been to the city before finds it hard to move about at this time. Soon, however, there is almost no activity in several parts of the city. These parts are usually the business centres.

With the coming of night, another kind of activity bcgins. The streets are now full of colourful lights. The air is cooler and life becomes more leisurely. People now seek entertainment. Many visit the cinemas, parks and clubs, while others remain indoors to watch television or listen to the radio. Some visit friends and relatives and some spend their time reading books and magazines. Those who are interested in politics discuss the latest political developments.

 At the same time, hundreds of crimes are committed. Thieves and robbers who wait for the coming of night become active, and misfortune  descends upon' many. For the creed’ of a few, many are killed, and some live in constant fear. To brinu criminals to justice, the officers of the law are always on the move

Workers and others who seek advancement in their careers attend educational institutions which are open till late in the night. Hundreds of them sit for various examinations every year. The facilities and opportunities that the people in the city have to further their studies and increase their knowledge of human affairs are indeed many. As a result, the people of the city are usually better informed than those of the village, where even a newspaper is sometimes difficult to get.

The city could, therefore, be described as a place of ceaseless activity.

Here, the drama of life is enacted every day.