NEWS BREAK

BY MAX FATCHEN

1
 Warm-up Activity

News Break

1. Have you done anything wrong?

________________________________________________________
2. How do you tell your parents when you have done something wrong?
________________________________________________________
3. Have you ever hid your examination marks from your parents or siblings?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Why did you hide your examination marks?
___________________________________________________________________
5. How did your parents react when you failed the examination?
___________________________________________________________________
6. How do you convey your examination results to your parents?
___________________________________________________________________
7. In your opinion, what is the meaning of “News Break”?
___________________________________________________________________
8. Why do you think the title of the poem is ‘News Break’?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Do you change your marks to avoid being scolded by your parents?
___________________________________________________________________
10. How do you feel when your parents meet and discuss with your teacher?
___________________________________________________________________
11. Who would you prefer to come to school to collect the examination results?

2
 ___________________________________________________________________
12. What did you get when you obtained good results?
___________________________________________________________________
13. What would you like to have for the good results you obtained?
___________________________________________________________________

3
4
 NEWS BREAK

Now why so loving, darling,

And why the sudden kiss?
You’d help me with some little jobs?
For goodness sake, what’s this?

Your face is clean for once, dear.

Your clothes without a crease.
You saved your luncheon money?
Will wonders never cease?

No dropping of your school books,

No shrieking, childish treble.
Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel.

But surely you’re some stranger,

No rage or hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

Now were you struck by lightning

Or were you stunned at sport?
Ah… now I see the reason.
You’ve brought your school report!

MAX FATCHEN

5
About The Author

MAX FATCHEN
Max Fatchen (1920-2012) was an Australian journalist and children’s writer. His childhood
times was spent on an Adelaide Plains farm at Angle Vale, Australia. Part of his High School
studies was done at home. He went to Gawler High School once in week to get his papers
corrected. Later he entered journalism as a copy boy and after five years was in the
Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, as a journalist with “The
News” and later “The Advertiser”. He began writing for children in 1966. His published works
include 20 books and poetry. Three of his books received commendation in the Children’s
Book of the Year Award. He wrote for children in the primary school group. His poetry is
well-known throughout the English-speaking world.

Summary Of The Poem

The child reaches home and he/she hugs and kisses the persona lovingly. He/ She offers to
help the persona with some little jobs. The parent is taken aback and wonders the reason for
this change. The child looks clean and the clothes are tidy. He / She had saved the luncheon
money. The parent marvels that the child does not drop the school books and displays a
quiet behaviour. The persona begins to wonder if the child is a stranger as there was no
anger or noise by the child. The parent looks at the child closely to make sure everything is
fine. Finally, the parent sees the school report that the child has brought home.

6
Elements of The Poem

PERSONA

1. The speaker is a parent who is puzzled to see the child’s sudden change of behaviour.

TONE & MOOD

1. The tone of the poem is light-hearted and humorous.

2. The reader is filled with curiosity at the beginning of the poem but will most certainly laugh
when they read the last sentence.

POINT OF VIEW

1. It is in the ‘first person’ point of view.

SETTING

1. Time : No specific time frame is mentioned although it can be inferred that the child
has just returned home from school.
2. Place : At home

THEMES

1. Parents responsibility
➢ The child pretends to be good before showing the school report to his mother. Parents play
the role of boundaries setters. Children have to be aware of certain boundaries thus
knowing consequences to their actions. It is good to change your attitude for the better;
however, mere pretending is meaningless. Being good and pretending to be good are of two
different matters. Parents have to make their children aware of this.

2. Creativity has no boundaries

7
 ➢ The child is indeed creative. In order not to get a scolding from his mother, he does all sorts
of things to please her. Let your child’s creativity flow. However, the world is too
overwhelming for a young child to bloom in his own ways. Therefore, always be at his or her
sides to provide support and guidance.

3. Having an ulterior motive

➢ The child in the poem is rather sly. He is behaving well for a reason. He has brought home
his report card which may contain bad grades. Since he does not want to make his parents
angry, he tries to win the parent’s heart by being obedient.

MORAL VALUES

1. We must be aware of the changes in the way people think and act.
2. We must try to behave well at all times and not only on certain circumstances
3. We must be brave to face the consequences of our actions instead of giving excuses.
4. Parents should try to understand their children if they hide their reasons for behaving
differently.

LITERARY DEVICES

1. Metaphor
➢ The persona uses metaphor to describe the behaviour of the child.
➢ E.g: ‘ Today you are a lamb ‘ signifies innocence and obedience.
‘ Where yesterday a rebel ’ signifies disobedience and defiance.

2. Symbol
➢ ‘Your face is clean’ symbolises the child looking sweet and lovable.

➢ ‘Your clothes without a crease’ symbolizes the child standing upright and obediently
waiting for his mother.

3. Imagery
➢ ‘Now why so loving, darling, and why the sudden kiss’ gives the image of a loving son
hugging a very surprised mother.

➢ ‘no rage or hullabaloo’ gives the image of a noisy crying child throwing tantrums.

4. Assonance
➢ Assonance is the repetition of vowel sound in words that are close to each other.

8
 ➢ E.g: ‘Now why so loving , darling’

5. Alliteration
➢ Alliteration occurs when a series of words repeat the same consonants or sounds.
➢ E.g: ‘ .....clothes without a crease’ , ‘ surely you’re some stranger’.

6. Hyperbole
➢ An outrageous exaggeration used for effect.
➢ E.g: ‘ Now were you struck by lightning ‘ is an exaggeration of the mother’s feeling with
regards to the reason for the change in his behavior.

Paraphrase Of The Poem

Now why so loving, darling,

And why the sudden kiss?
You’d help me with some little jobs?
For goodness sake, what’s this?

MEANING

The persona is greeted with a kiss and hug from the child. The child also helps the
parent with household chores. The parent is puzzled with this change of behaviour.

Your face is clean for once, dear.

Your clothes without a crease.
you saved your luncheon money?
Will wonders never cease?

MEANING

The parent is surprised to see that the child’s face is clean and the clothes are neat
without any wrinkles. The child also did not spend his lunch money, which is
unusual.
9
 No dropping of your school books,
No shrieking, childish treble.
Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel.

MEANING

The child did not drop the school books. The child also did not scream or show
and outburst of anger. On that day, the child acts innocent and gentle. This
contradicts the previous day where the child was rebellious.

But surely you’re some stranger,

No rage or hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

MEANING

The persona begins to wonder if the child is a stranger. The child did not show any
anger or make any noise. The persona wants to take a closer look at the child to
confirm the identity of the child.

Now were you struck by lightning

Or were you stunned a sport?
Ah… now I see the reason.
You’ve brought your school report!

MEANING

The parent wonders if the child has been struck by lightning or hit during a game.
Then, the parent finds out the truth about the child’s improved behaviour. The
child has brought home the school report.

10
11
Literal Meaning

The persona finds it hard to understand the son’s change in behavior. He is like a different person.
He hugs and kisses her and offers to help her with some work. He looks clean and tidy for a change
and he has even saved his luncheon money. The persona is further surprised by the boy’s quiet
behavior, not his usual boisterous self. He does not even throw down his school books. Unlike his
usual rebellious self, he is a gentle as a lamb. It dawns on her that she might be talking to a stranger.
She wonders if he was involved in accident and had hurt his head. The reason becomes obvious
when she notices his school report in his hand.

Figurative Meaning

There are different categories of people with different types of behaviour. In general, we expect
people to be their normal self or behave in the same way all the time. We feel save as we know
what to say or do. However, people do change their behaviour once in a while. They may change
due to circumstances or for personal reasons.

When a person who is usually cool and collected becomes loving and caring, we wonder about their
motives. A person who does not usually lift a finger to help and suddenly offers to help do the
chores will cause eyebrows to be raised. An untidy person who begins to take care of his
appearance or a spendthrift who begins to count the pennies will raise doubts about his motives. A
boisterous and unruly person who turns meek, polite and respectful may make us doubt his
sincerity.

We may query as to whether they are for real. Do they have an ullterior motive? Eventually, he or
she will show his true colours and the actual reason will be revealed. Be alert to these changes of
character and act accordingly.

12
 Practice 1

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words or expressions from the poem.

Some little
jobs Reason Stunned at
For
sport
goodness
sake
School
Without a
books
crease Shrieking,
School childish
report No rage or
lovingly hullabaloo

The boy reaches home and he hugs and kisses the persona (1)__________. He offers to

help her with (2)__________. She is taken aback and wonders to herself, (3)__________,

what’s this? He looks like a different person, as his face is clean for once and his clothes are

(4)__________. He had saved his luncheon money. Looking at him with a puzzled look, she

marvels that he does not drop his (5)__________ and he displays a quiet behavior, there is

no (6)__________ as he like a lamb compared to the day before when he was a rebel. The

persona is sure the person standing in front of her showing (7)__________ must be a

stranger. She looks at him closely and thinks he might be having concussion or is

(8)__________. Ah...then she sees the (9)__________, he has brought back his

(10)__________. As she said, wonders will never cease.

13
 Practice 2

Match the words with the pictures given.

1. 4.
Loving

Sudden kiss

2. 5
Little jobs

Clean
14
3. 6.

Practice 3

Match the words with the suitable meanings.

1.

R V
e
e e
b
b r
e
e y
ll
t
i
2.
d
y
L S
S
a p
m
m e
e
b
b n
n
d
d
m
m
o
3.
o
n
M e
n
C M
y
l ie
lly
e d
f
do
a
rf
n m o
m
a 15
anrl
nu
n
n
el
n c
S
S rG u
G
4.

5.

Practice 4

There are 10 words used in the poem that are hidden in the word maze below. Find
them, underline and write the words in the space provided.

L V D B T C L E A N
O C A N M Y G F Q S
V X R W O N D E R S
I Z L M N U H D H D
N S I P E I J F K L
G G N W Y O L A M B
D J G Q F E K C N M
R L S A B P L E B V
S K C E A S E W Z C
H D R O P P I N G X

1. Feeling, showing or indicating love and affection.

16
2. A dearly beloved person.

3. Free from dirt, stain or impurities.

4. The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, surprising.

5. The official currency, coins and negotiable paper notes.

6. A sweet, mild-mannered person.

7. The surface of the front of the human head.

8. to feel or express strong unwillingness or repugnance.

9. To come to an end.

10. The act of falling.

Practice 5

Unscramble the words from the poem. Match them with the appropriate meaning.

WORDS MEANING
1. ndsenut a) a line or mark made by folding, pressing, or
crushing something (such as cloth)
2. acees b) a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to
control
3. ddesun c) a written statement of a student's grades
that is
given to the student's parents
4. iekrgshin d) an innocent, weak, or gentle person
5. nggtihnli e) formal lunch that occurs as part of a
meeting or
for entertaining a guest
6. petorr dcra f) happening, coming, or done very quickly in
a

17
 way that is usually not expected
7. unceohnl g) the flashes of light that are produced in the
sky
during a storm
8. tlereb h) the highest range of sounds used in music
9. mbla i) to make a loud, high-pitched cry
10. egra k) to stop happening; to end
11. sreeac l) to surprise or upset (someone) very much
Adapted from Merriam Webster Dictionary

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________
10. ______________________________________________________________
11. ___________________________________________
___________________

Practice 6

Find words in the poem that have the meanings below. Complete the crossword
puzzle with the words.

18
 1

2 3

6 7

8 9 10

11

19
 12

13 14

15

Across Down
2. a person who is defiant 1. anger
5. see 3. mid-day meal
8. hit 4. fresh
9. noise 6. wrinkle
11. shocked 7. screaming
14. explanation 10. affectionate
15. put aside 12. stop
13. chores

Practice 7

Based on the poem and the pictures, what differences can you find?

Not loving his Child’s face is

mother. dirty. Child shouts and
behaves
childishly.

YESTERDAY

20
 TODAY

Child loves Child’s Child does not

towards his face is shout or behave
mother. clean. childishly
Practice 8

List the differences in the child’s behaviour after he obtains the school report.

21
 B A
E F
F T
O E
R R
E

T
h
e

c
h
i
lT
d
h
e
w
a
c
sh
i
d
lT
e
d
h
f
e
id
ra
cn
o
h
tp
i
sl
l
T
d
ih
h
ikn
e
e
se
c
vh
a
se
ic
rrl
h
T
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d
o
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’b
o
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e
se
ll
lc
p
ch
b
syl
io
e
o
o
lw
tsd
ki
ts
h
te
w
h
sra
o
d
sn
ta
h
ryth 22
e
.ih
e
e
m
h
cs
o
r
 Practice 9

List the child’s actions that made the parent suspicious.

Oh no! I
got my
report
card.

23
 Practice 10

Write True or False for the following statements.

1. The boy greets the mother with a kiss lovingly.

2. Normally his face is not clean but covered with smudges.

3. He has used up all his pocket money for lunch.

4. As usual, he throws down his books and screams.

5. His clothes look smooth but are covered with mud.

6. His behavior is comparable with a gentle docile lamb.

7. His normal behaviour is to act like a rebel and throw his books.

8. The child usually saves his pocket money.

9. The children normally listens to his parent.

10. The child has got excellent results.

24
 Practice 11

Match the expressions below with the correct poetic devices.

A
‘ s
N s
o o
n
r a
a n
g c
e
‘ Se
y
o…
r. m
. b
hs o
uu l
lr
le
a I
l
b‘ m
ay
Y a
lo g
oy
u e
oo
r
’u
’f
ra S
e
c i
‘
e m
N
s
o i
io
w l
sm
e
e
cw
lh
sy A
e
ta l
‘
rsn l
T
a
’o
o i
n
d t
la
g e
o
ye r
vr
a
iy’
n t
o i
g
u
, o
n 25
a
d
r
a
e
r
 Practice 12

Complete the following sentences with the correct words from the following pairs of
words that rhyme.

1. kiss this

I saw mother gave father a _________________ before he left for work

______________ morning.

2. sport report

The secretary prepared a ________________ of the ________________ for the teacher.

3. dear clear

It is _____________ that the price for this bag too _______________ for me.

4. crease cease

If you can keep your shirt smooth without a _______________, mother will
______________ nagging at you.

5. reason season

The _____________ I am going to London is because it is winter, the cold

_______________.

6. treble rebel

My little cousin is such a _______________ and the pitch of his scream is

_______________ that of his little sister.

26
 Practice 13

Fill in the blow out spaces with the items indicated in the rocket.

1
.

H
o
w

w
o
u
l2
d
.

tW
h
e
a
t
p
a
i3
rs
.
e
n
tL
th
i
e
s
rt
e
r
a
e
t
c
a
w
tlo

a
rc
fe
h
ta
e
s
n
ro
g
n
e
k
s
n
f
o
i
w
rn 27
i
n
t
g
h
e
 Practice 14

Imagine you are the mother of the child. What would you say to your child
when you received his/her report card? H
O
T
S

_
_
_
Report Card _
with good
results _
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
Report Card _
with poor _
results _
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
_ 28
_
_
_
_
 Practice 15

Imagine you returned home with a bad report card. Describe things that you will do to
cheer up your mother or father. Why do you do so? Use the pictures to help you. H
O
T
S

29
 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Test Yourself . . . . .

1. Who is the poet?

_______________________________________________
2. How many stanzas are there in the poem?
_______________________________________________
3. Do you think the title is suitable for the poem? Why?
_______________________________________________
4. What is the main idea of the poem?
_______________________________________________
5. State one moral value that you have learnt from the poem.
___________________________________________________________________
6. Do you like the poem? Why?
___________________________________________________________________
7. Describe the poem in one word.
___________________________________________________________________
8. How is the poem related to your own life?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Suggest two ways to avoid yourself from being scolded by your parents.

i. __________________________________________________________________

ii __________________________________________________________________

10. If you are a parent, what would be your reaction when your child’s behaviour
improves suddenly?
___________________________________________________________________
11. Do you think a sudden change of attitude could save yourself?
___________________________________________________________________

30
 12. Do you think the child will continue with his good behaviour after showing his report
card. Why do you think so?
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

PT3 PRACTICES

Practice 1

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

N
o
w

w
h
y

s
(a) Where did the situation occur?
o
______________________________________________________________________

l (1 mark)
o
(b) What did the boy do when he met his mother?
v
i
______________________________________________________________________
n
(1 mark)
g
(c) What was offered by the boy, to his mother?

______________________________________________________________________
d
a
______________________________________________________________________
r
(1 mark)
l
i 31
n
g
,
(d) What was his mother’s reaction after hearing the offer from his son? Provide the textual
evidence for your answer.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

Practice 2

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

Your face
is clean for once, dear.
Your
clothes without a crease.
You
saved…….

(a) What happened to the son’s face?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(b) How can we prevent our clothes from creases? Provide two suggestions.
H
O
T
i. ___________________________________________________________________
S

ii. ___________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

(c) Do you think the child presented the report card to his father or his mother? Provide
reasons to support your answer. H
O
T
S
32
 ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

Practice 3

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

No dropping
of your school books,

No shrieking
childish treble.

Today
you….

a) What is meant by the phrase ‘No dropping of your school books’ ?

_______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(b) How differently does the boy behave?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(c) State the literary device used in line 3.

____________________________________________________________________

33
 (1 mark)

(d) Give two examples of how a child would behave in order to be called a rebel.

i. ______________________________________________________________

ii. ______________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

Practice 4

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

But surely
you’re some stranger,
No rage or
hullabaloo.
Come
closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be
REALLY you?

Now were
you struck by lightning
Or were you stunned at sport?
Ah… now I see the reason
You’ve brought your school report!

(a) What did the boy not do to be regarded as a stranger by his mother?

______________________________________________________________________

34
 (1 mark)

(b) Why did the mother say ‘Now were you struck by lightning’. ?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(c) Why did she call the boy to move closer to her?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(d) When the persona understands the reason for the son’s strange behaviour, how do you
think she feels? Give a reason for your answer. H
O
T
i. Feeling: S
______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

ii. Reason:

___________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)
Practice 5

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

No dropping of
your school books,
No shrieking,
childish treble.
Today you are a
lamb, love,
Where
yesterday a rebel.

But surely
you’re some stranger,
No rage or
hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

35
(a) In the first stanza, how is the child’s behaviour today different from that of yesterday?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(b) ‘But surely you’re some stranger’. Why does the child appear to be a ‘stranger’?

______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(c) Why does the poet capitalise the word ‘REALLY’?

_______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

(d) What does this poem show about human nature? Justify your answer.
H
O
T
_______________________________________________________________________
S

_______________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

Imagine you are the child. You feel worried about your poor results. In about 50 words,
write an email to your parents apologizing for your results.

36
 Activity 2

ROLE PLAY

Create a dialogue describing the conversation between the mother and the child based on what you
understand in the poem. Act it out in class.

Activity 3

37
Debate

Divide the class into groups A and B. Conduct a debate on “Should report cards

should be given to parents”. Provide reasons why report cards should or should not

be given to the parents.

Activity 4

DESIGN YOUR OWN REPORT CARD

How would you want your report card to look like? Design your own report card that
you like. Be creative in your design.

Activity 5

A TO Z Game

Let’s play the A-Z game for News Break. The teacher writes alll the alphabets on the
board. Students complete the alphabets with words from the text. After that, choose

five words and create your own sentences using the words.

Answers

P 1. lovingly
r 2. some little jobs
a 3. for goodness sake
c
t 38
i
c
e
 4. without a crease 1. Rebel – Go against/disobedient
5. school books 2. Lamb – mild mannered, gentle
6. shrieking, childish treble 3. Clean – very tidy
7. no rage or hullabaloo 4. shrieking – screaming/squealing
8. stunned at sport 5. Luncheon money – spend money for
9. reason lunch break
10. school report
P
rP
ra 1. Loving
ca1. clean 2, Darling
tc2. Dropping 3. Clean
ti3. lamb 4. Wonders
4. little jobs 5. Money
ci5. sudden kiss 6. Lamb
c6.
e loving 7. Face
e 8. Rebel
P4 9. Cease
10. Dropping
r2
a
c
P
t
r
i
a 1. sudden- happening, coming, or done very quickly in a way that is usually not
c
c expected
e
t 2. crease- a line or mark made by folding, pressing, or crushing something (such as
i cloth)
3
c 3. luncheon- formal lunch that occurs as part of a meeting or for entertaining a guest
e 4. cease- to stop happening; to end
5. shrieking- to make a loud, high-pitched cry
5 6. treble- the highest range of sounds used in music
7. lamb- an innocent, weak, or gentle person
8. rage- a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control
9. lightning- the flashes of light that are produced in the sky during a storm
10. stunned-to surprise or upset (someone) very much
11. report card- a written statement of a student's grades that is given to the student's
parents

P
r
aCrossword (Find the word)
c
t Across Down
i 2. rebel 1. rage
c 5. look 3. luncheon
e 8. struck 4. clean

6 39
 9. hullabaloo 6. crease
11. stunned 7. shrieking
14. reason 10. loving
15. saved 12. cease
13. jobs

P
r
a
c YESTERDAY TODAY
t
Not loving her mother Child loves towards his mother
i
c Child’s face is dirty Child’s face is clean
e
Child shouts and behave childishly Child does not shout or behave childishly
7
Child never helps with the house chores Child helps to do some little house
chores

Child brings back the school report

P
r
a
c Before After
t
The child was defiant like a rebel The child is obedient like a lamb today
i
yesterday
c
eThe child drops his school books on the The child does not drop any of his school
floor books on the floor
8
The child never helps with the house The child helps to do some little chores
chores

The child’s clothes are crumpled The child’s clothes are neat without any
crease

The child was himself yesterday The child is like a stranger today

P P
r r did not throw the school
2. The child
1.aThe child kisses the parent. books.a
c c
t t 40
i i
c c
e e
3. The child offers to do some chores 1. image
around the house. 2. alliteration
4. The child is clean. 3. symbol
5. The child has saved his pocket money. 4. assonance
6. The child's clothes look neat and tidy. 5. simile

P
r
1.aTrue P
2.cTrue r
3.tFalse a
4. False 1. kiss,this
i c 2. report,sport
5. False
c t 3. clear,dear
6. True
7.eTrue
i 4. crease,cease
8. False c 5. reason,season
6. rebel,treble
9.1False e
0 False
10.
1
2

P
r
a
1. ci. The parent might scold the child for getting poor results.
tii.The parent would ask the child to study harder for the next exam.
i(Accept any logical answers)
c
2. i. The child had brought the school report home.
e
ii. The child might be afraid to show the report to the parent.
1
3. i. The child kisses the parent.
3ii. The child is not throwing tantrum.

P
r
a
Report
c Card with good results: ● Try harder dear
t ● You can do it dear
● Good job dear ● Stop playing around in school
i
● Well done ● Focus on your studies
c
● Congratulations on your
e
excellent results
● Continue your hard work
1
Report Card with poor results
4

41
P
r
a1. Make my mother or father laugh/doing jokes- to reduce my parents’ level of stress/to
c make my mother happy.
t2. Give presents to my parents- to say thank you for still believing in me/make them happy
i3. Do house chores- to make my parents happy/ to show that I am sorry
c4. Cook dinner/lunch- to show that I am sorry/ to make them happy
e

1
5
PT3 PRACTICES

Practice 1

(a) The situation occurred at the front of the house.

(b) The boy gives the mother a hug and a kiss lovingly.

(c) He has offered to help his mother with some little jobs.

(d) The mother is very surprised. It can be found by the line, ‘For goodness sake, what’s
this?’

Practice 2

(a) His face is clean for once.

(b) i. He must have stayed quietly at school

ii. He must did not run or play very much.

(c) Any suitable answers are acceptable.

Practice 3

(a) Normally he thrown down the book on the floor.

(b) He does not throw his books and he does not scream and shout.

(c) The literary device is simile.

(d) i. The boy kicks up a fuss about having too much work at school.

ii. The boy cries that he is not going back to school anymore.

Practice 4

42
(a) He did not throw tantrums or create a fuss

(b) It means he was hurt in some way or other. She says this because she is totally unable
to understand the change in the boy’s behaviour.

(c) She wants to have a better look to make sure he is her son.

(d) i. Feeling :- She must have felt relieved.

ii. Reason :- She feels this way because this is what she expects him to do – hoodwink
her with his good behaviour for possibly a poor school report.

Practice 5

(a) He was defiant yesterday but obedient today.

(b) The child did not show his bad temper like yesterday.

(c) The poet capitalises the word to show the mother’s high degree of bewilderment.

(d) Humans are sometimes pretentious people; in order not to get scolded for getting bad
result, the child behaves extremely well in front of his mother.

REFERENCES:

43
1. Choo, J. (2015). Let’s Score In Literature: Selected Poems, Short Story and Novel
(Tingkatan 1). Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Penerbit Ilmu Bakti Sdn. Bhd.
2. Leela, C. & Rukumani Devi, M. (2015). An Easy Guide to Literature Component:
Poems, Short Story and Graphics Novel (Form 1). Shah Alam Selangor: Pan Asia
Publications Sdn. Bhd.
3. Noel & Morgan. (2015). Siri Topikal PT3: English Form 1. Seri Kembangan, Selangor:
Alaf Sanjung Sdn. Bhd.
4. Sadler, R. K. & Hayllar, T.A.S. (2014). Text Book Literature Component For
Secondary Schools: Form 1 – Form 3 (KPM). Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur: Everbest
Media Sdn. Bhd.
5. Tan, C. (2015). Understanding New Literature: Selected Poems, Short Story and
Graphic Novel (Form 1). Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor: Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn.
Berhad.

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