Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
As far as I can remember, Grandmother’s birthday has always been a unique occasion for everyone in my family. It was a day when everyone would gather together to celebrate. Although many of my relatives lived abroad, they would always make it a point to be back home for the celebration.

This year was no different. Mother woke up very early in the morning, before dawn, as she headed to the wet market for the freshest choice of meat, fish and vegetables. After an hour or so, she returned home with two full baskets and looked ready to cook a feast. Together with our maid, Aminah and my aunt, my mother washed, cleaned, chopped, mixed, prepared and fried the ingredients of the many special dishes for dinner. They worked without any rest almost non-stop until six in the evening, just as the guests and relatives started to arrive.

Grandmother was sitting in the living room and smiling benevolently. Everyone had either a present or a red packet to give her and together they wished her a very happy birthday with traditional Chinese greetings. Grandmother responded with a wide smile and for the little ones who were crowding around her yelling for attention, she gave a red packet each.

Being her favourite grandson, I was always given an extra big red packet, which I would afterwards squeeze into my piggy bank. After all the greetings and excitement, the children rushed into the garden to join the others who were already on the slides and swings, jostling for their turns.

At seven o’clock, everyone had arrived and settled themselves comfortably at the dinner table. The children including myself had a table all to ourselves. On the tables were plates of steaming hot food all looking so delicious and tempting. Amidst mouthfuls of food, the adults updated each other on what was happening in their lives. The children also had a good time eating while teasing one another. With everyone almost talking and laughing excitedly at the same time, it was hard to hear one’s voice but somehow it did not matter.

My Grandmother was happiest during her birthday for she loved having her children and grandchildren around her and knowing that they were all well and happy. During these dinners, she would tell us about her life in China; how poor they were and how entire families starved because of famines.

She would always end her stories by saying that no matter how hard life was in China during those days, everyone was still glad to be together as a family. For me, Grandmother’s birthday celebration has always been a good reason for the family to get together. It gave me the opportunity to see my cousins, some of whom I only get to meet once a year. I am looking forward to this family reunion again next year.

Questions:

(i) Give the meaning of the following words as used
in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. (3)
(a) yelling
(b) teasing
(c) reunion


(ii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:
(a) Why does the narrator call his grandmother’s birthday a unique occasion? (2)
(b) What did the narrator’s mother do before starting the preparation for his grandmother’s birthday party? (2)
(c) How did everybody greet the grandmother on her birthday? (2)
(d) What does the narrator mean by the phrase ‘smiling benevolently’? (2)

(e) Why was the narrator’s grandmother the happiest person during her birthday? (2)


3. Portrait the ‘scene at the dining table’ on the grandmother’s birthday, using your own words, in not more than 50 words: (3)

Answer 1

Answer:

7. 3/7 of 2/5 is equal to Option 15/12 5/35 1/35 6/35