Literature in English for SPM

1. With close reference to the text, explain how Saeng and her family have adapted to their new life in America. (8m) Saeng She has been living in America for the past four years She speaks a mix of English and Laotian with her family However, she feels more comfortable speaking in English She still has not completely adapted to American culture Her cultutrally conservative background is at odds with the more liberal and outlandish American culture She feels embarassed while watching MTV Thirteen year old Americans are more comfortable doing certain things than she herself is despite already being sixteen She works extremely hard in her academics She has never failed a test even when she first enrolled into school and knew not a word of English She spent many nights with her mother translating English words into Laotian to understand better Deep inside, Saeng feels homesick She does not feel as if she truly belongs This feeling is most apparent when she sees...

1. With close reference to the text, describe Sarun after he has enlisted into the army. (8m) 2. With close reference to the text, describe the Nong Chan Refugee Camp. (8m) 3. With close reference to the text, explain the difference between the Nong Chan camp and Khao I Dang camp. (8m) 4. With close reference to the text, describe the clay village made by Jantu. (8m) 5. Hope is the only thing that keeps one surviving during difficult times. Discuss this statement with close reference to the novel. (12m) 6. "In war, there is only loss, no gain." Discuss this statement with close reference to the novel. (12m) 7. With close reference to the text, discuss Dara's journey of self realization. (12m) 8. The transformation of Dara from a little excited girl to a mature and responsible one is due to the difficulties she faced during the war.  Discuss this statement with close reference to the novel. (12m)

1. With close reference to the text, describe the Nong Chan Refugee Camp. (8m) The Nong Chan Refugee camp is located in a vast, barren plain with few shrubs and trees Dara describes the place as a "scrubland" It is also mentioned that the soil in the paddy fields are hard and cracked from the dry season Thousands of people had already settled down in Nong Chan before Dara and her family had arrived The people there have constructed thatched lean-tos and plastic tents to live in They also dug mudholes for the buffaloes They also built fences around vegetable patches They also chopped the trees for their branches to be used as firewood The people at Nong Chan are bustling around, almost like their lives are normal Children play with tops or draw water from wells Some people sit around to chat Women are taking down laundry from lines or cooking meals A sinewy old man was splitting firewood Boys scrub their buffaloes clean Sisters comb each other...

1. With close reference to the text, explain how Beverly fails as a mother and as a daughter in law(8m) Beverly's failure as a mother: Billy is closer to the maid, Rosa, than his own mother When Billy was crying in the bathtub while being bathed by the Old One, he screamed for Rosa instead of his mother Beverly declines to get her hands dirty to care for Billy When Billy splashed about while crying in the bathtub, Beverly stepped away to avoid having her silk blouse wet by soapsuds Beverly occasionally uses Billy like a toy, something to show off Beverly plays with Billy only in front of her colleagues to paint herself as a doting mother Beverly dresses up Billy in a mini-suit for Ah Liong's birthday even though it makes him look ridiculous Beverly's failure as a dughter-in-law: Beverly refuses to acknowledge the seniority of her mother-in-law According to Chinese tradition, the younger generation should first serve the elders at the din...