Expand your word power

A

Crackdown on mobile phones to cost marks

Students found with mobile phones, personal digital assistants, pagers or MP3 players switched on during an exam (eg-zam) will lose all grades in all subjects, it was revealed with the release of the Handbook for Candidates sitting exams in 2007.

(SCMP, March 17, 2007)

Exam (informal noun) is short for examination

Use these words: a. examine, b. examiner, c. examinee

1. A person who is examined: ___________

2. To enquire into or investigate, inspect or scrutinise: ____________

3. Someone who administers a test to determine your qualifications: ___________

B

Snake soup is a popular dish in some Hong Kong restaurants

Wildlife officials feted this month for rescuing 2,400 snakes from being smuggled to Hong Kong are now under fire - after quietly auctioning them for consumption in Malaysian restaurants instead.

The live banded rat snakes, originally from Thailand, had been intercepted as they passed through Penang airport.

(SCMP, March 23, 2007)

Use these words: twisting, poisonous, legless

Snakes (noun) are a group of 1. ________reptiles with long bodies that move along the ground with a 2. _________movement, many of which have a 3. ________bite.

Did you know?

A treacherous person is also referred to as 'a snake in the grass'.

C

Taxis in Central

Sailors who caught taxis from Fenwick Pier (pronounced 'peer') in Wan Chai to the American Women's Association 'meals in the home' programme last week were charged hundreds of dollars extra for short trips.

(SCMP, March 16, 2007)

A structure built on posts extending from land out over water, used as a landing place for ships, an entertainment area, a strolling place, is a: ___________

D

Warning to dog lovers: The dog poisoner strikes again

A dog poisoner whose deadly insecticide (in-sek-tuh-sihyd)-laced meat treats have claimed the lives of two dogs and injured at least one more on Bowen Road this week has moved to Black's Link where another dog was poisoned yesterday. (SCMP, March 23, 2007)

Insecticide is a chemical substance used to kill _________ a. rats, b. insects or c. spiders.

Discuss

The reasons why a person does this type of criminal act.

What are the possible solutions to this issue?

What would be a suitable punishment for the perpetrator?

Answers:

A - 1. c, 2. a, 3. b

B - 1. legless, 2. twisting, 3. poisonous

C - pier

D - b