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Whatever it was that
prompted me to go to Singapore is very trivial. The most
important thing was that I learnt the meaning of loneliness and
the fear of plunging into the unknown. I should say that it did
me a world of good.
On the twenty-fifth
of March this year, I was on my way across the causeway to
another foreign country to "seek my fortune". With the passport
in my hand, I glanced over the number of chops on the page.
Suddenly, a feeling of fear overcame me. How in the world am I
going to find my way in Singapore ? I knew I could not retreat
because I had taken up the job of home-tutor ! And all my life,
my interest had never been in teaching !
So with a brave
heart, I ventured into the Lion City. I was first assigned a
home in Tiong Bahru, a place I had never heard of before. I
consoled myself that it was difficult to get lost here,
especially with the efficient bus service. When I finally
reached my destination, my expectations were ruined when I was
confronted with the stereo-type buildings. The flats stood up
like great giants looking down at me, perhaps laughing their
heads off at my helplessness. As it was already seven o'clock in
the evening. I groped aimlessly in the area. People, young and
old, males and females came and went, but they seemed to be more
in a hurry than I was. Where they were going, I had not the
faintest idea. The careless attitude in them made me sick. There
I stood, and forever there I would stand if I did not venture to
take the initiative myself. I plucked up my courage and walked
slowly to the next block.
Rather unwillingly, I
asked a passing boy about the whereabouts of the assigned home.
He pointed to a block nearby. Feeling relieved, I walked towards
the block and realized that it was really the correct one. I
hurriedly walked to wards the nearest lift. Before long, I was
on my way to the seventh floor. At long last, I reached my
destination. For me then, happiness was having found the place !
I looked at my watch. It showed just a few minutes after eight.
Now only did I realize the truth of the law of relativity -- the
one-hour of fruitless search in the dark had seemed like
eternity then !
Now only do I know
what loneliness really is. Now I know what fear is like. Fear
and loneliness only exist when you are in the unknown. When the
unknown is opened to you, automatically, fear and loneliness
vanish. |
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What does the phrase
"seek my fortune" mean ? |
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(A) |
look for a job. |
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(B) |
find a means of livelihood.
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(C) |
try to survive alone. |
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(D) |
gain more experience. |
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2. |
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From this experience,
the author |
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(A) |
learnt how to live independently. |
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(B) |
learnt the true meaning of loneliness and fear.
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(C) |
learnt about the careless attitude of people. |
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(D) |
learnt that finding a job is not easy. |
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3. |
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Choose the incorrect
statement from the following : |
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(A) |
The author learnt an invaluable experience in the Lion City. |
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(B) |
On the way to Singapore, the author wanted to change his mind
about going. |
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(C) |
He went to Singapore because he fell in love with the job that
he was going to take up.
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(D) |
The author managed to find the house he was assigned to with the
help of his own initiative. |
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4. |
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Why did the author find difficulty in reaching the house where
he was supposed to go ? |
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(A) |
The buildings looked the same to him in the dark.
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(B) |
He did not ask for directions. |
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(C) |
The people there did not tell him how to get there. |
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(D) |
He did not have the address of the home he was supposed to go
to. |
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5. |
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What does the author
mean by the phrase "realize the truth of the law of relativity"? |
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(A) |
He finally found the place he was supposed to go to after an
hour search. |
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(B) |
He did not realize that he merely spent one hour searching for
the house. |
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(C) |
He was glad that he finally found the place after an hour of
searching. |
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(D) |
He realized that he merely spent one hour searching in the dark,
which at that time had seemed like eternity.
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6. |
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The author concludes
that |
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(A) |
loneliness and fear are only felt when you are in the unknown.
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(B) |
loneliness and fear are present in the dark. |
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(C) |
loneliness and fear are not present in the dark. |
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(D) |
loneliness and fear are felt when the unknown is opened to you. |
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7. |
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The most suitable title
for the above passage is : |
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(A) |
An Experience in the Lion City. |
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(B) |
The World of Fear.
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(C) |
The Journey to Singapore. |
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(D) |
A Lesson Learnt. |
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