KCC 19-20 2nd Exam

ENG LANG F.6 KIANGSU-CHEKIANG COLLEGE

PAPER 1 FORM SIX FINAL EXAMINATION 2019-2020
PART A
RP ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1
READING PASSAGE
A
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2020 COMPULSORY
TIME: 08:30-10:00 A.M.

1 hour 30 minutes
(For both Parts A and B)

9 pages for Reading Passages (3 pages for each part)

13 pages for Question-Answer Book (Part A-4 pages, Part B1-5 pages, Part B2-4 pages)
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. After the announcement of the start of the test ,write your Name, Class and Class No. in the
space provided on the appropriate page of the Part A Question-Answer Book and the Part B
Question –Answer Book which you are going to attempt upon the announcement of the start
of the examination.

2. This paper consists of two parts (A and B). Students should attempt Part A. In Part B, you
should attempt either Part B1 (easy section) OR Part B2 (difficult section). Students who
attempt Parts A and B2 will be able to attain the full range of levels, while Level 4 will be the
highest level attainable for students who attempt Parts A and B1.

3. Enter your answers in the spaces provided in the Question-Answer Book. Answers written in
the margins will not be marked.

4. After the announcement of the start of the test, you should first write your Name, Class, Class
No. in the spaces provided on the appropriate pages of Part A Question-Answer Book.

5. Blacken the appropriate circle with a pencil to indicate your answer for multiple-choice questions.
Mark only ONE answer to each question. NO MARKS will be given to questions with two or
more answers.

6. Supplementary answer sheets will be supplied on request. Write your Class and Class No. on
each sheet and staple it with the Question –Answer Book.

7. Put down your pen and stop work altogether upon the ‘Time is up’ announcement. No extra time
will be given to students for filling in the question number boxes.

8. The Question-Answer Books (for the compulsory Part A and for the Part B you attempted) will
be collected at the end of the examination.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART A

1. Attempt ALL questions in Part A. Each question carries ONE mark unless otherwise stated.
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 PART A
Text 1
Read Text 1 and answer questions 1-19 on pages 1-4 of the Question-Answer Section for Part A. (41 marks)

Living with disaster

Is the government doing enough to protect the Philippines before the next deadly typhoon?

[1] In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Yolanda, smashed into the central islands of the Philippines. More than 6 300
people died, with many more people still missing and the true death toll likely to be higher. 8 m high waves and winds of 196
miles per hour pounded the islands with a ferocity not seen before.

[2] The storm caused such damage that it has made many Filipinos apprehensive about what will happen when the next
5 typhoon hits. Many are worried that the improvements that were made in the aftermath of Haiyan are still not enough to meet
the ever-increasing challenges of global warming.

[3] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that climate change will mean typhoons in the future will
have faster winds and more rain. This will not be welcome news for the Philippines, which is already pummelled by around
20 typhoons a year. The challenge remains for both the government and citizens to adjust to this new normal of extreme
10 weather.

[4] As well as typhoons, the country routinely suffers from other natural disasters. Its location on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’
makes it susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, whilst its steep mountains put many communities at risk from
landslides. After Haiyan struck, the international community rushed to aid the stricken country, with over 40 countries
pledging money, support and help with the cleanup and rescue operation.

15 [5] The multitude of agencies began to coordinate their efforts to provide effective relief to the 11 million people who were
affected in some way by the cyclone. Shelter, health services and education were the most pressing concerns. Donations from
individual countries and organization from the UN helped speed up giving aid to those who needed it.

[6] Whilst some people still remain without a permanent home, the attention has now shifted to preparing better for the next
big typhoon. Millions of Filipinos live in rickety homes near the sea ‒ the kind of homes that were swept away with ease by
20 Haiyan. The rebuilding has been rapid, but not rapid enough for those still without protection if another massive typhoon
strikes.

[7] In cities such as Tacloban, crippled by the 2013 storm, the changes are visible. New buildings, built to replace those
destroyed, are being designed to withstand typhoons with bars on windows, reinforced concrete walls and flexible roofs. But
many individuals, even in ‘no build zones’, are disregarding the rules and rebuilding flimsy houses as before.

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25 [8] ‘What choice do I have?’ asked one local fisherman, Rodrigo Santos. ‘I have seven mouths to feed. I cannot move inland
just to live in a strong home. I am a fisherman. Haiyan swept away my boat and my home. I need to fish so I can earn money
to support my family. I am more worried about them than I am about the next typhoon.’

[9] Led by the UN, progress has been made in helping people find different jobs away from at-risk areas, as well as
promoting natural defences, such as mangrove trees, to form a buffer. However, residents of areas controlled by politicians
30 who are opponents of the president complain that vital money is being withheld. Much needed funds to finish shelters and
defences are nowhere to be seen. There is not a great deal even the UN can do about these political rivalries.

[10] Even though millions of dollars has poured into the country from the outside world, some villages without enough
funding still rely on incredibly basic methods to protect themselves. In Tigdaranao, a small barangay, or village, of a few
hundred people, the typhoon warning system consists of a man with a red flag banging a metal pole. The locals then wait out
35 the storm at the village school, one of the only buildings made of concrete.

[11] The tragedy of Haiyan has at least made people realize that it is important to heed warnings and evacuate as soon as
possible. ‘My neighbours would not listen,’ says Santos. ‘They said the storm would pass. When my family and I returned,
their house was gone and we never saw any of them again.’

[12] Whilst resources have been directed towards coastal areas, some people further inland are now more exposed than
40 before Haiyan. Lacking the money to build themselves new homes, entire families are left in small temporary structures
donated by NGOs. These are even more at risk of destruction than their previous dwellings and are not a long-term solution.

[13] ‘Every time it rains, the roof leaks,’ says Maria Aquino, who lives in a one-room wooden hut with all six of her family
members. ‘I do not want to leave my home village, but we need to have a stronger house. Yolanda destroyed everything.
Everyone is scared the next typhoon will do the same.’

45 [14] Many officials are concerned that the 5% of each province’s budget set aside for disaster preparedness isn’t enough. ‘We
are still spending money clearing up rather than getting ready for the next typhoon,’ says Pia Ilaban, deputy of the Eastern
Islands Disaster Team. ‘We are doing what we can with what we are given, but we are never given enough.’

END OF PART A READING PASSAGE

PLEASE GO TO EITHER PART B1 OR B2

2019-2020-FORM 6-FINAL EXAMINATION–ENGLISH LANGUAGE –PAPER 1-RP Page 3 of 9

KCC 19-20 2nd Exam
ENG LANG F.6
KIANGSU-CHEKIANG COLLEGE
PAPER 1
FORM SIX FINAL EXAMINATION 2019-2020
PART B1
RP
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1
READING PASSAGE B1
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2020 EASY SECTION
TIME: 08:30-10:00 A.M.

1 hour 30 minutes
(For both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Refer to the General Instructions on Page 1 of the Reading Passages for Part A.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART B1

2. Candidates who choose Part B1 should attempt all questions in this part. Each question carries ONE
mark unless otherwise stated.

2019-2020-FORM 6-FINAL EXAMINATION–ENGLISH LANGUAGE –PAPER 1-RP Page 4 of 9

 PART B1
Text 2
Read Text 2 and answer questions 20-42 on pages 5-9 of the Question-Answer Section for Part B1. (40 marks)

SUBJ: Typhoon coming – how to survive?

Marcus:
[1] Hi everyone. You’ve probably all heard about the typhoon heading our way. I’m new to Hong Kong (and loving it here!),
and this one is my first. I remember that when Typhoon Hato hit, not too long ago, it was pretty bad – even in my hometown
(far away from here), the local newspaper carried reports of the destruction. Rural flooding, waves crashing against the shore,
5 broken windows, trees uprooted, sustained winds as fast as 78 mph, with gusts 50 mph faster … terrifying! I hope we don’t
have another Hato. What can I do to prepare? How can I survive the storm?

Alice:
[2] Welcome to Hong Kong! And don’t worry – Hato was a ‘signal 10’ storm. We only get one that big about once
every five years. Still, it’s good to take a few precautionary steps, the first of which is to get home – and get there early.
10 The observatory, HKO, is pretty good at giving warnings beforehand. At home, put tape on your windows, especially
any large ones, so that if it cracks the glass won’t simply shatter and fly everywhere. If you have clothes hangers or
potted plants hanging outside your windows, bring them in. Finally – relax! Typhoons may be dangerous, but most of
the time they actually provide a nice chance to sleep in, stay inside, have fun and generally take the day off. During
Hato, I spent the whole day playing board games with my family. By the way, does anyone know how it got that name,
15 ‘Hato’? Did the news channels just pick it at random?

Lewis:
[3] Alice makes great points, so I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to clarify: Hato was actually much worse
than she said, because Hong Kong had it fairly easy. Macau was hit the worst, with eight people killed, city streets
flooded and water and electricity knocked out for days in some places. Even hospitals lost power! A few people were
20 also killed in Zhuhai, and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. The worst Hong Kong had
was some flooding. Just sharing because you may not have known. There could be a media bias that makes Hong Kong
more ‘important’.

Jared:
[4] That list of things to do is spot on – if you don’t mind, let me add a few things for people NOT to do. Do not go
25 swimming or surfing, obviously. I feel silly mentioning it, but you’d be surprised at some people’s idea of fun. Don’t
even stand on the waterfront – it seems like a cool place to watch the storm, but that’s a great way to get washed away
by a giant wave. Also – and this takes a little more planning – do not visit any remote places before the storm,
especially outlying islands, because the ferries will stop and you will be stranded.

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 Camilla:
30 [5] I can answer your question! The tradition of naming storms to tell them apart was started by the American military
fighting in the Pacific during World War II. The very first storms distinguished in this way, in 1944, were named after
the forecasters’ wives! I can’t imagine the wives were too pleased about that. Then they drew up a longer list of female
names ahead of time and assigned them to storms as they appeared. The Hong Kong Observatory was actually among
the first to pick up the practice, just three years later. Until 1979, they were all named after women – It’s truly beyond
35 my intellect to understand why. Today the list of names is produced by a group of countries and regions, including
Hong Kong. Our contributions include ‘Kai-tak’ (the old airport), as well as ‘Lionrock’, and a few other local peaks.
The names get reused, so we may indeed have another Hato someday!

END OF PART B1 READING PASSAGE

2019-2020-FORM 6-FINAL EXAMINATION–ENGLISH LANGUAGE –PAPER 1-RP Page 6 of 9

KCC 19-20 2nd Exam
ENG LANG F.6 KIANGSU-CHEKIANG COLLEGE
PAPER 1 FORM SIX FINAL EXAMINATION 2019-2020
PART B2
RP
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1
READING PASSAGE B2
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2020 DIFFICULT SECTION
TIME: 08:30-10:00 A.M.

1 hour 30 minutes
(For both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. Refer to the General Instructions on Page 1 of the Reading Passages for Part A.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART B2

2. Candidates who choose Part B2 should attempt all questions in this part. Each question carries ONE
mark unless otherwise stated.

2019-2020-FORM 6-FINAL EXAMINATION–ENGLISH LANGUAGE –PAPER 1-RP Page 7 of 9

 PART B2

Text 3
Read Text 3 and answer questions 43-61 on pages 10-13 of the Question-Answer Section for Part B2. (41 marks)

Opinion: Disaster coming – act now!

[1] Every year seems to bring a new gigantic disaster or two – or three or four. An earthquake in Sichuan, a tsunami in Japan,
a typhoon in the Philippines, or an earthquake in Nepal. A tsunami, a typhoon, an earthquake. Over and over and over, and
every time it seems to come as a surprise. No one, individually, really expects to be affected. Yet they shouldn’t surprise us.
Shouldn’t, because it’s no secret they are coming; and shouldn’t, because we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be surprised – not
5 when they can kill 23 000, affect 100 million and cost 67 billion in one year, as they did in 2015. Disaster preparation isn’t
just for peace of mind – it’s a moral imperative, because it’s a matter of life-and-death.

[2] Fortunately, preparation is possible. When government functions at its best it can detect a storm when it forms, measure
its growth and predict its direction, allowing it to issue warnings as early as possible. This isn’t easy, though – it requires the
latest scientific equipment, predictive algorithms, and meteorological knowledge. Getting the best information on a tropical
10 storm requires taking pictures with satellites and sending drones or even heroic human pilots to fly into the storm. Our ability
to save lives by telling people about upcoming hurricanes and typhoons will continue to improve as technology does – but
only if we are committed.

[3] Earthquakes, and the tsunamis that follow, cannot be detected days ahead – only minutes. Still, with a proper detection
system, an automatic alert can be issued to warn millions of people in the blink of an eye. In Japan, at the first tremors of a
15 quake, trains are halted, and hospitals are signalled to stop surgical procedures.

[4] Such alert systems, for any kind of disaster, can reach citizens directly now, via text message. Australia, for example, has
built an extensive phone warning system that has been used over 300 times in its first two years, for everything from fires to
floods to oil spills. These warnings can save lives, and we should continue to invest in them. A few days, even a few minutes
can give people enough time to stop what they’re doing and get somewhere safer – to run outside during an earthquake, or
20 inside during a typhoon.

[5] Yet they are not enough. These predictions can never be perfect – we’ll never know exactly when a typhoon will hit, or
where, leaving people unsure how to react. And even the fastest predictions don’t leave us with time to strengthen roads and
buildings, or to improve drainage systems, which takes years. They may not even help people leave their hometown in time
in the face of imminent calamity – a couple of days is not enough time to evacuate a city of millions. When people tried to
25 flee Houston, Texas, before Hurricane Rita in 2005, thousands of cars got stuck in traffic. Countless people could have died if
the roads had flooded then. They didn’t, yet still 100 people died sitting in traffic, mainly due to the heat.

[6] Specific predictions can only be so good, but on a certain level, they aren’t even necessary. We already know that
hurricanes will hit Texas, and that earthquakes will hit Tokyo. We know that flooding, landslides or tsunamis are inevitable in

certain places. We don’t prepare just by taping up our windows a day or two before disaster hits. We prepare years ahead. We
30 need to prepare now.
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[7] The real preparation is deciding how, and even where, we build our cities. Unlike window taping, this cannot be done
individually. Government intervention is needed. The first thing is to tell people how to build, and in what locations. Without
intervention, individuals will happily choose to build their houses on an island scheduled to slip back into the sea sometime
this century, if it means beach access and an ocean view. We know the risks, and we choose to live with them anyway. Or we
don’t choose – most people living in danger zones can’t move. They can’t simply leave their jobs, their families, and their
whole lives behind.

[8] It’s simply not realistic to move a whole city, or a whole region of people. Therefore, the first way for government to
prepare for disasters is through building regulations. Tokyo Metropolis’s 13 million people will always live with the risk of
another powerful earthquake like the one that levelled the city and killed 143 000 in 1923. The only way to avoid it would be
to pick up and relocate Tokyo – one of the largest metropolises on Earth. That won’t happen. Instead, over the past century,
an escalating series of building codes have required stronger and stronger buildings, to withstand the next big quake when it
comes.

[9] Like Tokyo, the Pacific Northwest of the United States is expecting a huge earthquake – maybe in 50 years, maybe
tomorrow. The earthquake will trigger a massive tsunami that will put the 140 000 square-mile area – home to several cities
and millions of people – in grave danger. In an attempt to reduce the damage caused by the elusive disaster, the government
has implemented rules restricting development in the area. For example, in Oregon, one of the states to be affected, schools
and hospitals cannot be built in the expected flood zone. (However, schools built in the flood zone before the rule was made
are unfortunately allowed to stay.)

[10] Besides requiring citizens, businesses and municipalities to build in a certain way (or not build at all), the other major
long-term preparation the government can undertake is to create resilient infrastructure. When Nepal was devastated by
earthquakes in 2015, and 8 million people needed immediate help, aid workers had trouble bringing food, water and medical
supplies into affected areas because many roads had been destroyed.

[11] Often the direct danger is not the shaking ground, the howling wind, or the flood waters. The real danger comes after.
It’s thirst, when the water system is shut down; it’s hunger, when your food begins to spoil in your fridge because electricity
is lost, and flooding makes the roads impassable. Infrastructure keeps people alive after a disaster. It keeps a city functioning.
Better infrastructure helps before a disaster too – better transport might have saved those people evacuating after Rita.

[12] We need the best predictions that science can give us, and warning systems to get that information to everyone. We need
building codes that don’t just apply to new buildings, but strengthen old buildings and move people out of harm’s way. We
need roads, trains and electricity networks with the strength and capacity to serve everyone, before and after the event. For all
that we need major public investment. This begins when our government and our people begin to understand the gravity of
the situation. We need to truly face what is coming.

END OF PART B2 READING PASSAGE

END OF READING PASSAGES

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