Question 1

From the novel you have studied suggest one character in the novel who you think is a good role
model for teenagers and give reasons for your choice.
Answer :
The story, Sing to the Dawn tells of Dawan, a Thai village girl who has her early schooling in the
village school in spite of gender discrimination practised by the villagers. She wins a scholarship
which will help her pursue her studies in a City school, Dawan has hopes of using her education to
improve the situation in the village. But she has obstacles to overcome before she can realise her
dreams.

The character who I think is a good role model for teenagers is Dawan. She has good ties with her
brother, Kwai and they often get up early and go to the old wooden bridge where they sit in
companionable silence to enjoy the dawn or to exchange ideas and plans for their future. This is
something that all siblings should have – close ties and be able to share their thoughts and dreams.

Dawan wins a scholarship which gives her an opportunity to further studies in the city. She is
determined not to lose this opportunity. However, she faces obstacles before she can take the next step
towards achieving her dreams. Her brother, Kwai who has the same dreams as Dawan, comes in
second and while he has the support of their father, Dawan does not. Dawan, full of determination,
works to get support from Kwai and encouragement from Father. She even tries to get outside help to
talk to and convince Father. But, her efforts are futile and she realises she has to depend on her own
self. She convinces her brother of her determination that she will not let go of the opportunity. Then,
she talks to her father to make him understand her inner dreams. Eventually, she gets his support and
encouragement.

On the morning before she leaves for the city, Dawan has a heart to heart talk with Kwai. She
understands his feelings and voices her realisation that things will not be the same for them after this.
She consoles him that she will not forget the relationship they have and that he should not, too. He
agrees to sing her song now and then. This is one role model that every teenager should emulate –
maintain and strengthen ties with siblings whatever the circumstances.

When Dawan takes leave from her grandmother, she does it respectfully in the traditional way as
expected of all young people. She does this to show that tradition dies hard. Even though she is
broadminded about her education, the tradition that her grandmother values is important to her too.

In many ways, Dawan is a typical teenager who wants to move forward from her life in the village to
life in the city. But, she makes sure her actions, thoughts and plans have the support of her family. She
does not act rashly or selfishly. She is a good role model for teenagers.

Question 2
Using the details from the novel you have studied, do you think the title used is appropriate for the
novel? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer :
The story, Sing to the Dawn tells of a young Thai girl called Dawan who lives in the village with her
family. A typical Thai village girl, she has her early schooling in the village school in spite of gender
discrimination practised by the villagers. She wins a scholarship which will help her pursue her
studies in a City school but she has to overcome the obstacles of getting her father’s permission who
is traditional in his thinking. He favours further education for boys rather than girls.
The title Sing to the Dawn is suitable for the story. Dawan is about to take the first step towards a new
life or a new dawn. She faces obstacles, feelings of animosity from her brother, Kwai and lack of
support from her father when she wins a scholarship for further schooling in the city. As the story
develops, we see Dawan’s efforts to overcome these obstacles. When she succeeds, she goes on her
way to sing to the new dawn.

Dawan and her brother, Kwai get up early at the break of dawn to watch the sunrise from the old
wooden bridge. This is the time they exchange ideas and plans for the future. Sometimes, they sit in
companionable silence to watch the sunrise and sunset. Both can feel the joys of greeting the new day
and the fears of the coming days when Dawan leaves for the city. The old wooden bridge is where
they literally and metaphorically sing to the dawn.

The title is suitable for the story as Dawan hopes to get further education in the city. It is this
schooling that will help her launch her plans to improve conditions in the village. Hopefully, if this
comes true, it is a new dawn for the village. Dawan’s going for further studies marks a beginning of
the end of gender inequality as she is the first female from the village to have further schooling. It is
the beginning of a new dawn for the girls in the village.

Both Dawan and Kwai realise that with her going to the city, nothing will be the same after that. So,
the morning of her leaving is a new dawn and she asks Kwai to sing her song for her whenever he
can. So, the characters are singing to a new dawn in many ways.

Based on the novel you have read, write about how being positive helps the characters in the story.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.

Based on the novel 'Sing to the Dawn' by Minfong Ho, being positive has helped quite several
characters in the story such as Dawan, Kwai and Grandmother. Dawan is the main character of the
story and she faces a lot of hardships in achieving what she wants throughout the story. Next,
Grandmother is always there to help Dawan in any way she can as she loves her granddaughter very
much. Then, Kwai comes in by starting to behalf on Dawan's side nearing the end of the story.

The first character is Dawan. By being positive and having a strong set of mind, she manages to win
her father's approval after several hardships she has to go through. Dawan stays positive even though
she get scolded by her father for wanting to go to the city to study and she was accused of stealing her
brother's chance to further his studies instead of hers. She stays positive and strong all the way
through each disapproval that she receives from her own cousin, Noi and even the head monk of the
temple. Her patience definitely pays off and she manages to further her studies as she wants to in the
end.

The next character is Grandmother. By being positive, she manages to give excellent support to her
granddaughter without fail. She believes in Dawan's responsibilities and always encourages Dawan by
giving her confidence and bravery to fight against all the discrimination Dawan is receiving. With her
constant contributions, she manages to watch her granddaughter leave to the big city to further her
studies and feels extremely proud of her. Her granddaughter's success brings tears of joy to her and
she is very glad that she supports her granddaughter all the way.

The last character is Kwai. By being positive and supportive of his sister, he manages to help her
achieve her wish to study in the city. At the beginning of the story, he does not support her but then he
realises that he is being selfish and irrelevant. After long hours of considering, Kwai decides that he
will support her sister and help her get their father's approval to go. He helps Dawan by defending her
when she is scolded by their father and strongly states his opinion of how he does not want to go to
the city instead of her. He keeps his trust in Dawan and continues defending her until their father
finally agrees.
In conclusion, being positive has helped the characters a lot in achieving what they want especially
Dawan who gets her wish fulfilled and is able to finally go to the city to further her studies.

Question 3
Based on the novel you have studied, which character do you sympathise with? Give
reasons for your answer with close reference to the text.
RECOMMENDED OUTLINE
• State the novel you have studied and the author.
• Name the character you sympathise with. Give some information about the character in the
story.
• Give three reasons to support your answer.
• Give textual evidence to support each of the three reasons.
Model Answer
The novel, Sing to the Dawn by Mingfong Ho, is about Dawan, a young Thai girl who lives
in the village with her family. She won first place in a test and was announced as the winner of a
scholarship, giving her an opportunity to pursue her studies in a City school. Her brother, Kwai,
came in second after her. Both of them have great ideas of using their education to improve life
in the village. The character whom I sympathise with in the novel is Dawan.
Instead of getting support and encouragement for her achievement, Dawan faces anger and
rejection from her parents. Her father is angry with her because he wants his son to get the
scholarship. Her mother does not encourage her because she thinks it is foolish to give her hope.
Dawan’s close relationship with Kwai suffers because her brother is jealous of her success.
He threatens to take the scholarship from her, making her worried and defensive. The conflict
between them worsens with Dawan thinking ‘It’s either him or me.’ His betrayal causes her pain.
She even gets hurt physically when Kwai pushes her, causing her to injure to her ankle.
Thirdly, Dawan is sad to leave home. After all, she is only fourteen years old and she is
leaving her home for the first time. She will be alone in the ‘ugly, cruel city’. She will also be far
away from nature which she loves.
For these reasons, I sympathise with Dawan. She has to struggle to pursue her dream. By
right, she should have received support from her family and her community. She will also face a
lot of challenges in her new life in the city.

SPM 2008 - Using the detail from the novel that you studied, Describe what happened at the end
of the novel. Explain why you find the ending either happy or sad. Support your answer with
close reference to the text.

Sing to the Dawn by Ming Fong Ho is the novel I learnt. The story is about a young Thai girl
called Dawan who wins a scholarship to study in a city school. She faces the disapproval of her father
who thinks that studying is not for girls and she should give the scholarship to her brother as he is
second in the test. Dawan tries many ways to convince her father to let her pursue her studies. The
story ends with a happy note with Dawan sitting on the bus going to the city and the beginning of
social attitudes changes on gender discrimination in the village and her family.

Firstly, the change in the social attitude is seen when the villagers gathered around Dawan’s house
to say good bye to her. Dawan was tremendously touched with the farewell her grandmother gave to
her. This is shown in the novel when grandmother showed tremendous heroin spirit just like Dawan
herself. Grandmother taught Dawan an important lesson that she must go to the City School because
only then she could realise her potential and live her life to the fullest. Just like a lotus bud, with
proper sunlight and good water it will unfold. Even when Dawan was unsure whether she should have
the change, the grandmother assured her that there is a beautiful pattern to all this change. Of course
Dawan will change. She will have to change to survive in a city world but even then she could still
come back to her hometown to be the girl she used to be. She will never behave the same way, but
that is the way of life. It is clearly seen that the change is beginning to take place in the village
societal values and attitudes, but equal rights must be enforced by laws because individual members
of societies will never all think the same.
Secondly, the change in the social attitude is seen in her family when her brother says good bye
to her. Dawan was disappointed that Kwai would not come and send her off. This is shown in the
novel when her bother sat on the bridge, refusing to send Dawan off on her departure date. The close
bond between them further conveys a sense of sadness as the reader knows that these they would not
see each other for long time. He was not complaining to Dawan or trying to not let her go, but he was
scared, scared of the loneliness, scared of the distance between his sister and himself. Kwai had to
face a separation from his sister who used to be his best friend. He did not know how long this
separation is going to last. He was simply unprepared. He was scared that they could not ever sit on
the bridge and watched the dawn like they used to anymore. As her bus was running fast to leave the
village, she saw Kwai standing on the bridge, stretching both arms 'in a gesture meant both to
embrace her and to send her off'. He cared for her. Kwai sang the song that they sang every dawn.
Then, she sang together with Kwai until she cannot see Kwai anymore. Next, she looked at the lotus
flower her grandmother gave her to convince her to go. As she saw it unfolded, she became more
convinced that her grandmother was right; she should go to the city, like the lotus unfolding. It is as
clear as day that the change is beginning to take place in her family values and attitudes.

I am really touched with the ending. The story has highlighted the problem of gender inequality in
the village. The phenomenon of leaving the village to enter cities is addressed. Education in a city will
change many people's life from bad to good. The life-changing event has affected the mind-set and of
Dawan's family members and the villagers. Maybe this will change her own individual family or the
society attitudes. Dawan’s youthful passion of changing the lives of the people in her village begin to
unfold as she notices the lotus bud begins to bloom.

Question 4
MRSM: SUGGEST ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL THAT YOU HAVE READ WHO
YOU THINK HAS ADMIRABLE QUALITIES. DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER AND GIVE
REASONS FOR YOUR CHOICE WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT.
Sing to the Dawn by Ming Fong Ho is the novel I learnt. The story is about a young Thai girl
called Dawan who wins a scholarship to study in a city school. She faces the disapproval of her father
who thinks that studying is not for girls and she should give the scholarship to her brother as he is
second in the test. Dawan tries many ways to convince her father to let her pursue her studies. Dawan
has many admirable qualities such as determination and loving and caring.
First of all, Dawan is a determined girl. Her parents think that it is wasteful and foolish for
girls to attend school. She is given the chance to attend school only because her brother Kwai had
insisted that she be allowed to study along with him. In her community, girls are expected to stay at
home and help with the housework and when they are older, get married and have a family of their
own to take care of. Young girls such as Dawan are deprived of their basic rights. Many of them have
to resign to their fate. Dawan, being a determined girl refused to give up on her dreams. She refused
to follow such traditional biased custom. Hence, she fought for her right for education. There were
many situations where determinedly fought for her right for education in the novel such as the
arguments with her Father. This is shown in the novel when her father pressured her to give up the
scholarship to Kwai. He was disappointed when Dawan won the scholarship. He had hoped that Kwai
would study in the city and help him and the villagers. He believed that she cannot do anything by
studying more. He demanded to know why she should study more as she will end up to be a
housewife just like her mother. Dawan determinedly met with the disapproval of his father when she
told him that she wanted to pursue her studies in the city school. Dawan wanted her father to be fair
and kind to her as his flesh and blood. She pleaded with her father to give her a chance and believe in
her dreams. Her father asked her probing and challenging questions to be convinced that he is sending
the right person to the City to study. She convinced him that she too can help the people in the village
and perhaps her country. Although, her father is autocratic, seeing her determination, he listened to
her explanation and finally gave in to Dawan wishes and let her study in the City. As we can clearly
see now Dawan is a determined girl as she refuses to give up on her dreams and fights for her rights.
Dawan is also a loving and caring sister. Dawan and her brother Kwai have similar
ambitious plans to improve life in the village. In fact, both of them hope to win the scholarship which
will be a stepping stone to their dreams. He discriminates her as he was not happy that Dawan won
the scholarship. This is shown in the novel when he talked about his dreams and desires without
thinking of her sister feelings. He assumed that Dawan did not want to go to the City to study. Kwai
accused her sister of trying to get Noi on her sides to convince their father to let her go. He was
unsympathetic when told her sister that he still had the chance to go as he was second in the test. He
also said that she has no leadership qualities to make changes and in the village and lead the villagers.
He repeated that more studying is useless as Dawan will end up being a housewife. He told her that a
girl cannot fight, argue and make the village a better place to live after studying in the city like him.
When his father eventually relented to Dawan, he hid his hurt and sorrow. His teardrops fell on the
floorboard but he quickly covered it with is toes. On the contrary, Dawan being a loving and
caring sister listened patiently to him when he talked about his plans and dreams. Dawan told
him kindly that she was also confused and scared to go to the city to study. She pleaded with him not
to make things difficult for her. She told him kindly that he will have other chances to pursue his
studies in the city unlike her. She forgave Kwai and forgets the incident in the market place where she
cut her ankle again a sharp wooden splinter as she loved him. Kwai felt ashamed that he caused his
sister troubles. Kwai was upset because things would be better for her and he would be lonely and
things would change when she came back. He sister was kind, loving and caring and
concerned about his health and even gave him her umbrella that she needed to. He was determined
that his sister should go to the city to study. He stood on the bridge and sang their morning song with
outstretched arm gesturing to hug her and send her off. It is as clear as day that Dawan is a loving and
caring sister.

In conclusion, Dawan has many admirable qualities such as determination and loving and
caring. Her determination pays off when her father relents to her dreams to pursue her studies in the
city. She loves Kwai dearly. Kwai was deeply touched by her sister’s loves. He tells his father that he
has no right to forbid Dawan from studying in the city school. He defies his father and insists that he
will not go if he does not Dawan go, so Takchit, who is third will go instead. It is undeniable that
being determined and loving and caring are important when one faces challenges and difficulties in
life. We should never give up on our dreams.

Question 5
Based on the novel sing to the dawn by Minfong Ho , it is true that one has to face many challenges in
her life before reaching his or her goal. Based on one of the novels that you have studied, describe
how far this is true and support your answer with textual evidence.

Answer :
Based on the novel sing to the dawn by Minfong Ho, it is true that one has to face many challenges in
life before reaching his or her goal. An obvious example is the main character, Dawan, who has faced
many obstacles in her way to catch her dream to study in city school.

One of the obstacles faced by Dawan is facing her brother, Kwai’s initially jealousy that leads to a rift
between the two previously-close siblings. They had stop talking nicely to each other for
sometimes. It started right after the bell ring at school in the first day she knew the result. Dawan
called out for Kwai who was standing alone in the doorway but he just turned away and stalked out
abruptly. In my opinion, one should not feel jealous of their sibling’s success, instead, they should be
proud of them.

The misunderstanding got worst when Dawan told her family about the scholarship result. Her father
was very angry and don’t want Dawan to go there. In chapter three, at the first Dawan asked his
permission to study at the city, he even accused Dawan for stealing her brother’s only opportunity to
study in city school. Her father thinks that proper study in the city is no place for a girl. He thinks
even if Dawan success, she still could not make any changes to their village. I think her father should
not mind about the gender discrimination. He cannot stop Dawan from being successful in her life just
because she is a girl. He should give her an opportunity to shoe what she is capable of.

Lastly, Dawan face another problem when she and her mother went to see her cousin, Noi, and his
husband, Ghan. However, they do not want to help her to convince her father to let her study in the
city school. In the meantime a truth was discovered when they actually tells Dawan and her mother
about how the city actually are. In chapter four, Noi has described the city as cruel and ugly. She also
add that the city is not suitable for a young, healthy girl. In my opinion, Noi should help Dawan as her
family member. Besides, she has to think positive about Dawan.

The conclusion is, Dawan is a very determined and ambitious girl. Even though she had faced a lot of
obstacles, she still wanted to study in the city school. Dawan was nervous and worried at the start but
she became calmer and more confident towards the end. She overcame her fears by presenting a
logical and sensible appeal to her father. Her sincere and calm appeal helped her father realize that
Dawan too had a dream that her father could share in.

Question 6
Using the details from the novel you have studied, discuss what you like about the story and why
you would recommend the story to your friends.
Answer :
The story, Sing to the Dawn tells of Dawan, a Thai village girl who has her early schooling in the
village school in spite of gender discrimination practised by the villagers. She wins a scholarship
which will help her pursue her studies in a City school, Dawan has hopes of using her education to
improve the situation in the village. But she has obstacles to overcome before she can realise her
dreams.

I like the story for the aspects it portrays of life I* the village, the village school and how Dawan
prepares to face obstacles when going to the city and overcomes them.

One interesting aspect is love for nature. Dawan and Kwai often get up early to watch thesunrise and
the sunglow as it sweeps over the awakening world. This love for nature is illustrated also by Bao
who is devastated by the death of one of her sparrows. The lotus and sparrows are used to illustrate
that nature should be free and not be spoilt by man.
The story portrays a few themes like family ties and kinship. Dawan and her family have strong ties in
a simple and rough way. Father is against Dawan going to the city school as he is more in favour of
Kwai having more schooling than Dawan. However, this does not weaken the strong ties and love
they have for each other. Dawan goes through the process of having to persuade Father and Kwai.
Eventually she succeeds in making Father understand her situation. Support from her grandmother
and her leave taking from her, adds an interesting description to the story.

The moral values taught by the story makes it an interesting story. The moral value of strong family
ties and support is potrayed very well. We also learn to appreciate the importance of traditions in
one’s family and lifestyle. Respect for the elders despite the differences in opinions is shown by
Dawan. Sibling support and love makes Kwai encourage Dawan to understand that opportunity
knocks but once. So she should grab the chance. Bao tells her not to forsake her dreams even for her
brother.

Yes, I would recommend this story to my friends as I know they will enjoy the story for the same
reasons I do. We should be positive and must not let unpleasant situations deter us as we look forward
to a bright future.

Question 7
Using the details from the novel you have studied, describe the moral value you have learned from
the novel
Answer :
The story, Sing to the Dawn tells of Dawan, a Thai village girl who has her early schooling in the
village school in spite of gender discrimination practised by the villagers. She wins a scholarship
which will help her pursue her studies in a City school, Dawan has hopes of using her education to
improve the situation in the village. But she has obstacles to overcome before she can realise her
dreams. One of the moral values I have learned from this novel is strong family ties and support.

Every society should have families with strong and close family ties. Such ties should extend into
encouragement and support for family members who want to better themselves. Dawan comes from a
simple f.imily, who like all the other villagers work on the land for their everyday needs. Father, like
all other villagers, believes in gender discrimination. For them, males have priority in everything
including education. When Daw.»n wins a Scholarship to go for further schooling in the city, Esther is
not happy about it. In his eyes, Kwai is a more sizable candidate than his sister. Mother supports
Dawan but silently as she is subservient to Father. Grandmother openly supports Dawan while Kwai
shows some feeling of animosity. Kwai may support Dawan’s plans and ideal but he has hopes of
furthering his education in the city, too. However, eventually everyone in the family including Father,
gives their blessing and support to Dawan. So she leaves for the city with love, support and
encouragement from the whole family.

Another family that shows support and love is Noi and her husband. To better their financial
circumstances and to escape from being drafted into the army, Noi and Ghan move to the city to seek
a better life. Whatever they decide to undertake, they do it together. They return to the village when
they find city life not as rosy as they had hoped it to be. They are prepared to face the future together
irrespective of what the future has in store for them.

However, Bao and her family does not show strong family ties and support. Bao does not attend
school while her brother, Vichai does. Bao has to work in the marketplace, selling lotus buds and
sparrows. A nature lover and being kind-hearted, she does not relish seeing the sparrows caged up. So
sometimes she lets her customers release the birds free -of-charge. Vichai is not happy about this and
attacks her physically when the money collected does not tally with the remaining number of birds.

The moral value I have learned is family ties. The family should be strong and supportive of family
members who want to advance themselves.
Poems
The Living Photograph
Practice 1

a. three / 3 / three years old

b. allow lifting: Her soup forgot to boil / She forgot to boil her soup
c. smiling / living / breathing
d. The persona and her grandmother
e. She became small and short with her back round and hunched.

Practice 2
a. The persona and her grandmother
b. three / 3 / three years old
c. Broderie anglaise
d. Her skirt was pleated and the shoes were flat.
e. I think she was getting old and forgetful.
f. The photograph represents the memories the persona has of her late grandmother
g. Stanza 2, Line 4 - Her soup forgot to boil.
h. I think it is probably because the photo was taken when the persona’s
grandmother was younger.

Practice 3
a. Stanza 1, Line 6 ‘White hand in black hand’.
b. I think she feels the other world is a terrible unknown place and she cannot
understand the living condition there.
c. Where: By the grandmother’s side
Reason: The persona mentions ‘her big hands hold mine’
d. We must treasure our loved ones when they are alive.
It is difficult to lose a family member.
e. Her smile. It makes her look alive.
f. She has accepted death./She knows that everyone has to die.

VII

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

Practice 1
a. The poem is mainly about a battle where six hundred soldiers rode into a trap and were

attacked by the enemy on three sides.

b. It shows the courage of these men who obeyed a command to charge even

though they knew it was a mistake.

c. The general tone of the poem is that of praise and amazement at the

courageous action of the soldiers.

Practice 2

a. 600/ 600 soldiers/ six hundred/ six hundred soldiers

b. The-officer-in-charge/ The Head/ The leader/ The Captain
c. They must have seen that the valley was surrounded by the enemy and that charging

forward would mean certain death.

d. The-officer-in-charge/ The Head/ The leader/ The Captain
e. Sad / discouraged.
f. It creates a strong beat that reflects the galloping horses or marching soldiers.
g. I would feel terrified being surrounded by the enemy and being shot at from three

directions.
h. loss of money/ loss of property/ loss of home/ loss of pet/ loss of income/ loss

of livelihood/ loss of jobs

i. Yes, it is my duty to take any orders given to me without questioning.

Practice 3

a. Half a league
b. In a valley.
c. They rode on horses.
d. To charge forward and attack.
e. The enemies.
f. The soldiers would be killed.
g. It was their duty to fight till the end no matter what happened.
h. Yes, they are brave.
i. We must be patriotic towards our country.

What Has Happened to Lulu Interchangeable

Practice 1
a. In Lulu’s room
b. i. an old rag-doll / a doll

ii. a shoe

VIII

c. Lulu took it with her.

d. Lulu’s younger brother / the persona
e. Confused / Worried / Sad
f. i She had an argument with her mother.

ii She had a fight with her mother.

iii She wanted to have more freedom.
iv She was being influenced by her
friends. (Accept any possible answers)

Practice 2
a. i. The persona’s mother and Lulu

ii. Lulu has gone away in a car/Lulu has run away in a car/Lulu is being

driven away in a car

b. Somebody’s cry / Someone’s cry

c. She is wandering / walking aimlessly. Reason she is confused
d. an old rag-doll / a doll
e. She does not want her son to see the note.
f. Accept any two reasonable / relevant answers:

i. They are influenced by the wrong company of friends

ii. They want to get away from overprotective parents
iii. They want to be free
iv. Peer pressure
v. Parental neglect
vi. Personal problems
vii. Teen pregnancy
viii. Drug addiction
ix. Abused by parents / siblings

Practice 3

a. i. It was windy and the window was opened

ii. Lulu has found her freedom.
iii. her money-box

b. She is upset / angry / sad / frustrated / emotional / stressed / in

disbelief (with what was written in the note)

c. Lulu ran away from home

d. i. Line 10 – And why do the tear-drops fall

ii. She was sad because Lulu had run away.

e. Factor 1: Argument with parents / family problem(s)

Factor 2: Peer influence / Any other acceptable answer

IX

A Poison Tree

Practice 1

a. i) Anger
ii) His anger intensified / grew.

b. Deceitful
c. The persona’s foe eventually died. He was glad to see his foe outstretched

beneath the tree

d. i. Talk to my enemy and solve the problem ii.

Ignore my enemy

e. The persona’s anger / wrath.

Practice 2

a. i) His foe/ enemy.

ii) I told it not

iii) “grow”

b. i) He watered it in fears / tears and sunned it with smiles and deceitful wiles

ii) the wrath

c. i) watered it with tears

ii) sunned it with smiles Interchangeable

d. i) I would advise my friend to speak honestly to his foe so they could clear the

misunderstanding between them

ii) I would advise my friend to forgive his foe because being angry would only

hurt him and his foe (Accept any two logical answers)

Practice 3

a. He talked to his friend. / He wanted to settle their differences.

b. He watered it.
c. i) Yes / No

ii)Accept any logical answers

d. i. Sad.

ii. We will not be close. / We will not share anything.

e. i) Happy

ii) Yes / No (accept any logical answers)

X
Novel

Practice 1

In the novel, ‘Sing to the Dawn’ by Minfong Ho, in my opinion we should

treat everyone fairly. This is true as in her story Dawan was mistreated by her
father and other people just because she is a girl. Dawan won the first place in the
exam and the scholarship to go to a better school in the city but just because she is
a girl, she was not allowed to accept the scholarship and was forced to surrender it
to Kwai, his brother. Dawan really wanted to go to the city for the sake of her family
and her beloved village,so when she won the scholarship she immediately realized
what she must do. But being a girl, she had to go against all the challenges to fulfill
her ambition. Even the head monk mistreated her as he did not believe that girls
would need more education and should only stay in the village to become wives and
mothers. Being unfair is a bad gesture as you are obstructing other people’s growth
and taking away their chances to be successful.

Practice 2

In the novel, ‘ Sing to the Dawn’ by Minfong Ho, the important event that I like is

when finally Dawan is allowed by her father to continue her study in the city. After all
that she had done to earn her father’s approval, she woke up to her last morning at
her village feeling nostalgic and sad. She interpreted how she felt about the sweet
morning breeze, the dampness from the early dew, the soothing silence of nature
and the glimpse of warmth from the rising sun. She walked to the wooden bridge to find
Kwai there. They talked, about Kwai’s true feeling and Dawan’s determination
to go to the city. At last when she boarded the bus, Kwai sent her off with open
arms and they sung together the song that they both cherished as a gift of farewell.
Those are really heartfelt moments in a story about a girl’s determination to
change for the better and a boy’s sacrifice for the future of his sister.

Practice 3

In the novel, ‘Sing to the Dawn’ by Minfong Ho, one of the moral value that I
learned in the story is love your family. In the story, we can see the love between
two siblings, Kwai and Dawan. Kwai is kind to his sister as he did not take the
opportunity of studying at city from Dawan even though he could. He insisted on not
going to study at the city to give his sister the scholarship even when their father
forced him. Other than that, he also stayed with her sister so that Dawan would not
meet their father alone. As for Dawan, she also cared about her brother as when she
saw Kwai sitting alone under the rain she gave the umbrella to him and went home
even though her foot was hurt at that time. She kept on asking whether Kwai was
going to see her off when the bus was waiting for her to board. At last the two
siblings waved to each other goodbye and the lotus started to open its petals.