Straits Times Reflection 17

Question 1(a). List two reasons why teens are reluctant to call helplines despite the promise of anonymity and professional help.

Some teenagers feel that it will be weird to talk to stranger. Some feel that close friends are easier to communicate and talk to. They have more faith and trust in their friends and they think their friends are the people whom they can rely on.

Question 1(b). According to Ms Lily Chu, how does Touch Leadership and Mentoring prefer to help troubled teens?

Touch Leadership and Mentoring can be prefered to help troubled teenagers through more direct and effective means, such as educational workshops organised in schools, one to one counselling and home visits.

Question 2. Have you confided in your friends or family members about the problems you face in school/ life? Why or why not?

Yes. I wouldn't want to keep all the problems to myself as that will make me feel more anxious and pent up. I would rather share my problems with my friends and family members and release all my doubts. That will make me less worried and I can have more people to rely on to help solve my problems. This will allow others to know more about my character.

Have you been betrayed by your friends before? If yes, how? (You may change the names of the people involved for privacy)

I cannot remember any incidents of betrayal. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I need to think...

Straits Times Reflection 16

Question 1(a). What are the 4 rules for religious harmony?

Answer: All groups of religion are to exercise tolerance and restraint, religion should not be related to politics but separated. The government must be secular, meaning that the government must be fair to all groups of religion. Lastly, maintain common space that all Singaporeans share to allow everyone to feel at home in Singapore and at ease.

Question 1(b). In your opinion, how can we maintain a common space in schools?

Catholic or chinese schools should allow students from different religion and races to mix along with the catholics and chinese. Students of different religion and races should do something common amongst themselves.

Question 2. Do you respect other religions? Why or why not? What do you think of children who stay away from their parents' funerals because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion?

I do respect other religions mainly for a reason that I'm a freethinker. Nevertheless, even if I am under a religious group, I will try to respect other religions. I wouldn't want racial riots to happen. I think that children who stay away from their parents' funerals because of their religion and traditional rites is quite disrespectful towards their parents. Although their religion is important, the most important is still their parents and family. They are the people who will always support and stand behind them.

Straits Times Reflection 12

Question 1(a). Why is cheerleading an expensive sport?

Answer: There are quite a number of things cheerleaders will need to buy, such as imported pom-poms from Taiwan which costs $50 - $70. Hair products are also needed and costs approximately $50 per team. There are many more items or products that are needed to buy and they are all very expensive because most of them are imported from other countries. Hence, cheer leading is an expensive sport.

Question 1(b). What makes cheerleading such a tough sport?



Question 2. What is your opinion of cheerleaders? If given a chance, would you join cheerleading? Why/ why not?

Straits Times Reflection 13

Question 1(a). What are the 2 worrying trends about drug trafficking mentioned in the article?



Question 1(b). Why are Singaporeans increasingly being used as "drug mules"?



Question 2. What will you do if you find out that one of your friends is selling drugs? How will you react if someone tries to sell you drugs?

Answer: I will warn him that selling drugs is a very serious offence and it is illegal to do so. Telling him the consequences may make him realize and influence him not to do so. If someone were to sell me drugs, I will either say "NO" and walk away without explaining or give him or her excuses that I am allergic to drugs.

Straits Times Reflection 14

Question 1. What is the modus operandi (method of operating) of the con artists?

The con artists' modus operandi is to pose as volunteers from "welfare organisations" to tidy up the homes of senior citizens.

Question 1(b). What are the Lion Befrienders planning to do to ensure the old folks do not get conned again?

They reminded the old folks to ask for an identification pass bearing the visitor's name and Befrienders' logo. So did they introduce new volunteers to the senior citizens, to ensure that the old folks recognise the people who will visit them subsequently.

Question 2. Do you like doing social work? Why or why not?

I quite like doing social work. I would like to help people, espcially old folks, tidy up and clean their homes. Most old folks cannot have the strength and energy to spare hours to clean up their homes. Therefore, instead of lazing around or playing during my leisure time, it would be nice to spend some time helping old folks or talking to them. Both parties would feel happy with it.

Straits Times Reflection 12

Question 1(a). Why is it easy for burglers to break into stalls at the two markets in the Kallang area?

It was easy for the burglars to break into the stalls as their units are open at the top. The burglars would only need to get a leg up on the pipes or the metal bars.

Question 1(b). What is the Geylang East Central Merchants' Association going to do about the break-ins?

They would look into improving and developing the security standard by changing the stalls' layout and design.

Question 2. What do you think should be done to tighten the security of the markets? What do you think of the burglars who brazenly break into the stalls?

I think it would be efficient to install CCTV cameras around the hawker centre, especially places where may be unprotected. The design of the stalls should be fully covered with only one door for the stall owner to access. The burglars who broke into the stalls are quite smart to think of the idea that not everyone would think of. The walls to me seem quite high, and they were brave enough to break into the stalls. On the other hand, it is foolish to leave their footprints and handprints on the walls, floors and countertops, which I think they are one of the most important clues.

Straits Times Reflection 11

Question 1. What are some of the problems involved in separating a conjoined twin?

Answer: Problems such as severe chest infection, which can lead to death. Also, complications and fatal problems with spinal cord are some problems faced during and after the separation. It is said that the separation of a conjoined twin can leave one with serious brain damage or a major problem of excessive blood loss.

Question 2. If you were a part of a conjoined twin, would you rather stay together with your twin for the rest of your life or would you risk both your lives to go for an operation? Why?

Answer: I would prefer staying together with my twin for the rest of my life to risking each other's life. Being a conjoined twin does not refer to a very serious problem. I would just have some minor inconveniences. But I have to learn how to get along with my twin and get use to it. I can try my best to pretend he's my best companion and follow him wherever he goes. It is not as if I would not be able to walk for the rest of my life, or I'm blind, deaf, mute or a vegetable.

Straits Times Reflection 10

Question 1. What are big companies doing in order to be more socially responsible?

Answer: SingTel had an energy saving programme to help them reduce business costs and an opportunity to re-invite their customers to join their environmental efforts. McDonalds does not purchase beef or other food originating from rainforest land. DBS focused on helping children reach their full potential in the area of learning and make a difference in their lives. Major companies are commited to help the less privileged by raising funds. For example, last month, ERA helped The Singapore Association for the Deaf organise its first charity walkathon, raising $80,000.

Question 2. How important it is to be socially responsible? And do you think it is still possible to make a social impact during the recession?

Answer: It helps treat people in a community or a country well, by giving some thoughts to some people. It also helps cultivate good habits and values, and becoming an upright, responsible and thoughtful person. It is still possible to make a social impact without spending a large sum of money. For example, the charity walkathon need not spend lots of money to organise and it is able to raise $80,000, having a social impact towards the Deaf.

Straits Times Reflection 9

Question 1. What are some of the things that schools in Singapore are doing in order to take care of the environment?

Answer: Some schools ask their students to bring electricity bills from home to track their month to month energy use and teach them to save energy. Schools also emphasize on issues like energy conservation and climate change. Elias Park Primary contribute fruit peels to the school's 3 compostbins which can convert food waste into fertilizers, and teach students about recyclable materials. Commonwealth Secondary has its own wetland which treats grey water from bathroom sinks and study the wetland's plants and animals. Marsiling Lower Secondary student do experiments like testing air quality in their school and Nanyang Girls' High School decided to ban cardboard takeaway boxes in their canteen and use their own boxes instead.

Question 2. Do you think one person's effort in reducing, reusing and recycling will make a difference in saving the environment? What steps have you taken in the effort to save the earth?

Answer: Yes, it will. Firstly, I must understand the importance of the environment and the dangers of it, to know what are the dangers and where to start. To save water, I should not waste water. To save electricity, I should pick up the habit of switching off lights, fans and any other electronic appliances when not in use. Try not to use air-cons frequently or cut down the time of using the computer. These are the basic things I should familiarize with to protect the environment.

Straits Times Reflection 8

Question 1. How does the treatment programme of the Singapore Prison Service help sex offenders?

Answer: It helps them learn about the way they think and how their actions flow from the programme. It also helps teach them empathy and to ensure that they are in a correct position to choose thr right thing to do.

Question 2. Do you think that sex offenders should be given a second chance in the society? State your reasons.

Answer: Yes. But it really depends on them if they want to improve and change into a better and civilised person. Giving them a second chance can give them hope to start afresh and prove that they had changed. If not, they may feel very hopeless and have less confidence in themselves of changing their character. After all the suffering and loneliness in prison, most of them will be afraid and would not want to make such an offence again. They would surely want to be free as soon as possible and change for the better, so a second chance would be good as well.

Straits Times Reflection 7

Question 1. What is illegal logging?

Answer: Illegal logging is the act of transporting, purchasing and selling of materials and timber which is strictly against the law. Illegal loggers also destroy animals' habitats and cause environmental damage.

Question 2. What can you do to stop the Sumatran tiger from extinction?

Answer: Not to disturb or destroy their habitats and don't kill them for sport or their skins. Other than me, governments can make laws and fines to stop illegal loggers from destroying their habitats.

Straits Times Reflection 6

Question 1. What are the different forms of ketamine?

Answer: There is a liquid form, legally used by doctors and vets for immunisation purposes. Ketamine also comes in powder and tablet form, which people consume it illegally to feel high.

Question 2. What would you do if you knew your friend took ketamine?

Answer: I would advise him to stop taking Ketamine and warn him about the negative consequences if consumed. This might trigger his awareness and he might take some action to quit the habit. If not, I will go around and ask doctors or professionals for some help.

Straits Times Reflection 5

Question 1. In the last line, what did the writer mean by suggesting that “he may have found more porcupines than rats?”

Answer: The writer meant that Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong suggested that he had found more bold and brave people like porcupines than cowards and timid people like rats in the Total Defence campaign.

Question 2. What’s worth giving up your life for?

Answer: If I had to protect my family from a terrible disaster, it is worth giving up my life for them as I wouldn't want to see my closed ones gone. That is the most important.

Straits Times Reflection 4

Question 1. Why Coral Secondary School forbids students to idle around near their school in their school uniform?

Answer: The school wants them to exercise good habits like spending their time wisely. They did not want the students to loiter around but make good use of their time instead.

Question 2. Do you agree with this rule? Explain your answer.

Answer: No and yes but more to the no. Although the school is much concern and caring for the students to inculcate good habits, not all students would want to loiter around, there might be other reasons for going to malls and nearby places in their school uniform. Like said, some students do not have lunch at home and needs to buy their lunch. It is quite troublesome for them to go back home and change into their home clothes and go out again to buy lunch. This rule might be good for exercising good habits but not for some other situations.

Straits Times Reflection 3

Question 1. What was Jack Neo’s vocation when he was serving the nation?

Answer: He was a quatermaster, then a platoon commander at an infantry unit.

Question 2. “Hard work leads to success.” To what extend do you agree with this statement?

Answer: If one puts in at least some effort to a task, the chances of being successful are much higher than not putting any effort to the task. I think if one is interested in something, one would care about it and research more about it and doing some extra work. For sure one will success in that area.

Straits Times Reflection 2

Question 1. How did the teenagers trespass into Singapore Island Country Club?

Answer: They were taking a walk in the forested area near MacRitchie Reservoir. They were trying to find their way out of the forest till they wandered onto the golf course.

Question 2. Is underage drinking correct? Explain your answer.

Answer: It is incorrect. When underage people drink, they might not be able to take it and control their actions and might end up creating trouble. For example, the youths were drunk and started throwing golf balls and tee markers without knowing what they were doing.