Part 3
Read the text below and answer questions 17 to 24.
Robert Kuok, the Billionaire.
Robert Kuok was born in Johor in 1923. He is known as the legendary ‘Sugar King’.
His father sailed from Fujian to Malaya in search of a better life. His mother hailed from an
educated, well-to-do family. His father soon became a very successful businessman in Malaya.
Kuok and his brothers received their early education at local English schools, unlike
other immigrant children. They were encouraged to adopt Western names, their father named
all three sons after famous historic figures. Their father believed that English was the lingua
franca for international commerce, encouraging them to advance their studies all the way to
the famed English College in Johor Bahru and after that, the prestigious Singapore Raffles
College.
The Japanese invasion brought his student days to an abrupt end. To protect his family
from Japanese aggression, Kuok agreed to be enlisted in the administration of Mitsubishi’s
rice distribution business. He worked his way up from a clerk to the head of department by the
time the war ended. It was here that he had his first taste of business and making money.
After the war and later when British rule ended in Malaya, Kuok saw a greater potential
in sugar, an area underserved by the Chinese community, who were focused on rice. Sugar
was the making of his empire and he grew the business beyond the home shores of Malaya
and Singapore. From here, he built his business empire worldwide.
Kuok relocated to Hong Kong in 1975 to take advantage of the attractive business
environment that it offered and eventually planned his entry into China. Kuok believes that
any business can be learnt through hard work, honesty and good management.
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Questions 17-24
Complete the following table
Choose no more than three words and / or a number from the text for each answer.
For each question, write the correct word in the space provided on your answer sheet.
Robert Kuok, the Billionaire.
Year born
School attended
17. _____________________________________________
18. _____________________________________________
19. _____________________________________________
20. _____________________________________________
Effects of Japanese
21. _____________________________________________
invasion
Why relocated to Hong
22. _____________________________________________
Kong
Values he believes in to
help business
23. _____________________________________________
24. _____________________________________________
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