1
Answers: New Junior Thematic Anthology 2
Unit 1: Pranked!
HKDSE
1. the vending machine
2. in a shopping centre
3. Because he thinks it is boring/ as boring as watching paint dry
4a) whispered
b) boomed
5. voice, snack
6a) They have more custard (than other pies).
b) They have less pastry (than other pies).
7. He needs to pay the vending machine a compliment.
8. Because he is talking to a vending machine.
9. Because he has crumbs on his face/ he needs to wipe his face.
10. A
11i) F
ii) T
iii) NG
12. 3241
13 (1) A (2) F (3) D (4) E (5) C
Part A
Dear Diary,
Today I went shopping with my friends. I wore my new jeans. Everybody
seemed to think they looked great on me. I got lots of nice compliments
from them.
On the way to the shopping centre, it started raining. Unfortunately, I
wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going and stepped right into
a huge puddle! My jeans got wet. I tried to wipe them dry with some
tissues I have in the handbag.
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We decided to have tea at a new place called Joe’s Café. Joe’s Cafe is
famous for their delicious homemade cakes. Lots of people line up to
buy them every day so they often run out of cake very quickly. I was so
hungry when I got there that my stomach was rumbling continuously.
We were lucky that they still have some left. I tried their pineapple cake.
It was so good that I carefully savoured each bite.
After that, we wandered around the shopping centre and mostly
window-shopped. Suddenly, I felt someone grab my arm. It was my
cousin! She was a bit embarrassed because she was with her new
boyfriend! They had just been at an electronics shop looking at all the
shiny new gadgets.
It was really good day but when I got home, my legs ached because we’d
walked so much!
Part B
1. optician’s
2. patisserie
3. pharmacy
4. sportswear shop
5. jewellery shop
6. boutique
Unit 2: A Tour of Hong Kong
HKDSE
1. B
2. Every year, there is an influx of tourists coming to Hong Kong for its
gorgeous views. Victoria Harbour and the Tsing Ma bridge are some of
the popular spots for viewing the city’s skyline at night. The Hong Kong
Observation Wheel, located in Central, is an eye-catching attraction that
adds vibrancy to the city’s glamorous skyline.
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3. Hong Kong
4i) T
ii) F
iii) NG
iv) T
5. let, shop
6i) Chinese name stamps
ii) Chinese paintings
7.
Activity
Enjoying the view, for example, by
going on the Hong Kong
Observation Wheel.
Hiking
Seeing different kinds of wildlife
Shopping for Japanese products
Shopping for Chinese products
Place(s)
Victoria Harbour and the Tsing Ma
Bridge
Lamma Island
Hong Kong Wetland Park
Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui
Stanley
8. more than 3/ three years
9. penned
10. D
Part A
Part B
Across:
1. gorgeous
2. dragonflies
3. scenery
4. skyline
5. imports
Down:
6. wildlife
7. landmark
8. hometown
9. delighted
10. spectacular
Indoor:
Playing real-life room escape
games
Singing karaoke
Visiting museums
Watching films
Watching musicals
Watching stand-up comedies
Outdoor:
Cruising the harbor
Going hiking
Going island-hopping
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Visiting theme parks
Watching light shows
Watching street music concerts
Unit 3: Life Safari
HKDSE
1a) came across
b) battered
c) mastery
2. the guitar
3. Botswana
4. C
5. He saw that they were poor and he thought the money would help
them.
6i) F
ii) NG
iii) F
iv) T
7. education
8. C
9. his hard work and perseverance
10. not good at music/ having no talent for performing music
11. B
12. A
13.
i

ii
Organizations
iii
More
iv
Younger
v
Workshops
14. ECABD
15. A
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Part A
Reporter: Joseph, you graduated with a law degree from university but
you didn’t become a lawyer. You chose to become an adventure travel trip
leader instead. It’s quite an unconventional job, isn’t it? Most people have
never heard of it.
Joseph: That’s right. My parents are a bit disappointed because they
always thought I’d build a successful career as a lawyer, but I have a
passion for travel and adventure. I went on a safari in East Africa to watch
wild animals when I was a child, and I was captivated by the scenery and
the wildlife.
Reporter: Your job sounds exciting, but is it dangerous?
Joseph: Well, I have never injured myself, but sometimes, the tourists
ignore my advice and get hurt. I was conducting a guided tour in a
rainforest once, and a member in the group picked a wild mushroom and
ate it. He ended up in hospital.
Reporter: That sounds awful!
Joseph: It was. But the best thing about adventure trips is that you often
have new discoveries. That poisonous turned out to be a new species that
nobody had seen before!
Part B
Brandon Ng: courageous
Sally Wong: diligent
Joseph Lee: adventurous
Lai Sau Ying: energetic
Bernard Leung: modest
Susan Woo: compassionate
Patrick Chong: humorous
Yuki Chan: creative
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Unit 4: Deadly diseases
HKDSE
1. trickle
2. A
3. Because he got a text alert about some breaking news
4. No, it isn’t because the anchorman says that they are interrupting the
broadcast with a special news bulletin.
5. The boss felt annoyed/ angry (with Ah Ming).
6. B
7. According to the news anchorman/bulletin, the virus moves from
person to person through contaminated food.
8. Ah Ming’s hands
9. digging into
10i) a bleeding nose
ii) a stomach ache
iii) red skin
11. 1, 4, 2, 3
12. Ah Ming
13i) F
ii) T
iii) NG
14. C
15. The message of the story is that we should wash our hands regularly
to avoid spreading diseases.
Part A
I was sitting at my desk working when my phone beeped loudly from a
text alert. I picked it up, feeling a little annoyed that I was interrupted
from my work.
I nearly dropped the silly device in disbelief as I stared at the incredible
message. My sister Emily had just texted me to tell me that Dad was in
hospital with an infectious disease! He hadn’t been feeling well and had
gone to a general practitioner at a nearby clinic. Now he was in hospital!
“How is he? What are his symptoms?” I quickly texted back.
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Emily replied that he had a high fever and his eyes were bleeding. I
couldn’t believe it! She added that there was an epidemic across the
whole city.
I immediately checked the news app on my phone. The news anchorman
was reading an urgent news bulletin. “The authorities are urging people
to stay calm and suspect that the disease is being spread through
contaminated chicken.”
I glanced down at the half-eaten fried chicken leg on the desk beside
me. Suddenly, I began to feel really hot and my eyes started to bleed……
Part B
1. stretcher
2. ambulance
3. wheelchair
4. drip
5. crutches
6. syringe
Unit 5: Eye can’t believe it!
HKDSE
1. Because the museum offers something exciting and out of the
ordinary.
2. C
3. 3-D artworks appear to pop out of the surface.
4a) out of the ordinary
b) come to life
5. the five different zones
7i) F
ii) NG
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iii) T
8a) cavity
b) breathtaking
9. No, they have already been in Italy and France since the 16th century.
10.
i
trick
ii
States
iii

iv
Instantly
11. 2010
12.
 Hong Kong
 Phuket
 Seoul
 Singapore
 Tokyo
13. B
Part A
The Wild Orchid Art Gallery has just teamed up with Fine Dining
Restaurant to offer visitors a journey of delicious food and beautiful
works of art. However, my experience there was incredibly
disappointing.
First of all, the owner of the gallery and the restaurant tried to create a
luxurious atmosphere. So they decorated the whole place with gold. At
the same time, they also tried to make the dining area look surreal and
out of the ordinary. That’s why they put life-size animals everywhere.
Standing next to my table was a fearsome gold tiger with its jaws wide
open. It gave me a fright whenever I caught sight of it.
We ordered their signature dish, Peking Duck, but they brought us
something that looked like a creature from a horror film. My instant
response is to ask the waiter what it was, but it seemed that he wasn’t
interested in having any interaction with the customers at all. He just
pretended nothing happen and went away quietly.
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I love art and food, but serving food in an art gallery is just not a good
idea.
Part B
1. canvas
2. watercolours 3. Easel
4. paintbrush 5. palette
6. pastels
Unit 6: Our postal services
HKDSE
1. Hongkong Post
2. 56/ fifty-six
3. D
4. The excellent postal service offered by Hongkong Post motivated her
to join the poetry competition.
5i) F
ii) NG
iii) T
6. 1841
7. B
8a) transactions
b) duplicated
9i) stamp sheets
ii) presentation packs
10. Because it is much more fun collecting stamps than electronic
images.
11. Postal workers take care of your posts in many ways. For example,
they helped pack your things so that they are secure. They handle
parcels that are easily damaged with meticulous care. Also, they are
diligent enough to identify your letter box and deliver the right mail to
you.
12. D
13. Postal workers work hard to make sure we get our mail and packages
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safely and efficiently.
Part A
Postal worker 1: Hello, madam. How may we serve you today? Are you
interested in philately? Our latest award-winning stamp sheet has
already won several top prizes for the stamps’ designs. It’s really worth
collecting!
Mrs Smith: Hmm…I don’t collect stamps.
Postal worker I: Perhaps you would like to sign up for this monthly
periodical about making investments? With an increase in the
prevalence of local and global investment options, it can help you decide
how to best manage your money.
Mrs Smith: No thanks. I’d just like to post this parcel please.
Postal worker I: No problem. My counterpart at that counter will be
happy to help you right now.
Mrs Smith: Thanks!
Postal worker II: Hello, could you please let me know if your parcel is
fragile?
Mrs Smith: It’s just a soft toy for my niece. I suppose it won’t break. By
the way, can you see the address clearly? I hope my handwriting isn’t
too messy.
Postal worker ll: That’s fine.
Mrs Smith: Great, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to double-check the
address. I got it wrong last time and my niece never received her
present. Luckily, some of your colleagues helped me retrieve it.
Postal worker ll: It’s always our pleasure to help you! Please go ahead
and double-check the address.
Mrs Smith: How much do I need for posting this parcel?
Postal worker ll: $100, please.
Mrs Smith: Here you go.
Postal worker ll: OK. Here’s your receipt.
Mrs Smith: Wow! That was quick. How efficient! Thanks so much for
your help.
Part B
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1. E
2. F
3. A
4. B
5. C
6. D
Unit 7: The sick planet
HKDSE
1. C
2. Because she has a present for him.
3. the (woman’s) shopping trolley
4. the doll
5a) clutching
b) panting
c) munching
6. D
7. 1432
8. Because the boy can plant more seeds to grow more apples.
9i) T
ii) NG
iii) F
10i) planet of hopelessness
ii) blue planet
iii) organism
11. the people/humanity
12. A
13. The cancer will be gone and the earth will live on.
Part A
1. striving
2. sweeping
3. glumly
4. ultimately
5. humanity
6. munched
7. clutched
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8. muttering
9. ravenously
10. uncontrollably
Part B
Health problems (Air pollution):
asthma
coughing
lung cancer
nasal congestion
Health problems (Noise pollution):
deafness
high blood pressure
sleep disturbance
stress
Health problems(Water pollution):
diarrhoea
liver damage
poisoning
vomiting
Unit 8: Clean Hong Kong
HKDSE
1. Because he threw a cigarette on the ground.
2. the $1500 fine
3i) to deter people from littering
ii) to keep the environment clean
4i) dogs fouling the streets
ii) unauthorized display of bills and posters
5. D
6a) foul
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b) unauthorized
c) penalizing
d) encourage
7. MsNeat99 and TidyBunny
8. can prevent germs/diseases from spreading
9. B
10i) F
ii) NG
iii) T
11. C
12. LittleBug88’s father
13. think twice
Part A
1. offences
2. germs
3. fine
4. deter
5. outrageous
6. filthy
7. harmless
8. effective
9. illegal
10. penalty
Part B
1. B
3. E
4. F
5. A
6. C
Unit 9: The future of transport
HKDSE
1i) The pollute the world.
ii) They jam cities with traffic.
2i) T
ii) NG
iii) T
3. the faster and cleaner forms of transport
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4i) carbon dioxide
ii) 700 million tonnes
5. D
6i) London
ii) The travel time mentioned for London is less than that of New York
City.
7. the Shanghai maglev train
8. substitute, operation, maximum
9. anyone who is interested in transport and the future of our planet
10. gets around
11. eco-city
12. D
13. Zipping, stopping, dozen
Part A
The first official vactrain journey from Hong Kong to London was a
tremendous success. Passengers taking this new alternative to flying had
hoped for a fast and smooth journey on the vactrain as it sped directly
between the two cities without stops, and they were not disappointed.
“Getting on the train, I wondered if I’d feel the train float above the
magnets on the track, but I didn’t feel anything at all,” commented
excited passenger, Jenny Lau. “Then the train started moving and
accelerating, and soon we were zipping through the vaccum tunnel at a
truly unbelievable speed. It was a real thrill! I never knew before how
much air resistance slows things down. After riding the vactrain, it’s very
easy to see the difference!”
“This trip was a wonderful treat,” said passenger Victor Ng. “Large
sections of the elevated tunnel were made of see-through glass.
Travelling high in the night sky was amazing! I’m sure the cities we
passed over were jammed with ridiculous amounts of polluting traffic,
but it was a completely different story for us. The vactrain will definitely
help reduce pollution.”
“The vactrain signals a true revolution in transport. Rather than being at
odds with nature, it is in harmony with it and doesn’t cause pollution,”
stated Mark Ting, the CEO of Continental Vactrains, after the successful
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journey.
Part B
Public transport:
Coaches, doub;e-deckers, light rail, minibuses, MTR, trains, trams
Personal transport: motor cars, motorcycles
Highest fuel consumption: aeroplanes
Unit 10: Origami
HKDSE
1. the traditional Japanese art of paper folding
2. when the writer was a baby
3. C
4. amazed, beautiful, creation
5i) F
ii) NG
iii) T
6i) They strung them together and hung them near one of the windows.
ii) The cranes have become a unique symbol of their class.
7. C
8. steps 1 to 6
9. C
10. step 14
11. 4, 1, 3, 2
12. pastime
13. B
Part A
Mary: Oh, I’m just practicing my origami skills. I’m trying to be as skillful
as you, and I think I’m getting there. I’ve started using washi!
Sarah: Can I have a quick look? Oh, this is a beautiful crane and you’ve
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folded the paper really well. All the creases are very deep and straight.
Mary: Thanks, but I always struggle with the next part. I need to be
delicate, but I’m always too rough.
Sarah: Just take a deep breath and pull the crane’s wings gently.
Mary: Oops! I think I pulled a teeny bit too hard. I tore one of the wings,
didn’t I?
Sarah: No, you don’t. You did just fine.
Mary: Great! Now I just need to blow into the crane’s underside to give
it some nice volume.
Sarah: Well, you could do a bit more if you want. The paper is a bit plain
on its own, so I like to add a little paint and glitter here and there. If you
did that, you could give it to your mum as a keepsake. I think she’d really
appreciate it.
Mary : Oh, that’s a great idea! Thanks! By the way, do you know how to
make a jumping toad? I’d like to make one and decorate it for my little
brother.
Sarah: Yes, let me help you make one right now!
Part B
1. Boomerang – Australia
2. Clogs – The Netherlands
3. Matryoshka dolls – Russia
4. Painted egg - Romania
5. Paper cut - China
6. Piñata –Mexico
Unit 11: A walk through time
HKDSE
1. B
2. 7/seven
3i) the Central and Western Heritage Trail
ii) the Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail
4i) T
ii) F
iii) NG
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5. traditional Chinese buildings/ important historical buildings/ buildings
built by the Tang Clan
6. hexagonal
7. C
8. A
9.
Summary
Corrections
e.g. Hong Kong is not only unknown for its
famous
urban
i) skylines. Try to pick one of the dreary trails
fascinating
ii) you can explore contemporary buildings
Historical/traditional
iii) sites. If you want to know more about local

iv) present, you can join a guided tour too!
heritage
10. a tour of Hong Kong’s heritage trails
11a) subline
b) relive
c) gems
12i) walled villages
ii) ancestral halls
Part A
1. meandered
2. settled
3. historic
4. boast
5. gems
6. heritage
7. exhibits
8. clans
9. architectural
10. glimpse
Part B
1. feng shui
2. burning paper offerings
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3. Cantonese opera
4. lion dance
5. burning license
6. bun-snatching
Unit 12: Everyday Science
HKDSE
1. mobile phones, televisions and the Internet
2i) F
ii) NG
iii) T
3. They make our lives simpler and more sanitary.
4. automatic taps
5. A
6. A
7. needless to say
8. a straw
9. pressure
10. in much the same way
11. C
12.
When you turn on a vacuum cleaner, the motor starts making the fan
inside the vacuum cleaner spin. The reduction in air pressure helps
pull dirt from the floor into the vacuum and it is then trapped in the
dust bag inside the vacuum cleaner.
13. automatic taps and vacuum cleaners
14. B
Part A
“What now?”, grumbled John, when he heard the loud, continuous whir
of the industrial vacuum cleaner’s motor. He wished it would stop.
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Exhausted, he has been snoozing across some shabby seats, which he
was sure were far from sanitary, at his airport departure gate. He didn’t
care about any invisible germs though. He just wanted to get on his
flight and get home.
John should have arrived home hours ago. However, the plane had a
technical problem. John had hoped that it was something simple and
easy to fix, perhaps one of the valves that controlled the air going in and
out of the plane wasn’t working properly. Now, it was clear that the
issue was probably related to a more sophisticated part of the plane’s
machinery.
John sipped his bottled water, some of which flowed onto his shirt by
accident. Shaking his head, he went over to the ground attendant at the
gate.
“Excuse me, but are we going to be leaving any time today?” he asked
with as much patience as he could muster.
“I’m sorry sir but please bear with us. We’ll announce an update as soon
as we know.” replied the ground attendant.
John wanted to complain more, but it would be pointless. So he spun
around and walked towards the toilet to use the automatic hand dryer
to dry this shirt.
Part B
1. G
2. H 3. D
4. A
5. B 6. C
7. E 8. F
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Unit 13: Fun Fiction
HKDSE
1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. A
3. the dinosaurs/ the creatures
4. shimmered
5. 5/ five
6i) F
ii) T
iii) NG
7. 1912
8. the Sherlock Holmes series
9. C
10. drive out
11. Because they thought all the dinosaur died a long time ago
12.
Dinosaur
Proof
flew
13.
4
2
1
3
14. The reviewer liked the story because he/she said that it was inspiring
and gave it four out of five stars.
15. I think the title of the story is The Lost World because it takes place
in a forgotten place where dinosaurs still exist. (Any other reasonable
answer)
Part A
Once, there was an explorer named Paul who liked to go on wild
adventures like the hero of his favourite fantasy novel. He went on all
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sorts of dangerous expeditions all over the world including deep sea
diving, mountain climbing and even skydiving. He loved to show off the
photos of his trips to all his friends. He planned to write a series of
books about his quests and hoped that people would find his stories
inspiring and go on their own adventures.
One day, an old man asked Paul if he wanted to go on another
dangerous trip. Paul immediately agreed to it. “You’re very courageous,
Paul,” the old man said with a smile.
So the two adventurers set out together. First, they climbed up a steep
mountain. After they got over the mountain, they discovered a hidden
path in a deep valley. The valley was filled with tall trees and vegetation.
The path was overgrown and Paul couldn’t see where he was going.
Suddenly, he heard a loud click. His foot was caught in a trap! The trap
must have been set by the native people to capture animals for food.
Paul thought he would die there, but, luckily the old man found him and
helped him escape from the trap.
Part B
1. fairy tale
2. historical fiction
3. crime
4. science fiction
5. horror
6. fable
7. fantasy
8. romance
Unit 14: Beautiful butterflies
HKDSE
1. $40
2i) dragonflies
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ii) spiders
iii) grasshoppers
3. between 9 a.m. and 11a.m.
4a) reasonable
b) jaw-droppingly
c) planning
d) spot
5. mild, ample
6. Hong Kong
7. D
8. 2/two days
9.
1
3
4
2
5
10i) T
ii) F
iii) NG
11. the importance of butterflies as a food source for many birds and
lizards, and how butterflies help pollinate many plants
12. Because it only lays its eggs on one type of plant
13. the Indian birthwort vine
Part A
When we think of Hong Kong, we often think of its vibrant city life. Did
you know that Hong Kong is also rich in flora and fauna? Here are some
examples:
If you go to Lantau Island, you may be able to see Romer’s Tree Frogs.
Like other frogs, they hatch from eggs into tadpoles. By the process of
metamorphosis, they gradually develop lungs and legs as they transform
into frogs. Unfortunately, the number of frogs in Hong Kong is declining.
Frogs are very sensitive to changes in the environment, so the dropping
number of frogs is actually a warning sign to other species. We need to
provide a safe haven for these animals in Hong Kong.
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Migrating birds come to Hong Kong because it has a mild winter. Many
go to Mai Po because there are ample freshwater ponds. However,
research has shown that some of these birds may become extinct very
soon. Therefore, the government has introduced legislation to protect
them.
Part B
Across:
1. shutter
2. viewfinder
3. tripod
4. depth of field
5. wide-angle lens
6. flash
Down:
7. fisheye lens
8. telephoto lens
9. autofocus
10. filter
Unit 15: Endangered animals
HKDSE
1. a protector of wild beasts and animals
2. C
3. An endangered species is one that is close to becoming extinct
because the number of animals of that species is too low.
4. Because humans are their own enemies/ they have no natural
enemies
5. die out
6. C
7i) They are blind.
ii) They weigh around one kilogram.
8. once every five years
9.
Siberian tigers
Oreas
Habitat

Countries: Russia,

All the world’s oceans
China and North Korea
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Adult size


Threats
they face



Length: 2 to 3 m
Weight: 170 to 300 kg
Their habitat is being
destroyed
They are being hunted
for their skins
They are being trapped
for zoos

Length: over 10 m

Their habitat is being
polluted
They are being hunted
by people for various
reasons

10. humans are the most powerful and cleverest animals on earth
11. essential
12. to give information about two endangered animals
Part A
Across:
1. crimes
2. imminent
3. extinction
4. habitat
5. subspecies
Down:
6. pay heed to
7. echolocation
8. impossible
9. threats
10. poignant
Part B
1. clown fish
2. orang-utan
3. chameleon
4. lemur
5. emperor penguin
6. leopard
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Unit 16: Modern communication technologies
HKDSE
1. They gathered around a campfire at the end of a hard day of hunting
to catch up.
2i) social networking sites
ii) email
iii) mobile applications
3. children who frequent social networking sites
4a) myriad
b) closeted
c) dire
5. beneficial
6. A
7. People who live far apart can stay connected with their families
without having to make long flights home.
8. It is a club on a social networking site that anyone with the same
family name can join.
9. Modern technology has changed the way we connected with each
other. Not only can you socialize/interact with people you see and meet
all the time but it can also help you reconnect/reunite with long-lost
friends and relatives!
10. They can be useful when used in moderation.
11i) C
ii) A
iii) D
iv) E
Part A
Dear fellow debaters and audience,
On today’s motion that modern communication technology is a peril to
us all, my teammates and I respectfully disagree.
Our opponents will doubtlessly bemoan the myriad of ways we can
actually communicate without actually meeting in person. Moreover,
they will surely warn us all that things will only get worse if this issue is
not addressed and solved immediately.
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If our ten-year class reunion were by videoconferencing, for example, I
would agree that something so drastically wrong between now and
then.
However, is today’s situation really that dire? I am sure many of us here
are users of online social networking sites. Are we all misfits who are
not able to communicate in real-life settings? I can say that this simply is
not the case.
In my opinion, online social networking can help enhance everyone’s
well-being. This is because communicating with each other, regardless of
form, can be a good thing. Also, think about how online communication
helps the infirm and the mobility impaired stay in touch with their loved
ones.
Of course, there should be an optimum balance between face-to-face
communication and online communication. My teammates will shortly
give you some ideas of how modern communication technology, if used
correctly and in a balanced way, is a real boon to us.
Thank you.
Part B
1. portable charger
2. tablet computer
3. e-book reader
4. stylus
5. webcam
6. smartphone
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Unit 17: Girls with wings
HKDSE
1. B
2. the writer and her grandfather
3. Charles Lindbergh
4. They both flew solo across the Alantic Ocean.
5a) courage
5b) non-step
5c) brainy
5d) achieving
6. D
7. She inspired the writer to follow her dream despite the troubles in her
life.
8. went to an air cadet summer camp
9. B
10. Her siblings started treating her like a respected friend rather than
just a little sister
11. 4132
12i) She wants to bring him with her on her flights
ii) She misses her grandfather.
Part A
Mia: Hi, Max. I know you love anything related to aeroplanes. Do you
want to pursue a career in the aviation industry?
Max: Yes. Every time I fly, I’m in awe of the whole experience. I’ve always
wanted to become a pilot since I was young.
Mia: I see. Have you ever imagined what it was like to be a flight pioneer
in the early 1900s?
Max: Yes, I have. I’m sure flights back then must have been really
frightening compared to modern times. For example, imagine flying from
Indonesia to continental Asia on your own when nobody had ever done it
28
before, or from Hawaii to North America. Amelia Earhart was the first
person to do the latter alone. That was really impressive!
Mia: A woman was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to North
America? Wow! I mean, considering how women struggled for equal
rights back then, I wonder how she convinced people to let her try in the
first place!
Max: Yes. Many people around the world are still mesmerized by what
she did.
Mia: Ha! Ha! I’m sure you’re one of them! Have you thought of any ways
to achieve your dream?
Max: I’ve done some research about how to become a pilot recently. I’ll
first have to equip myself with the basic knowledge of flying a plane.
Mia: Do you mean training as an air cadet?
Max: Yes. I’ll have to attend lectures and pass all the necessary exams
before I can get a pilot’s license.
Mia: I see. I’m sure you can make it.
Part B
+ve:
Considerate
Earnest
Sincere
Supportive
Thoughtful
understanding
-ve:
Condescending
Disdainful
Judgmental
Malicious
Resentful
Spiteful
29
Unit 18: My pet’s funeral
HKDSE
1. The narrator pulled a piece of string along the floor and Tiger ran after
it.
2. still
3. the narrator’s sister
4. the narrator’s mother
5. A
6. He suddenly appeared at their house one day.
7. a magnificent ginger cat with tiger stripes
8. The narrator’s parents decided to organize a funeral for Tiger in the
garden. Her father dug the grave. Then they used a cardboard box lined
with flowers on the inside as Tiger’s coffin. Finally, the narrator carefully
carried the hefty box and they buried it in the garden.
9. the narrator’s family
10i) T
ii) NG
iii) F
11. five
12. D
13.
Father: B
Mother: D
Tom: E
Emily: C
The narrator: A
Part A
1. screamed
2. treasured
3. witness
4. grave
5. bury
6. earth
7. placed
8. arranged
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9. miss
10. gather
Part B
Grief
Agony
Anguish
Distress
Heartbreak
Misery
Torment
Comfort
Compassion
Condolence
Consolation
Reassurance
Solace
Sympathy
Unit 19: Mystical creatures
HKDSE
1. C
2. sailors
3. up to 1.6km
4. The Kraken is a huge creature that looks like an octopus. People have
reported seeing it in the sea near Norway. It pulls boats into the sea
using its powerful tentacles.
5. in Scotland
6. FEACD
7. (in a village) in Nepal
8. the unicorn
9a) fascinating
9b) healing
10i) Loch Ness Monster/Nessie
10ii) unicorn
10iii) mermaid
10iv) Yeti/Abominable Snowman
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11. oceans, jungles and caves
12. We should keep an open mind to the possibility of the existence of
mystical creatures because there is still a large part of the world that is
unexplored.
13i) NG
13ii) F
13iii) T
Part A
Several fishermen who dwell in Havoysund, a small out-of-the-way
village in northern Norway, claimed yesterday that they witnessed the
giant tentacles of the Kraken reaching out of the ocean for their fishing
boat while they were out at sea.
“It was a truly abominable creature. We barely managed to escape from
it!” said Sven Swenson, 53, one of the fishermen. “The hair on the back
of my neck and scalp stood right up because I was so scared.”
“This isn’t a hoax. It was very real!” said Igor Ericson, 40, another
eyewitness. “I know some people in the village are saying that our story
is questionable and they don’t think we really saw the Kraken. But more
than a dozen of us saw the same thing and it was much bigger than
anything we’d never seen before.”
Regardless of the controversy over the incident, monster hunters have
already started making travel plans to the remote village in the hope of
proving the creature’s existence. It is likely that the supposed sighting
will also help lure adventure tourists to Havoysund in the coming weeks.
Part B
1. Nazca Lines
2. Stonehenge
3. Pyramid
4. Sanxingdui
5. Shilin Stone Forest
6. Easter Island
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Unit 20: From another time and space
HKDSE
1. “sci-fi”/time and space travel
2i) “sci-fi” fans
2ii) older audience/ old people
2iii) younger generations
3a) appeal
3b) angst
4i) T
4ii) NG
4iii) T
5. They include both traditional Korean costumes and contemporary
fashion.
6. made a splash
7. B
8. in vogue
9.
Aliens in the past
What they
look like
What they
do
Look like monsters
Aliens in My Love from the
Star
Looks like a human
Destroy the Earth or eat all
inhabitants of the planet
Develops a love relationship
with a girl
Part A
The other day, I was studying the history of the Tang Dynasty. It was an
era of peace and prosperity. Suddenly I heard somebody in the living
room. I went out and Li Bai, one of the famous Chinese poets in the past,
was watching TV on the sofa! This certainly wasn’t something you’d
typically expect to see in modern-day Hong Kong! I recognized him
because there was a picture of him in my textbook. I’d always thought
33
he was scrawny, but he was in fact quite plump. He turned around and
said, “Hey kid, do you have a beer? I want to write a poem about the joy
s pf drinking beer.”
I then remembered that apart from writing poems, he also dedicated
much time to drinking alcohol---something that appealed to many
Chinese poets. “Sorry I don’t. But would you like a cream soda instead of
a beer? It’s sweet.”
“Well, I’ve never had that before. OK, I’ll give it a go.”
I handed him a can and he took a sip.
“Wow! This tastes marvellous! It’s a great combination of vanilla flavor
and soda water. I love it!” He exclaimed.
I was surprised that such an intelligent poet would be impressed by a
simple soft drink.
I went to get my smartphone because I wanted to take a photo with
him. But when I came back, he was gone.
Part B
1. F
2.G
3.B
4.E
5.C
6.A
7.D
34
Unit 21: Haunted
HKDSE
1. They scared each other with ghost stories.
2. A
3. bottles and jars
4i) F
4ii) NG
4iii) T
5i)
5ii)
5iii)
5iv)
expand
abandoned

beautiful
6. Mr Boretsky
7. No one knows the answer.
8i) vampires
8ii) wolves
8iii) the devil
9a) legend
9b) hounded
10. the story of the haunted glassworks
11. to raise funds for the maintenance of the glassworks
12. Because it was newly painted in a flat blue-grey
13. leisurely
14. D
Part A
1. hounded
2. degree
3. recounted
4. disrepair
5. architecture
6. abandoned
7. chatter
8. medieval
35
9. ornate
10. transfixed
Part B
1. E
2. G
3. A
4. F
5. D
6. B
7. C
Unit 22: It’s camping time!
HKDSE
1. two/ 2 days
2. He began building cabins there.
3. C
4. cross-country skiing
5. exhilarating
6.
5
3
4
2
1
7. 4/four
8. have a bonfire, roast marshmallows and sign camp songs
9. They will play games at the campsite.
10i) T
10ii) F
10iii) NG
11. A
12. dolls and decorations (out of natural materials)
13. how to swim
14i) boating
14ii) windsurfing
14iii) water polo
36
15. nature walk
16i) “high”/ “sky”/ “dry” and “sky”/ “dry”/ “high”
16ii) “neighbour” and “flavour”
Part A
Dear Diary,
It’s been a fun day at a camp with my parents. We’re having a splendid
time. The whole area is very beautiful, and the tall trees towering above
us look really majestic.
When we arrived at the campsite this morning, a camp counsellor
greeted us and showed us to our cabin. It’s very cosy and my bed here is
very comfortable.
She also asked us if we had a particular itinerary of things we wanted to
do. We said we didn’t. We just planned to wander around and try out
different activities.
And that’s exactly what we did. The first place we saw was the archery
range. There, we decided to give it a go, and believe it or out, my dad hit
the bullseye on his very first attempt. After that, we walked along a
cross-country trail where we saw some athletes running. Later, we
passed by a lake and we decided to try some windsurfing. It was
difficult. I had a hard time balancing on the surfboard, but I’m going to
try to do it again tomorrow.
There was a bonfire at the fire pit tonight. We sang some songs and
danced around the fire. To make it more fun, we also put marshmallows
on sticks and held them over the fire. They were really delicious when
they were roasted to a golden brown!
I can’t wait to play some more games at the campsite tomorrow!
Annie
Part B
1. geyser
2. swamp
37
3. oasis
4. canyon
5. sand dune
6. rainforest
Unit 23: A second chance
HKDSE
1. delinquent
2. Chris is 20/twenty years old. He went to school on Cheung Chau. He is
going to be a sports teacher in future.
3. to run a marathon and raise money for his school
4. C
5. Because competitions had to comprise 86km within 24 hours unlike
the first day where they only had to compete 30km
6. running the marathon
7. He realized the importance of being humble and taking advice
because he wouldn’t have strained himself on the first day if he’d
listened to the advice of people who’d run the marathon before
8. 1998
9.
4
1
3
2
10. to show that rehabilitation centres are useful by talking about one of
their success stories
11. Because she feels most of the articles are either about politics or
tragedies
12. C
13. the articles about Chris Tang
14i) F
38
14ii) T
14iii) NG
Part A
Dear Principal Yip,
I would like to express my gratitude for everything you have done for my
son Jake. You have really influenced him to become a better person. As
you know, Jake is embarking on a new chapter in his life now that he has
graduated from your rehabilitation centre. Jake used to be a juvenile
offender who committed many pretty crimes. He was also very
rebellious and never listened to me.
I want to thank you for giving him a fresh start. He has changed so much.
I am glad that he has learnt humility and is no longer as arrogant as he
used to be. I credit you and his teachers with helping him turn over a
new leaf. It is really heart-warming to see how much you all care for
him. I am so thankful to all of you as it would have been a real tragedy if
Jake had grown up to be a gangster like his father.
Yours sincerely,
Beverly Chan
Part B
1. E
2. H
3. G
4. D
5. F
6. C
7. A
39
Unit 24: Family bonds
HKDSE
1. by chance
2. 22/ twenty-two
3. Ku Li and Jeffrey
4. Because their parents divorced and decided to each take care of one
child
5. Ku Li had a pleasant upbringing while Jeffrey’s childhood was filled
with unhappiness, poverty and trauma.
6i) NG
6ii) F
6iii) F
6iv) T
7. Because his father realized that he couldn’t look after him alone.
8. something bad might/must have happened
9. in a coal-mining accident
10.
3
1
5
7
4
6
2
11. She was their tour guide.
12. C
13. Jeffrey and his adoptive parents/ the Smith family.
14i) They share the same Chinese surname.
14ii) They share the same birthday.
14iii) Their birth father died in a coal-mining accident.
15. “like looking in a mirror”
40
Part A
1. split up
2. upbringing
3. destined
4. welled up
5. passed on
6. thrilled
7. interior
8. long-lost
9. trauma
10. remittance
Part B
1. I
7. D
2. F
8.K
3. H
9. L
4. B
10.C
5. G
11. J
6. E
12. A