yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
yvonne was here.
Review: Animal Farm
George Orwell
This story is about a farm which is being run by animals themselves and a pig named Napoleon as the leader. This story is a famous story whereby it says about leadership and teamwork. I feel that the book gives readers a chance to think of the situation in reality, as in whether such events in the story had happened in real life.
Mr Jones is a lazy human farmer of Manor Farm. He has pigs, dogs, sheeps, cows, poultry, horses, cats, mare and donkey. Old Major, the oldest pig in the farm shared his dream with the other animals whereby animals get to run the farm themselves instead of working under Man. He encouraged them to go on a Rebel to chase Man, whom made their life miserable and labourious out of their way.
Three days later, Old Major died. Three of the pigs, namely Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer were thinking of elaborating Old Major's teachings into a system which they called Animalism. All the animals in the farm thought it might be a good chance for them to get free but came to no decision. In June, however, the animals could stand it no longer, being unfed all the time, decided to oppose human beings. All of them charged into the farmhouse and soon left Mr and Mrs Jones running for their lifes. The farm is now theirs.
The animals in the farm took up all the chores that the farmer used to do, from mowing to harvesting. The Rebellion had made the animals felt happier than before. The pigs however, did not do any work in the farm because they were said to be the cleverest and should only stay indoor to keep the farm working. There were less disputes, more food, more leisure and no work on Sunday, a day to hold the Meeting. The Meeting is a time where work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated. Often were Snowball and Napoleon debating, opposing each other on opinions.
The following week started with the animals leaning how to write alphabets and only pigs, Muriel the goat and benjamin the donkey could read very well. Soon, pigs were given the privilege to have milk and apples reserved for themselves alone because they were brain-workers.
By late summer, almost half the country had heard about Animal Farm. In the mean time, Jones, the formal owner of Animal Farm (once called Manor Farm) tried to complain to as many people in other farms about his rebellious animals. Everyone thought the animals would die of starvation but unexpectedly had survived til the very day. Jones and his men decided to fight with the animals for the farm. Little did he know that the animals were well prepared for the day to come.
As the men approach the farm, the pigeons flew to and fro over their head and muted upon them from mid-air; geese which hid behind the hedge pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. Sheeps prodded and butted the men for every side while the donkey lashed at them with his small hoofs. As part of the attack, Snowball tricked Jones by signalling the animals to retreat to the yard. Jones appeared at the yard and the horses, cows and pigs that hid in the cowshed charged towards their enemies. Snowball immediately dashed to Jones and was injured by the pellet from Jones' gun. On the other hand, Boxer the horse killed him with his hind legs, forgetting that he was wearing iron shoes.
Everyone celebrated for defeating their enemies and had posted Snowball and Boxer as the Farm's Heroes. Not long after, Snowball was being kicked out of the Animal Farm by Napoleon who said that he had betrayed everyone by contacting Jones all these time after the Rebellion. On the other hand, Napoleon took this chance to gain the seat of being the master of the farm.
Soon, the animals were told to build a windmill that can do the jobs that can reduce the labour of the animals and gain more food for the farm. The animals had no choice but to listen to Napoleon, who later was called Comrade Napoleon.
The building of the windmill was difficult and food was scarce. The animals worked very hard for the windmill and their regular job. They have to work on Sundays as there are no more debates during The Meeting. Nobody dared to oppose as everyone agreed that life is still better compared to the days before Rebellion. The pigs had been engaging in trade with human beings and to the others' surprise, they had moved into the farmhouse, using the kitchen drawing room and slept on beds.
It was in winter and a storm caused the windmill to be destroyed. Napoleon took the chance to blame Snowball the betrayer to ruin the windmill at night so as to gain trust from the animals. There were also public executions of 4 pigs, 3 hens, 1 goose and 1 sheep who confessed that they had rebelled Comrade Napoleon in one way or another. The others were feared to rebel and hence could not point out their views. As usual, the animals are starving as food fell short in the winter season.
As soon as the animals had completed building another new windmill, the Pilkington farmers launced an attack at them at night as they were jealous of it being strong and new. They felt very sad when it collasped, seeing their hard work being destroyed but was later infuriated and started charging toward their enemies. In the end, they won the battle but were all weary and bleeding. Once again, they got ready to build another windmill.
Boxer, the hard working horse was about the age to retire and could no longer be useful. Comrade Napoleon thought it was important to send him for treatment for his lungs in the hospital. To the animals' surprise, Boxer was sent away by 'Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Winllindon'. In return, Comrade Napoleon got money to buy a bottle of whisky while Boxer is no longer seen.
Years passed and there was greater porpulation growth. The farm was more properous and organised. All the animals were happy that they were no longer under Man's control but in actual fact, they were still poor and hungry and cold, except for Comrade Napoleon who does no work and live in comfort.
Review: The Princess Diaries - Seventh Heaven
Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries - Seventh Heaven is written by Meg Cabot. I find the story as exciting as the other series and the writing style is still the same. I felt that it gives readers a temptation that cannot be resist which makes us read the book at one shot. Overall, I will recommend the book to my friends!
Mia, the president of the student government had blew the entire annual budget with just some recycling bins with built-in crushers. It had been the seventh month she runs the government and they were the first government in the history of Albert Einstein High to be bankrupt.
The financial crisis has left them nothing to rent Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Centre for the Senior class's commencement ceremony . Feared that it will create chaos in school, Mia knew she had to do something to solve the problem.
Grandmere on the other hand faced her problem too. She was currently buying waterfront property --- the island of Genovia. However, she was not the only bidder. Se was competing with John Paul Renolds - Abernathy the Third whose son is J.P, aka the Guy Who Hates It When They Put Corn In The Chilli.
While Mia frets on her problem, Grandmere thought it was an excellent chance for her to keep John Paul Renolds - Abernathy the Third away from her waterfront property. Grandmere decided to open an audition for a Musical Braid! for students in Albert Einstein School to take part in to raise money for the Genovian olive farmers, while secretly taking out a small amount for Mia's student government. That's not all. Her main motive was to make J.P a part of the musical and cause his father to drop the bid.
Everyone in school was busy with their schoolwork but it turned out that many students were aspiring thespians who turned up at the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza for audition. Soon, the musical cast list is out and as expected, the male lead was J.P, but surprisingly Mia was the female lead! She had never wanted to take part and did not even audition! She called Grandmere immediately to change the female lead, to which the latter replied, " I wondered what Amber would say if I happen to mention to her how you squandered the money for her commencement ceremony on recycling bins."
Mia was stunned to be threatened by her grandmother who said that just to make her join the musical. Mia was indeed taken aback because Amber Cheeseman is the only one who would come after her for the Senior class's commencement ceremony and thus, she must abide to her grandmother.
On Saturday March 6, Micheal, Mia's boyfriend organised a party for his friends and Mia was exceptionally not looking forward to it because Micheal's inviting his college friends whom she thought would definitely look down on her as she was merely a high school student.
Mia pratically embarrassed herself by sexy dancing with J.P, who was invited by Lily, Micheal's sister to his party. She wanted to proof to Micheal that she can be a party girl just like any other girl in his college. She wore black tights, a black velvet skirt, black Docs, black leotard and a black beret which caught everyone's attention and apparently, had shown Mia as a party girl. Mia then took out a beer from the refrigerator and started gulping it down just like any other drinks. Surprised, Micheal and Lily thought she was drunk but they could not stop anything because the next second Mia has started jumping and dancing with J.P.
The party ended for the princess when she noticed the door open, where Micheal's parents stood rooted to the ground, watching her dance with another guy in their apartment. Mia stopped dancing as she stared at the Dr Moscovitzes (parents of Micheal and Lily) said "Sorry, don't mind us," and hurried down the hall to their room. Micheal followed his parents and left poor Mia alone who decided to leave the house since she thought her boyfriend must be angry with her.
Wednesday March 10, the day of the big performance. The musical is about to begin and the cast is preparing behind the curtains, nervously waiting for the time to come. Mia was worried, because Grandmere had set an impossible task for her --- to kiss J.P to signal the end of the show. She felt like she was betraying Micheal but it would be bad to tell J.P about it...
The finale is here and it was time J.P and her appear on stage. Mia grabbed J.P's --- no wait, it was not J.P, it was Micheal's hands! It turned out that Micheal changed into J.P's suit and became the one who kissed Mia. The musical ended successfully and Grandmere, as she wanted, had J.P's father drop the bid. As for Mia, she got the money needed for the Senior's class's commencement ceremony and of course, Michael to be back with her again.
Yesterday was the first E-learning day I had and I find it a very refreshing because instead of going to school, we get to stay at home to do our assignments.
I enjoy the part where we get to do our homework relaxfully at home, be it sitting on the floor, lying on the bed etc. It is a completely different kind of experience where in an emergency and schooling has to be cancelled, we will still be able to learn at home. Furthermore, though this activity, we get to learn how to learn independently without a teacher beside us. I serves a revision and pratice purpose.
The assignments given to us were interesting, although they were more than the homework we receive everyday. However, I think that the survey had took a lot of our time and it is not a good idea to make students do surveys for each teacher who taught us. Perhaps for the future E-learning days, the number of questions can be reduced.
Overall, I find the day successful and more of such activities should be organised and maybe once a term. I look forward to the next E-learning day.
Yvonne (me): http://www.three-entries.blogspot.com/
Lin Yuan: http://www.personal-entry.blogspot.com/
Xin Mei: http://www.english-entries.blogspot.com/
Wanfei: http://www.wf-friendshipandlove.blogspot.com/
Review: Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
TEEN IDOL is a story written by Meg Cabot, the author of The Princess Diaries. After reading this book, I found out that it is equally interesting as the series of The Princess Diaries.
The main character is a girl called Jenny Greenley who is studying at Clayton High School in Indiana. As the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist, her schoolmates share their most complex interpersonal relationship questions without knowing it was Jenny answering their questions. As a result, Jennny became everyone's best friend and she never hesitate to help he friends solve their problems.
At the beginning of the story, Jenny's teacher Mrs Mulvaney's Cabbage Patch Doll, Betty Ann, was 'kipnapped' by Kurt Scraeder for a senior prank. Betty Ann is very important to Mrs Mulvaney and everyday, when she did not see Betty Ann on her table, she would feel depressed. Jenny tried to 'rescue' her dollbut did not know where to get her back. She asked Kurt to return it to her teacher, but he refused. However, many things changed after the arrival of a new student, Lucas Smith, in disguise of Luke Striker.
Luke Striker is the hotter-than-hot Hollywood Star who filmed Heaven Helped Us. Luke striker came to Indiana because he wanted to find out more about high school life for he's been cast as a midwestern high school senior in his next film. Jenny, who is capable of keeping her upper lips closed, she was asked to keep chargeof keeping his identity under wraps.
When Jenny first saw Luke, she was worried that everyone in the school would know that it was him even under glasses and changing his name to Lucas Smith, especially when her best friend Catrina (Trina) was the biggest fans of Luke Striker. However, little did Jenny realise that no one could see through his glasses and found out Lucas's true identity.
Well, his identity was not exposed until Lucas took off his shirt during a car wash to raise money for the school's choir out side Chi Chi's Mexican restaurant. Trina, the biggest fans of Luke Striker saw the tatoo beneath his right shoulder which wrote 'Angelique', the name of Luke Striker's ex-girlfriend. That was when everybody at the carpark and in the restaurant noticed the tatoo and knew that Luke Striker had comed to town. The crowd got bigger and the people started asking for the big star's autograph. Soon, reporters and paparazzi arrived, even the police. Luke's limo drove into the carpark, with the help of the police. Before Luke left, he shouted for Jenny and the whole town witnessed Jenny in live and on TV leave the place with Luke The limo stopped in front of Luke's condominium and both Jenny and him got up to his apartment. Initially, Jenny was worried that Luke had fallen for herbut later she realised that Luke wanted to tell her how much she could affect the others, where she is not only 'mayonaise', which keeps things from falling apart, but a special sauce that can effect social change.
After hearing what Luke told her in the condominium, Jenny tried to change her schoolmate's mind Cara Scholosburg was a girl in school who was disliked by everybody and tried many ways to get close to the popular girls in school. She tried to imitate how the famous girls wear but what she did was a waste of effort. Thus, Jenny took a step to help her. She started by changing her appearance to something which suited her, then lent her books that can help her communicate with other. What she did change everyone's feelings for Cara, especially when many people called her Cara Cow, and mooed infront of her. However, gradually, no one mooed anymore as they knew that Cara is no longer Cara Cow, but Cara Scholosburg.
Jenny then dared to rescue Betty Ann which was keplt in Kurt's room with the help of Scott Bernett, who became her bowfriend at the end of the story. She was not worried how Kurt moud hurt her after knowing that she had took Betty Ann away as she was sure that she could really change the world.
This June holidays, other than staying at home, I went out with my friends and to school. Although I did not go overseas for a holiday, I enjoyed myself very much in Singapore.
Having not seen my primary school best friends for half a year, we went out together for two times, one to the Singapore Zoo and the other to Bugis Junction. We have very much fun then as it has been a long time we've met and by organising such small outing trips, we get to find out each other's secondary school and chat about the difference ebetween our schools. This year's June holidays was unlike those in the past years, where we actually get to see each other in school.
Despite the fun times I had with my best friends, I stayed at home to complete the holiday assignments. Initially, I was in a holiday mood, where I did not feel like doing the homework. However, soon before it was too late to complete all the assignments, I created a timetable for myself so as to plan out my schedule properly. I am delighted to see myself able to follow the timetable and in fact, tried to say NO to games in the middle of doing the homework. =]
It was a special and fun holiday I had together with my friends and of course, the assignments I have.
I got a B3 for english this mid-year exmaination and I hope I would improve to get A2 next term. Perhaps, I can set a target of increase in 5 marks, then gradually move towards my aim. For composition in the mid-year exams, I had 19/30 and for the next composition assignment, I aim to achieve 23/30. By wanting to get this mark, I would try to read up more newspapers and storybooks so as to improve my vocabulary. During the June holidays, I would try to read the newspapers everyday.