2014-DSE

ENG LANG

A
BILLY NG & HIS ELITE ENGLISH TEAM
PAPER 1 HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION 2014
PART A COMPULSORY

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1

PART A
Reading Passages
8.30 am – 10.00 am (1½ hours)
(for both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

(1) There are two parts (A and B) in this paper. All candidates should attempt Part A. In Part B, you
should attempt either Part B1 (easier section) OR Part B2 (more difficult section). Candidates
attempting Parts A and B2 will be able to attain the full range of levels, while Level 4 will be the
highest level attainable for candidates attempting Parts A and B1.

(2) After the announcement of the start of the examination, you should first write your Candidate
Number and stick barcode labels in the spaces provided on the appropriate pages of the Part A
Question-Answer Book and the Part B Question-Answer Book which you are going to attempt.

(3) Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Question-Answer Books. Answers written in
the margins will not be marked.

(4) For multiple-choice questions, you are advised to blacken the appropriate circle with a pencil so
that wrong marks can be completely erased with a clean rubber. Mark only ONE answer to
each question. Two or more answers will score NO MARKS.

(5) Supplementary answer sheets will be supplied on request. Write your Candidate Number,
mark the question number box and stick a barcode label on each sheet and fasten them with
string INSIDE the Question-Answer Book.

(6) No extra time will be given to candidates for sticking on barcode labels or filling in the question
number boxes after the ‘Time is up’ announcement.

(7) The two Question-Answer Books you have attempted (one for Part A and one for Part B) will be
collected together at the end of the examination. Fasten the two Question-Answer Books
together with the green tag provided.

(8) The unused Question-Answer Book for Part B will be collected separately at the end of the
examination. This will not be marked. Do not write any answers in it.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART A

(1) The Question-Answer Book for Part A is inserted in this Reading Passages booklet.

(2) Attempt ALL questions in Part A. Each question carries ONE mark unless otherwise stated.

© 絕密考評機關 保留版權 Not to be taken away before the

Billy Ng & His Elite English Team end of the examination session
All Rights Reserved 2014

2014-DSE-ENG LANG 1-A-RP – 1 1

 PART A
Read Text 1 and answer questions 1-14 on pages 1-3 of the Question-Answer Book for Part A.
Text 1

Paul Letters argues that, sometimes, the use of force is justified

[1] Have you heard today’s worldwide call for [6] If either the threat or reality of military strikes
peace? No? Neither have the Syrians. September 21 45 helps to steer Assad – and tyrants worldwide – away
is International Peace Day and, this year, British from using or creating the most heinous of weapons,
non-governmental organization Peace One Day it would not only be an exercise in damage limitation
5 estimates at least 600 million people will ‘be aware’ but an advancement for world peace.
of it. A variety of Hong Kong schools are
commemorating the day, as are internationally [7] US President Barack Obama is correct to lead
minded schools in mainland China and beyond. 50 a global stand against the use of chemical weapons.
Of course, holding that line may conflict with peace.
[2] Western leaders have rarely been less certain Force, or at least the threat of it, must be used to deter
10 about whether aggression is best combatted with states – including North Korea, believed to hold an
peace or violence. On military intervention in Syria, arsenal of chemical weapons larger than Syria’s –
the fire in French President Francois Hollande’s 55 from future transgressions.
battle rhetoric has been dampened by polls
suggesting almost two-thirds of French people [8] What we do with peace – even if it is only for
15 oppose intervention. British government hawks have one day – is crucial. Since 2007, International Peace
been forced to ground by a flock of doves in Day ceasefire agreements by parties to the conflict in
parliament. The US president and congressional Afghanistan have allowed for the immunization
leaders of both the Republicans and Democrats 60 against polio of 4.5 million children in areas
seemed close to an agreement in favour of unreachable on the other 364 days of the year.
20 intervention, which, it transpires, swims against the
tide of public opinion and, quite probably, Congress [9] Syrians face the worst refugee crisis since
as a whole. Rwandans in 1994, with over six million displaced
civilians across Syria and in neighbouring countries.
[3] But is a peaceful course of action always the 65 Calls for a truce to allow aid groups to reach people
best response to conflict? George W. Bush's ‘war on in need have been frustrated both by government
25 terror’ has caused more problems than it solved. forces and the rebels.
However, an entirely peaceful response to terrorism
would allow al-Qaeda's capabilities to burgeon. His [10] It is feasible that the Russian-brokered
predecessor, Bill Clinton, ordered his own disastrous 70 agreement concerning chemical weapons could be a
intervention in Somalia. step towards a broader peace in Syria. But, hell-bent
on destroying their opponents, the largest
30 [4] Yet, for every Iraq and Somalia, there’s a anti-government force, the Free Syrian Army,
Kosovo and a Sierra Leone (in both, lives were unashamedly rejects it.
undeniably saved by outside intervention), and a
Rwanda and a Darfur, where international 75 [11] If the goal is to encourage all of Syria’s
prevarication – that is, non-intervention – allowed factions towards a negotiated peace, an additional
35 genocidal killing to continue for far too long. A ‘one international military threat may soon be required –
size fits all’ peaceful reaction to aggression by the this time, against rebel groups: an armed hotchpotch
international community is irresponsible. of conflicting interests and dubious intentions if ever
80 there was one.
[5] A mere finger-wagging to Syria’s use of
chemical weapons would have been shameful. If the
40 international community did not threaten force in
response to chemical attacks, the result would be a
green light for crimes against humanity without fear
of deterrent.

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Read Text 2 and answer questions 15-21 on pages 4-5 of the Question-Answer Book for Part A.
Text 2

Suffering of war children must not be forgotten

Amy Lau witnesses at first hand the trauma and heartache inflicted on the young and innocent

[1] Over the past two years, nearly 7,000 children [6] I visited another orphan, 13-year-old Sivarubi,
have been killed in the conflict in Syria, with another who had another heartbreaking story to tell. Her
one million forced to flee to neighbouring countries. father left before she was born and she was raised by
Many children also died during the recent use of 35 her mother. Sadly, she was killed in the shelling.
5 chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb, which Sivarubi now lives in a cramped shelter and is looked
killed more than 1,000 civilians. after by her 24-year-old aunt, who also has two
younger sisters to take care of. Sivarubi is thin and
[2] War and conflict wreak havoc on everyone – weak. Her aunt wept as she recalled the loss of five
but children suffer most. Their physical and mental 40 family members, including her parents, in the
health is affected; their security and education are conflict.
10 disrupted. In some countries, such as Sudan and
Myanmar, children are kidnapped and forced to serve [7] ‘I dare not think about myself. All I wish is to
as soldiers. support Sivarubi and my youngest sister so that they
can continue their studies,’ she said.
[3] During a recent visit to Mullaitivu, in northern
Sri Lanka, I witnessed for the first time how war 45 [8] This situation is all too familiar in other parts
15 tortures and scars innocent children. There, although of the world, where millions of children of war are
the 26-year civil conflict between the Tamil Tigers suffering, robbed of their childhood and innocence.
and the government forces ended in 2009, many Every child deserves the right to grow up in a safe
people still suffer from its devastating effects. and healthy environment. At World Vision, we seek
50 to help the children of war by providing trauma
[4] My heart sank when I met 11-year-old counselling, rehabilitation services, clean water,
20 Rajithini, whose parents were killed in shelling nutritious food, health care and protection.
towards to end of the conflict. ‘I can’t forget those
days when my mother took me to school and [9] In the run-up to the International Day of
encouraged me to study hard. I really miss her,’ she Peace, on Saturday, while much focus will be on the
said. She now lives with her grandmother – who still 55 politics of conflicts around the world, it’s important
25 suffers from frequent headaches from injuries to also remember the impact of war on children, and
sustained in the conflict – and her 15-year old sister. give them some hope for a better future.

[5] Despite being in poor health, her grandmother

works as a casual labourer to earn a meagre income
to support the family. Rajithini lives in a small, bare
30 house. Every night, she and her sister sleep on the
floor, next to a broken door.

END OF READING PASSAGE

Sources of materials used in this paper will be acknowledged in the Examination Report and Question Papers published by
Billy Ng & His Elite English Team at a later stage.

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