Spelling 1

1. decked out in a trench coat and sunglasses
2. heavily-tattooed man with bulging muscles
3. had a long, lean face, a shock of unruly hair and bushy eyebrows
4. stormed into the shop
5. eyes were darting around suspiciously
6. stealing furtive glances
7. aroused my suspicion
8. brandishing a knife wildly
9. pointed a gun menacingly
10. snarled and growled
11. fired a few warning shots at the ceiling
12. felt the cool blade of the knife pressed against my neck
13. blood drained from my face
14. froze, not daring to move an inch
15. ransacked the shop for valuables

Using at least 5 words / phrases from the list above, prepare a short paragraph of at least 80 words on a scene of a robbery.

Racial Harmony Day

The theme for this year's Racial Harmony Day is "Who's your neighbour". Yes, that's right, this year is all about friendship and understanding the cultures and traditions of your neighbours, be it a neighbour at home, at work or in school. Hence, on Tues, 21 July, we would encourage everyone to come dressed in your favourite neighbour's ethnic costume so it could be just about any traditional outfit! Dress up and wow us! :) :)

In addition, we are having a photo-caption contest. Take a picture with a neighbour/friend and tell us something interesting (be it cultural practices or quirky traditions) about your friend's race (in less than 50 words) and send it to ho_wei_wei_joanne@moe.edu.sg by Mon, 27 July 2009. The students can take part too so do bring your camera on 21 july to take photos with/for them! We will getting some student photographers to take photos for some students during recess on 21 july too. Look out for them!

There will be 1 student winner per level and 2 prizes for teachers! Each will win a pair of movie tickets! Do take part and have fun! We will squeeze more $$ from our funds and give out more prizes if there are lots of participants! :P

[Important!] Do help us remind the students to dress up on 21 july. They can be dressed in any ethnic costume (NO Superman/ Princesses costumes etc unless the students made friends with races from Hollywood/Fairyland) but they must still wear school shoes and socks.

Message from the NESS Dept

PS Worksheet 33

1. Chloroplasts 2. Photosynthesis
3. A cheek cell has no cell wall and no
chloroplasts.
4. The part of onion cells we observe is the
underground stem and it does not make
food. OR The fleshy leaves of the onion do
not carry out photosynthesis.

PS Worksheet 32

2. The cell membrane, the cytoplasm and the
nucleus.
3. The nucleus.
4. Chlorophyll
5. lettuce; celery; spinach
6. The cell wall.
7. There is a cavity in the centre. It is filled with
sap.

PS Worksheet 31

1. It is a unit of life.
2a. A: cell membrane
B: nucleus
C: cytoplasm
2b. An animal cell
2c. (i) There is no cell wall.
(ii) There are no chloroplasts.
3a. cell membrane
3b. nucleus
3c. cytoplasm
4. They contain chlorophyll which enables the
plant to make food in the presence of
sunlight.

PS Worksheet 30

Similarities
1. Both systems perform the function of
transporting materials.
2. Both systems have tubes to transport
materials.
3. & 4. Differences (Accept any 2 sets of answers)
Human Beings: transport oxygen, digested food,
carbon dioxide, water and other materials.
Plants: transport food, water and minerals.
Human Beings: made up of the heart, blood and
blood vessels
Plants: made up of food-carrying and watercarrying
tubes.
Human Beings: transport food that has been
digested.
Plants: transport food produced by the leaves.
Human Beings: the heart pumps the blood
through the blood vessels.
Plants: no organ is used to pump the materials
through the tubes.

PS Worksheet 29

1. Pulse rate measures the number of heart
beats in one minute.
2. Reading is not a strenuous activity, therefore
the heart beat did not increase.
3. His heart had to work harder to pump more
blood in order to supply more oxygen to his
muscles.
4. 105 beats per minute.
5. The pulse rate returned to his usual/normal
resting pulse rate.

PS Worksheet 28

1. It is to test if carbon dioxide is present in the
jar.
2. It will become chalky OR cloudy.
3. It will remain clear.
4. Mouse A: It will take in oxygen and give out
carbon dioxide which makes the limewater
chalky.
Mouse B: It is a toy and cannot breathe, so
the limewater will remain clear.
5. The air blown out by Latiff contained carbon
dioxide which turned the limewater chalky.

PS Worksheet 27

1. B; breathe 2. A; air
3. The opening of Container A is too small.
There is not enough dissolved air in the
water, so the fish have to come up to the
surface to breathe more often.
4. The opening of Container B is big. There is
enough dissolved air in the water so the fish
only need to come up to the surface to
breathe once in a while.
5. I can use an air stone and connect it to an
air pump. OR I can put in some aquatic
plants.

'though', 'although' and 'even though'

Though, although and even though are used to show a contrast between two clauses:
Our new neighbours are quite nice (this is good) though their two dogs bark all day long. (this isn’t good)

We can use though or although with no difference in meaning. But, some differences are:

Though is more common than although in conversation or writing.
Though (but not although) can come at the end of a sentence:
My new bike is really fast. I don’t like the colour, though.
Though (but not although) can be used as an adverb:
I’m not good at maths but I can help you with your geography, though, if you want.

The meaning of though is similar to however, but though is much more common than however in conversation.

Even though can be used to make the contrast between two clauses stronger:
Dad got back from work really late, even though he had promised to take mum to the cinema.

==============================================

They are similar in meaning, yes. They all serve to record something that is surprising or unexpected. But the difference in usage is that although, though and even though are all conjunctions, whilst in spite of and despite are both prepositions.

So usage requires:
in spite of + noun
although + clause
despite + noun
though + clause
even though + clause

Although and though can be used in the same way. Though is perhaps more common in informal speech and writing, whereas although can be used in a wide variety of styles.

Compare:
'Our new neighbours are quite nice, though their dog is a bit of a nuisance.'
'She insisted on keeping her coat on, although it was extremely warm in the house as the central heating was on.'
'Although she was commended for completing the Millennium Dome project on time and within budget, management felt that it was now time for a new person with different talents to take over.'

Though is often used with even in order to give emphasis:
'I managed to get good results in my exams, even though I went out four times a week when I was supposed to be revising.'

Whilst despite might be thought more formal than in spite of - it is, after all, one word rather than three - there is really very little difference in usage between the two:
'Despite the appalling weather, they succeeded in walking to the top of Ben Nevis.'
'They decided to get married in spite of the huge differences in their ages.'

So, to summarise: despite and although: similar meanings, but different syntax required. Compare:
'Although it was raining heavily, we finished the game of football.'
'We finished the game of football in spite of the heavy rain.'
'Despite his strong Welsh accent, we understood most of what he was saying.'
'Even though he had a strong Welsh accent, we understood most of what he was saying.'
One further word. Although, despite and in spite of are normally used as prepositions, they can also be used in adverbial constructions with -ing, thus:
'I managed to pass my exams, despite going out four times a week during the revision period.'
'In spite of feeling terribly sick, I went to work every day that week.'
'Despite being severely handicapped, he managed to complete the race.'