There are 25 exercises based on common themes tested in schools. Each exercise includes prompts as well as ideas for a p
PREFACE This book is compiled to help pupils with the Picture Discussion component of the Oral English Examination.
There are 25 exercises based on common themes tested in schools. Each exercise includes prompts as well as ideas for a pupil’s response. In addition, a short paragraph is included to train the pupils to present their ideas in continuous speech. A glossary is included in every exercise. This will help a pupil build his vocabulary, enhancing both his speaking and writing skills.
This book is a useful resource suitable for both home study and classroom learning.
Kwan Hui Choo
CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
At The Beach .............................................. 1
A Walk In The Park ..................................... 3
15
Visiting A Sick Friend ................................ 29
16 Visiting The Aged ...................................... 31 17
At The Aquarium ......................................... 7
A Camping Trip ......................................... 33
How to use this book
18
The Night Market ............................... 9
The Book Fair ............................. 13 In The Classroom ....................... 15
9
At The Hospital ......................................... 27
At The Zoo .................................................. 5
At The Wet Market ...................... 11
8
14
1 Turn to the exercise you wish to work on.
spine
3 The page with the picture should face the child while the prompts face the teacher/parent.
At The Void Deck ...................................... 19
11
At A Department Store .............................. 21
12
At The Supermarket ................................. 23
13
19 Sports Day ................................. 37 20 On Board The Bus ..................... 39
2 Fold the book at the spine.
21 Getting A Haircut ......................... 41 22 A Busy Street ................................... 43
At The Canteen ................................. 17
10
A Flag Raising Ceremony ................ 35
23 At The MRT Station................................... 45 24 At The Bus Stop ........................................ 47 25 At The Airport ............................................ 49
At The Food Centre .................................. 25
1 At The Beach
1
1 AT THE BEACH
Ideas and Response • It is a fine day at the beach. • There are many people at the beach. • There are some swimmers near the shore. • Two sailboats can be seen in the distance. • There are two families on the beach. • One family has laid out a straw mat. • A picnic basket, a jar of jam and a plate of rolls are on the mat. • A man sits on the mat eating a roll. • A woman stands at the edge of the mat. • They are distracted by cries from their son. • His sisters have just trampled on his sandcastle. • They have cheeky looks on their faces. • Their mother will probably reprimand them for being so mean.
Describe what is happening in the picture.
• The children’s grandfather is also distracted by the boy’s cries.
Prompts 1. What do you see in the water? 2. Why is the little boy sitting on the sand crying? 3. What is the lady at the bench doing? 4. What is the boy with the guitar doing?
• A lady wearing a floral dress stands at a bench. • While unpacking, she waves to her two young children. • The two children are heading for the beach with their father. • They pass a lad standing under a tree. • The boy is strumming a guitar and singing a song.
Glossary roll distracted trampled cheeky reprimand floral heading for lad strumming
a small oval piece of bread unable to concentrate stepped all over mischievous scold with pictures of flowers going towards young boy playing
Continuous Response At The Beach It is a fine day at the beach. Many people have come to spend the day in the sun. There are some swimmers near the shore. A boy with a ring float is swimming out to sea. There are two sailboats in the distance. It must be a windy day. There are two families at the beach. One family has laid out a straw mat. On the mat are a picnic basket, a jar of jam and a plate of rolls. A man sits on the mat eating a roll while a woman stands at the edge of the mat. They are distracted by cries from their son. His sisters have just trampled on his sandcastle. He bawls loudly as his sisters run away with cheeky looks on their faces. Their mother will reprimand them for being so mean. The children’s grandfather is also distracted by the boy’s cries. A lady in a floral dress stands at a bench unpacking her bags. While unpacking, she waves to her two young children. They are heading for the water with their father. They walk past a lad standing under a tree. The boy is strumming a guitar and singing a song.
2
2 A Walk In The Park
3
2 A WALK IN THE PARK
Ideas and Response • People are out taking an evening stroll at the park. • The park is on a hill. • The view is spectacular. • Skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings can be seen in the distance. • Tall coconut trees grow among the lush greenery. • The people are also here for the view and fresh air. • A young boy on the far right is standing on a bench. • He is admiring the view. • A young girl is leading a man in dark glasses to a bench. • The man who is visually impaired carries a cane. • A couple wearing hats stroll by, holding hands. • The woman carries a camera while the man has a kite in his hand.
Describe what you see in the picture. Prompts 1. Describe the scenery. 2. Describe what the children are doing in the picture. 3. The couple sporting hats and holding hands appear different from the rest. Why is this so? 4. What is the man posing for a photograph doing?
• They look like tourists. • A couple is posing for a photograph. • Unknown to the woman, the man playfully sticks two fingers above her head. • She will be surprised when she sees the picture. • A couple with a baby is taking a walk. • The man cradles the baby while his wife pushes the pram. • A mother and her two children are resting on a bench. • The children are relishing an ice cream cone each.
Glossary spectacular
magnificent; stunning
skyscrapers
tall buildings
lush greenery
beautiful healthy plants
visually impaired
blind
posing
getting into position (for a photograph)
cradles
carries
relishing
eating and enjoying
Continuous Response A Walk In The Park There are a number of people taking an evening stroll at the park. The park is on a hill. The view is spectacular. Skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings can be seen in the distance among the lush greenery. The visitors are here for both the view and the fresh air. A young boy on the far right is standing on a bench admiring the view. A young girl is leading a man with dark glasses to a bench. The man is visually impaired and he carries a cane. A couple wearing hats strolls by, hand in hand. The woman carries a camera while the man carries a kite. They look like tourists. There is a couple posing for a photograph. Unknown to the woman, the man playfully sticks two fingers above her head. She will be surprised when she sees the picture. A couple is taking a walk with their baby. While the man cradles the baby, his wife pushes the pram. A mother and her two children are resting on a bench. The children are licking ice cream cones and relishing the refreshing treat. 4
