tanjung rhu

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SET 1
1. Read the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu. Then answer the questions. ‘Edward’, she said, crossing her legs, ‘come and join us?’
He refused, and was just turning away, when she noticed the binoculars he was holding, And asked what they were.
‘Oh, these,’ he said. ‘I bought theme today. For the children’. He could not think of anything better to say. (p.20) a) Who does the pronoun ‘us’ refer to? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Why do you think Edward or Mr Li refuses to join them? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) In your opinion, why didn’t Edward tell the truth about the binoculars he bought for his mother? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) What does this incident reveal about the relationship of these two characters? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Writing Task HOTS
a) If you could change one part of the story, which would you change? Give reasons for your decision. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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b) Describe a character in the short story Tanjong Rhu who displays an admirable quality.
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SET 2
1. Read the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu. Then answer the questions.

a) Where is Mr Li? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

b) Why is he looking for joss sticks? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

HOTS c) What does the locked drawer symbolise? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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HOTS d) If you were Mr Li, what would you do in this situation? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2. WRITING TASK HOTS
a) What is the most important lesson you can learn from the short story Tanjong Rhu?
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b) Based on the lesson you have learnt, what changes would you make in your life?
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ANSWER KEY FOR SET 1
Question1
a) Mr Li/ Edward’s wife and her friends.
b) He dislikes these kind of women’s social gatherings.
c) He could be embarrassed to admit how much he cared for his old mother./ He did not think his wife would understand why he bought the binoculars for his mother.
d) Mr Li and his wife’s relationship is not very good.

Question 2
a. (Suggested answer)
The part of the story I would change is the scene at the hospital. Mr Li would ask his mother the question about his childhood and she would be able to answer him. After that, she would tell him where she hid the key to the drawer. I think that this would give the story a more hopeful ending. Mr Li would not have to live with so many regrets. He would be able to revisit his memories of his happy and carefree childhood. If he could be honest about his background and who really is, he would be a happier man. If he had the key to the drawer, he would be able to continue the traditional practice of ancestral worship. This, too, would free him of guilt because he would be able to do what he knows his mother would want him to do. Changing this part of the story would lead to a happier ending.
b. Ah-Ma is a person who is honest about her humble background and enjoys the simple life. She is a mother of nine children, grandmother of thirty-four and great-grandmother of seventeen. Her children, like Mr Li, her eldest son, are grown-up, independent and successful. She has every reason to be proud and to enjoy the success of her children. Yet, she prefers to rear a few chickens in her son’s garden, and ten to the family altar. She shuns material gifts. Her happiness is based on her memories of the carefree days in a hut on the beach when her husband was still alive. Her character is admirable.

ANSWER KEY FOR SET 2
Question1
a) In the family altar room.
b) He wants to burn some joss sticks for his ancestors like his mother used to do.
c) The locked drawer symbolizes the traditional values that Ah-Ma upheld and which her son does not understand.
d)(suggested answer) I would call a locksmith to open the drawer for me.

Question 2
a. The most important lesson I can learn from the short story Tanjong Rhu is respect for elders. The main character, Mr T.W.Li, is a successful businessman who has little time and patience for the old ways of his culture. Yet, he is a filial son who respects his mother and tries his best to please her. He buys a pair of binoculars for his mother so that she would be able to see more clearly. He respects her wish to have a family altar. He teaches his daughter Ying to treat her grandmother with greater respect. I think this value is important in our culture.
b. I would be more conscious of how I treat the elders in my family. I would remind myself to be more patient when I do not see eye to eye with an elder and I would speak respectfully to them at all times.

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SET 3
Refer to the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu of your anthology Leaving No Footprint and answer the questions that follow.

Questions 1-2
1. What was it that had been pulled down thirty years ago?

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2. Do you think Mr. Li’s mother understood the use of binoculars? Why do you say so?

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Questions 3-4

3. Who said these words and to whom were they spoken?

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4. Explain the situation that brought this up.

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5. Based on the short story, Tanjong Rhu, write one of the social issues portrayed in the story.

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ANSWER KEY FOR SET 3

1. It was his father’s shipyard.
2. No, I don’t think so. She was told the binoculars could be used to see very faraway places and in her mind it meant that things that can be seen in the distance even if they do not exist anymore.
3. They were spoken by Ying and she was speaking to Mr. Li.
4. Mr. Li was waiting for Ah Ma to take her to the office and Ying was trying to make Ah Ma cut short her praying session by taking over from her. But Ah Ma would not hear of it. She refused to be hurried.
5. –one of the social issues is generation gap : the young and the old approach certain issues in life differently
Between Mr Li and his mother, between mother and granddaughter
Mr Li adopts modern ideas and ways.
His mother is conservative and holds on to her beliefs and custom strongly

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A. Differentiate the character traits of the characters in the short story, Tanjong Rhu. Complete the table below:

Mr T.W.Li
Ah Ma (Mr Li’s Mother)
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Suggested answers:

Mr T.W.Li
Ah Ma (Mr Li’s Mother)
Successful businessman
Traditional thinking
Happy family life
Strong religious beliefs
Close relationship with the mother
Meticulous
Modern in his ways and ideas
Strong determination
Tolerant
Good memory
Meticulous
Old fashioned
Patient
Proud of her son success
Filial
Refuse to accept changes
Strict
Proud and refuse to admit ill-health
Respectful
Loving

B. Based on the character traits below give evidence from the text.

Mr T.W. Li

Evidence
1
Tolerant

2
Filial son

3
Patient

4
Meticulous

5
Strict

6
Respectful

Ah Ma (Mr Li’s Mother)

Evidence
1
Traditional

2
Good Memory

3

Old fashioned

4

Strong determination

5

Refuse to accept changes

6

Proud

Suggested answers

Mr T.W. Li

Evidence
1
Tolerant

Does not interfere with his mother’s way
2
Filial son
Made sure funeral of mother is done in the right way

3
Patient
Waits for mother to finish prayers although he had to leave for the office.
4
Meticulous

Keep track of number of ships every day by counting
5
Strict

Does not entertain disrespects from the young
6
Respectful

Talk softly to the mother although disagree with her ways.

Ah Ma (Mr Li’s Mother)

1
Traditional

Values Chinese tradition of ancestor worship
2
Good Memory

Can recall the childhood of Mr Li well.
3

Old fashioned
Does not believe in having eye operation
4

Strong determination
Refuses to allow Ying to do the praying
5

Refuse to accept changes
Clings to the past
6

Proud
Refuse to admit ill health