My best friend

I have a number of close friends both at school and outside of it. Although I am close to all of them I like and respect a particular one above the others. He is Peter my best friend. Peter and I go to the same school and live quite near each other. It is therefore no surprise that we may often be found in each others company. Peter's house is like a second home to me and vice versa. Peter's parents are also close family friends of ours. As both Peter's parents work, Peter is often entrusted to my mother to watch over when they are away at work. My mother doesn't mind as she considers Peter one of her own.       Peter is my best friend for a number of reasons. I can always come to him for advice on any difficulties I may be experiencing and I value his advice as it is sensible and very practical. Everyone who knows Peter says that he is very mature for his age. It astounds me how much Peter knows on a variety of subjects. He is well read and never ceases to try and instill the reading habit in me. Needless to say it is Peter who helps me with my school homework when I encounter problems. I remember the time that I foolishly joined a few friends from school and experimented with cigarettes, Peter as a school prefect found us out and was duty bound to report the matter to the disciplinary teacher. All of my friends who were involved in the incident thought that Peter was simply being a tattle-tale but. I knew that Peter took his responsibilities seriously and only had my well being in mind. I often wind up in difficulties through my own doing and Peter is always around to bail me out without expecting any gratitude or explanation, his friendship is unconditional.       Our teachers and friends at school have taken to calling us the 'Two Musketeers' as we do everything together. It seems that some of my interests have rubbed off on Peter as we are both in the school debate team. I quite enjoy public speaking but Peter dreads addressing crowds as by nature he is a very reserved person. I suspect he finally gave in to my constant cajoling and agreed to join the team. What Peter really enjoys is sports. He excels at football and track and field events. He has won numerous trophies for the school at inter-school sports meets.       Peter is admirable as a friend and a person and is well spoken of by everyone who knows him. I am glad that I have his friendship and feel that I have grown wiser as a result of it. Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)

Kesan gejala vandalisme dan langkah mengatasinya

          Saudara Pengerusi Majlis, Tuan-tuan, Puan-puan, dan pelajar sekalian yang saya hormati. Selamat sejahtera saya ucapkan kepada anda sekalian kerana sudi menjemput saya untuk menyampaikan ceramah kepada pelajar-pelajar di sekolah SMK Gemilang tentang kesan gejala vandalisme dan langkah-langkah mengatasinya.

Saudara dan saudirin sekalian,

          Menurut Kamus Dewan, vandalisme didefinisikan sebagai perbuatan salah laku atau melakumusnahkan. Dalam konteks vandalisme di Malaysia pula, vandalisme sebenarnya dapat diertikan sebagai fenomena merosakkan harta benda awam. Gejala ini memberi kesan yang buruk kepada masyarakat dan negara. Oleh itu, langkah-langkah yang berkesan perlu diambil untuk mengatasi masalah ini daripada terus berleluasa.

Sekiranya perbuatan vandalisme tidak dikawal dengan baik, ia akan menimbulkan pelbagai kesulitan dan kesusahan kepada anggota masyarakat. Sebagai contoh, kerosakkan harta benda awam seperti telefon awam akan menyebabkan ia tidak dapat berfungsi pada masa kecemasan dan perkara ini mungkin akan menyebabkan kehilangan nyawa atau mengalami kerugian kepada orang lain. Walaupun vandalisme bukan sesuatu jenayah yang sangat serius tetapi perbuatan ini akan menjejaskan kestabilan ekonomi sesebuah negara. Hal ini kerana kegiatan vandalisme telah menyebabkan pelabur asing menghilangkan keyakinan kepada negara tersebut dan akhirnya menyebabkan kerugian yang besar dalam sektor ekonomi yang sedang membangun.

Kesan seterusnya ialah imej negara akan tercemar di mata dunia. Hal ini sudah tentu akan menjejaskan ekonomi Malaysia kerana pelancong luar tidak sudi untuk datang melancong ke negara kita akibat keadaan alam sekeliling yang buruk dan sikap rakyat yang tidak berprihatin. Natijahnya, industri pelancongan akan merosot. Kejadian ini akan memberikan kesan buruk kepada rakyat negara tersebut. Industri pelancongan menyumbang kepada sektor lain seperti perhotelan. Sektor perhotelan tidak akan mendapat sambutan handal akibat industri melancong yang merosot. Hal ini menyebabkan rakyat menganggur akibat kekurangan sektor pekerjaan. Tambahan pula, pihak kerajaan akan membelanjakan berjuta-juta ringgit untuk membaikpulihkan infrastruktur yang dimusnahkan.

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,

          Untuk mengatasi gejala vandalisme, langkah yang paling utama ialah pendidikan. Sistem pendidikan yang mantap dan kukuh dapat membendung gejala vandalisme. Menurut Datuk Lee Lam Thye, beliau menjelaskan hanya melalui pendidikan, kita dapat memupuk semangat antivandalisme dan meningkatkan kesedaran remaja tentang sikap memelihara harta benda awam. Justeru, remaja hendaklah didedahkan kepada kesedaran sivik sejak dari awal lagi kerana setiap anak yang dilahirkan hanya menanti warna budaya yang bakal dicorakkan oleh ibu bapa. Jelaslah bahawa kalau baik budaya hidup dan acuan dari rumahnya, maka baiklah peribadi remaja.

          Langkah seterusnya ialah Penguatkuasaan undang-undang yang ketat. Hal ini dikatakan demikian kerana hukuman dan kompaun atas kerosakan yang dikenakan dapat memberikan pengajaran kepada mereka atau setidak-tidaknya mereka akan berfikir dua kali sebelum berbuat demikian. Sebagai contohnya, negara Singapura mengenakan hukuman berat kepada pemusnah harta benda awam. Hal ini terbukti apabila hukuman berat yang dilaksanakan di Singapura mampu mengurangkan kes vandalisme. Menurut Datuk Lee Lam Thye lagi, satu undang-undang kecil vandalisme telah diperuntukkan untuk mendenda tidak kurang daripada RM2000 atau penjara tidak lebih daripada satu tahun kepada remaja yang melakukan vandalisme.

          Di samping itu, kempen antivandalisme anjuran Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) yang bertemakan ‘Harta Awam Milikku-Milikmu’ dapat menanamkan sifat bertanggungjawab dan menyemai perasaan sayang terhadap harta benda awam dalam sanubari remaja. Kempen ini juga harus disusuli dengan pelaksanaan program seperti Program Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya, Sistem Mentor-Mantee dan Sekolah Penyayang di peringkat sekolah bagi membanteras kemelut vandalisme. Kementerian Pendidikan juga boleh menganjurkan peraduan melukis dan pertandingan menulis esei bagi meningkatkan kesedaran remaja supaya lebih menyayangi harta awam demi kepentingan bersama, berdasarkan tema ‘Harta Awam Milik Bersama-Hentikan Vandalisme’. Tegasnya, melalui kempen dan ceramah, nescaya matlamat vandalisme sifat dapat dicapai.

Pelajar sekalian,

          Kemelut vandalisme tidak boleh dipandang enteng. Oleh itu, semua pihak haruslah berganding bahu bagi membendung masalah vandalisme. Remaja janganlah terlalu mengikut perasaan atau terburu-buru melakukan sesuatu sehingga sanggup merosakkan harta benda awam. Harta benda awam harus dianggap seperti harta sendiri. Semoga masalah ini dapat diatasi agar negara tidak mengalami kerugian dari aspek material.

        Sebagai pengakhir kata, saya ingin menyeru agar semua pihak memberi kerjasama untuk membanteras masalah ini. Dengan ini, saya akhiri ceramah saya pada pagi ini.  Sekian, terima kasih.

Shopping

For getting one's things, one has to do some shopping. Sometimes shopping is undertaken for fun. Shopping on special occasions, is really exciting. For example, when one goes shopping on the eve of Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, Chinese New Year or Christmas, the experience is really exciting.           Shopping is not simply buying things for our needs. It is much more than that. First of all one must know what one wants to buy. He must know, where those things are available. In fact, this is not a problem in a small place but in a big city, one must know where different things are sold. There may be, chain stores, selling things at a higher price. The same things may be had at a cheaper price at a grocery. Then there are the genuine goods and the spurious ones. Unless one knows one is likely to be deceived. This reminds one of the famous chapter in the "Vicar of Wakefield". Moses went to the fair, to sell his mare. He was deceived by a sharper, who exchanged the mare for a gross of silver spectacles. When Moses returned home, he found they were not at all silver. This may happen to anybody unless one has the wit and wisdom. Shopping requires some experience of the market.           Shopping requires bargaining ability. It is not always fixed prices in all markets. So one must be able to bargain. It requires certain ability to choose the right stuff. For instance if one goes into a big cloth shop, one finds it easy, one must have made up his mind as to what stuff to get. He must be careful to see whether correct weights and measures are being used. It is here that very often people are deceived.           Shopping, during week end is really exciting. One has to wend through a stream of shoppers. There will be, the crowd of roadside vendors crying their wares. One must not be tempted to buy all and sundry, otherwise, he will find he has wasted his money. In fact shopping is a good school, where one can learn about men, moods and manners.

chain stores One of a number of retail stores under the same ownership and dealing in the same merchandise. wit intelligence and the ability to think quickly wend to move slowly and not directly Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)

Television and its influence on viewers

Television is a very powerful visual medium. Practically every household has one. Unlike radio the messages and ideas that are conveyed to the viewer are further reinforced by visual images that accompany these messages and ideas. It is a fast and inexpensive medium by which to communicate with the masses. Satellite dishes and all kinds of other receiving devices enables us to not only to receive news and programs from within the country but also transmissions from abroad. In some countries viewers may have access to a hundred or more channels through their televisions. It is however important to note that communication in this setting is one way and not interactive. Considering that hardly a day passes without watching TV, it indeed has the potential of having a strong effect on us. For the discerningviewer being able to differentiate between which programs have useful content and which do not, this may not be a problem. However when we are dealing with impressionable young minds it may be difficult for them to separate reality from make believe. Responsible censorship by the authorities and careful monitoring by parents is necessary to ensure that young people are not adversely affected by watching this medium. The phrase 'couch potato' has been coined to describe viewers who are constantly in front of their television sets. Their senses are continuously only subjected to the images they see sometimes for the better part of the day. Violence is a common feature in most entertainment programs to the extent that films have to be rated accordingly as most scenes are too horrific for younger viewers. Television is not all bad as there are positive aspects to it. Educational programs nowadays incorporate all kinds of ways to entertain as well as to educate. Programs such as 'Sesame Street' have a large following among children. Documentary films are informative and instructional. The expression that 'too much of anything is bad' applies here. The idea is for viewers to have a healthy balance of the different kinds of programs available.

discerning   showing good judgment, especially about style and quality       impressionable   someone, usually a young person, who is very easily influenced by the people around them and by what they are told, and who sometimes copies other people's behavior Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)

My favorite subject in school

In school a student has to study many subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science and Geography among others, in order to prepare himself for an examination. Not everyone likes the subjects he or she studies in school. Students have their favorite subjects and they tend to pay special attention to them in class. They are willing to go that extra mile, so to speak, where these subjects are concerned. More often than not they also perform better in these subjects during the exams. For me my favorite subject is Biology, a branch of Science. This is because it teaches me about the human body, animal life and about plants. I like to learn and understand these subjects more than others. I learn with great interest the different parts of my body and their functions. It is important to know how human beings respire and how food digests in our bodies. We also learn about the bones, muscles and ligaments which make up our very form and aid us in our movement. How we come to experience pain and other sensations through a network of fine channels called nerves which conduct very small electrical currents. We then begin to realize the true complexity of the human body. The study of animals also fascinates me. I came to know about the various breeds of mammals, birds and reptiles. Both big and small mammals that live side by side in the forest and grasslands. I am curious to know how they survive in the wild. Wild animals like lions and tigers prey on weaker animals like deer and zebra yet they co-exist in such lands. There are relationships between animals that are even beneficial to both parties and are called symbiotic. My desire to know more has compelled me to watch documentary films on animal life. Science also teaches us about the plant, life. It allows me to differentiate between species of plants. It explains how they produce their own food and react to external stimuli. Our class experiments have shown us the extraordinary ways plants adapt themselves to survive under different conditions. The practical nature of the experiments allows us to see first hand the science of Biology in action. I consider Biology as one of the most useful subjects for a student as it teaches him or her about the basic facts of nature. However this is not to say that one should neglect other subjects.       so to speak   as if it were really so       symbiotic   Describes a close relationship between two species in which at least one benefits Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)

My best teacher

During my school life, I have come across several teachers. None has impressed me so much as our English Teacher. Courtesy requires that I don't give his real name here. For convenience, I shall call him Mr. Leo. Mr. Leo has been teaching me English for the last two years. He is a very lovable person, soft spoken and good mannered. He is not a giant in his stature but it is very well made up by his intellectual attainments. He used to come, neatly dressed. There may not be anything gorgeous about it but he always dresses in an elegant way. He used to move about quietly, though he always bears an assured look of a scholar. Naturally therefore, everyone respects him. It is a pleasure to listen to him when he teaches English whether it be prose or poetry and he would leave his mark on it. There, is nothing bombastic in his use of words, because he always uses very simple ones, so that even an average student could follow him. He has always been very methodical in his approach. He would never proceed further unless he has made everyone understand the passage. When he finds somebody has difficulty he would spare no pains to make the student understand. His teaching of poetry has been marvelous. He would simply get into the spirit of the poet. Gifted with some histrionic talent, he would carry the whole class with him in the enjoyment of the poem. Whether it be "Oh! Captain, My Captain!" "The Solitary Reaper" or "Patriotism", he would impress the class, with his dramatic teaching. For all these things, he has been a very good coach so far as the examination is concerned. But he used to say, that examination is not everything. During his leisure hours, he can be found in the school library browsing among literary magazines. One can approach him easily and have doubts cleared. By his knowledge, character, and day to day life he leaves a profound influence on the intellectual and moral character of his pupils. He leaves the permanent stamp of his personality on their moral character. One great quality in him is that he never bears malice towards anybody. He is a model for all teachers. May his tribe increase!

bombastic   using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do       histrionic   very emotional and energetic       malice   the wish to harm or upset other people Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)

A market scene

A market is a place where we buy vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. It is the biggest concentration of noise every morning. It is filled with a crowd of mainly buyers. The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur is not only a landmark but is also one of the best attractions in the city. It is really an experience to go round the stalls during their busy hours. If you happen to be careless about your wallet beware of the pickpocket. Business at the Central Market starts in the early hours of the day. Vans and lorries bring loads of fish and meat to the vendors. Usually nonperishablethings are brought overnight. But green vegetables are brought early in the morning. The smooth and efficient working of the market is really appreciable. This market is in a huge concrete building. The stalls are arranged in beautiful rows, They are also classified according to the goods they deal with. Fruits, vegetables, fish, fowls and meat; - all have their respective dealers. There are also the platform vendors who add to the confusion of the place. Each class of vendors also has a portion allotted to them. Nice things are being sold in this market. Buyers and sellers, haggle and haggle over prices. They push and jostle to get the best offer. In addition it is also filled with the angry voices of buyers and sellers. Now and then, a fellow will come to you with an old pen or watch; be careful before buying. It may be a stolen stuff and you may be get into trouble with the police. In the midst of all these confusions, the sellers do a brisk trade. The market is under city authorities. So health inspectors are responsible for its cleanliness. They have to see that the food stuffs that are sold are free from defects. Thus unscrupulous stall keepers and vendors are warned against selling rotten, unpalatable or poisonous food stuff.

nonperishable   Of food: Processed or packaged to withstand prolonged storage.       brisk trade   trade or business that is brisk is very busy, with a lot of products being sold       unpalatable   food that is unpleasant to taste or eat Click here to lauch more sample english essays : http://www.englishdaily626.com/ (source)