06 Extensive Reading Questions for Chapter 6, What’s happening out there?
- Living in a World of Fear
Pre-Reading
- Do you feel safe in school? You can consider safety from either physical abuse or verbal abuse or both.
Yes I do. Not many people bully me.
During-Reading
- Why did a stranger deem Kelly ‘the crazy girl’ in Basha High school?
Everyone did not know what Kelly’s real intentions were, nor whether she was really serious.
- Why did Sarah, the author of the article, respond with anger by correcting her that it was ‘Kelly’ and not ‘the crazy girl’?
- She did not want Kelly to be remembered as the crazy girl as Kelly may not have meant harm at all and was fully innocent.
- What was the school’s reaction to the plans made for a school shooting and anything related to it? Why do you think they reacted so?
- A meeting was held and there was a lot of media, with extra security guards sent over from other neighbouring high schools.
- Do you think Kelly was fairly treated? Give reasons to support your answer.
- No. She should have been given a chance to explain the drawings. Perhaps it was another friend who had planned the shooting spree.
Post-Reading
- When people have fear of what they don’t know or don’t understand, they tend to over react or at least make decisions. Is this a justifiable reaction?
- Yes it is, as people naturally tend to prefer being safe rather than sorry.
- Students snap under pressure and sometimes they act this out violently against other students and teachers. In Singapore, there is little possibility for carrying a gun to school but there are other acts of violence that happen. What are some of them and how can you prevent them?
- Assault on fellow students, happy-slapping, harmful pranks, that can be prevented if we just control our emotions, or resist the temptation to disturb our classmates.
- The Day We Lost So Much
Pre-Reading
- Do you have any fears? What are they if you have them? If you don’t have any fears, what are some fears you know your friends or other people have?
An endless amount of homework that I have no idea how to do, People misunderstanding me big time, and most of all, getting blamed for something I did not do (It really pisses me off, and I mean it.)
During-Reading
- What were the reactions of the following people mentioned in the article when the Twin Towers were attacked and then when it later collapsed and during the aftermath:
Jane’s parents were watching the news and could not believe their eyes. The author was confused as to why and what the Twin Towers were. Students in school were all talking about it. But when the twin towers collapsed, they were shocked and worried for their family, blaming each other. The girl whose mother was in New York was very worried, while teachers tried their best to act calm but the students still could tell something went horribly wrong.
Jane; the author of the article; her parents; students in school in general; the girl in her school whose mother was in New York then; the teachers in school; and some other people in general.
Post-Reading
- Towards the end of the article, Jane suggested that we should not spend our energy looking for people to blame for something bad that had happened. She instead, suggested a proactive approach to help people affected by the bad incident, remember the good in their glorious moments and smile in the face of despair. She believes this might change the future. What do you think of Jane’s stand? Give reasons to support your stand.
Yes. By being optimistic, most people would already have overcome their fear and depression caused by this incident. By remembering the good in their glorious moments, you will see them now as they used to be, rather than to think of them as dead or destroyed.
- Looking Back
Pre-Reading
- Have you ever thought of or have been involved in raising funds or helping out in any voluntary situations for disaster relief?
No. I am sad to say that I do not really think about such things nor do I have the time. I feel pity for them, but I just feel that this is not my sort of thing, I am sorry.
During-Reading
- How is the author of this article, Paulina, different in her reaction to the 9/11 tragedy from the Jane, the author of the previous article? In particular, what sort of feelings does she have?
- She has a phobia of planes as something very disastrous and more serious than what Jane experienced had happened to her.
- Why is it that every time an airplane passes by, Paulina’s mood changes as quickly as the plane passes?
- She gets scared and hallucinates that the plane is either flying too low, or plunging towards the ground.
Post-Reading
Do you think Paulina’s fears are rational? Why or why not?
No, they are not, as most planes do not fly too low. She is just imagining and recounting the incident, but her fears are false.
- Recovering from My Own Epidemic
Pre-Reading
- What do you remember (you were probably 6 or 7 years old then) or know about the SARS (Avian bird flu pandemic) scare?
Many people died, very serious. That’s about it.
During-Reading
- What were the steps taken by the teachers and school for the prevention and the spread of SARS?
- The teachers ordered the students to wear their masks, wash their hands, and not to have any physical contact.
- How did the SARS epidemic change the author of this article, Eri’s life?
- She had a different outlook on life, and decided to stop pretending and be the person that she really was.
- What were the thoughts that motivated this change?
- She looked back on happier times and asked herself whether this was really the life she wanted.
Post-Reading
- How appropriate do you think the title of this article ‘Recovering from my own epidemic’ is? Give a reason(s) to support your answer.
The ‘epidemic’ refers to the SARS, and Eri undergoing her own changes. Since the epidemic was so hard to control, Eri also called her process an epidemic as it was difficult for her.
6. Prejudice
Pre-Reading
-Why do you think students are constantly asked to recite the Singapore pledge? We the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build democratic society so as to achieve happiness, prosperity for our nation.
We must remember that all of us are equals and none of us are more superior than others all because of our race, religion, appearance anything else that differentiates us from others.
During-Reading
- What is meant by ‘Difference is the brother of inferiority’?
It means that people always mark others as inferior by comparing the difference between themselves and others.
- Why is it that when the dark skinned girl is saying the same words that came out the author, Brooke’s mouth yesterday, it will be disregarded?
Brooke is trying to imply that since dark skinned people are inferior to white skinned people, only those like Brooke can speak, while those like the dark skinned girl have no say at all.
Post-Reading
- Universities and educational institutes with a global focus strive to have a 10-20% percentage of foreign students. What are some of the advantages of having classmates from different races and different countries?
We get to interact with others, and are also educated that all of us are equals, and with the presence of foreign students, we are able to appreciate and understand the uniqueness of each and every one of us.
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