Hello Sparklies!! ✨️

At this point it’s public secret that the prices are rising left and right. The rising cost of living exacerbates existing challenges like shoplifting and competition with supermarkets. But what happens when a supermarket nearby prices the same item at 10 cents less? Read here to know from minimart owners about what it takes to run their business:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/minimart-cost-living-supermarket-shoplifters-challenges-3926956

Travel demand has proven resilient throughout the year, despite higher ticket prices. Stronger travel demand is here to stay, despite cost of living pressures, says Skyscanner CEO. Is it though? Read here:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/stronger-travel-demand-here-stay-despite-cost-living-pressures-says-skyscanner-ceo-3953566

#CurrentAffairs #Economy #RisingCostOfLiving #Travel #ContentBites

CNA

'Very painful': When the rising cost of living trickles down to the average minimart

How does a five-cent price increase impact a minimart? What happens when a supermarket nearby prices the same item at 10 cents less? And how does shoplifting affect the bottom line? CNA hears from minimart owners about what it takes to run their business.

Hello Sparklies!! ✨️

Nearly 200 countries made a first-ever deal to start cutting down on them, in what could be a gamechanger for the planet’s health. The agreement, struck at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, “basically signals the end of the fossil fuel era”, said chief climate risk strategist Soenke Kreft of the United Nations University - Institute for Environmental and Human Security. Why is the deal so important? Read here:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/cop28-cna-explains-historic-fossil-fuels-deal-climate-change-summit-greenhouse-gas-emissions-extreme-weather-loss-and-damage-fund-global-warming-environment-3991601

Despite the historical nature of the deal, the agreement lacks firm promises by rich countries to help poorer ones meet the multi trillion-dollar commitment to ditch fossil fuels by mid-century.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-13/the-cop28-fossil-fuel-deal-is-missing-one-big-thing-money

Most people will talk the talk, few will walk the walk; be amongst those few.
― Steve Maraboli, “Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience”

#CurrentAffairs #COP28 #COP28Dubai #ClimateAction #ContentBites

CNA

CNA Explains: What does the historic COP28 deal to move away from fossil fuels mean for the world?

Experts tell CNA why time is still running out - and how question marks remain over holding countries to account - when it comes to fixing the climate crisis.

Hello Sparklies!! ✨️
November 16, 2023.
(the day Zack & Cody can finally get their restaurant reservation ?)

Today marks 36 years of the death of Zubir Said.
Our national anthem would have sounded completely different had its composer, Zubir Said, adhered to family traditions. From a conservative Sumatran household which believed music was haram, Zubir picked up music secretly and made his own instruments. He eventually left for Singapore and embarked on a prolific career, composing more than 1,500 songs for film, radio and the national stage including our pride “Majulah Singapura”.
https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/zubir-said/story

Watch the story of Mr. Said’s life and musical journey in this story adapted from the original book “Someone Like You… Titans of Our Time” and retold in a video format. The story is brought to life with narration by Siti Khalijah and such beautiful illustrations. We will also be able to hear a short snippet of Zubir Said’s interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oagQaC0-F2c

Rest in melody, Mr. Zubir Said.
May we never forget the story of the man who left his hometown to eventually compose our national anthem.

#CurrentAffairs #ZubirSaid #MajulahSingapura #MasterMaestro #ContentBites

www.roots.gov.sg

Zubir Said

What’s the one song that every Singaporean knows? You’re probably right if you had guessed Majulah Singapura, our National Anthem. And its composer is none other than Zubir Said, or more affectionately known as Pak Zubir.

Hello Sparklies!! ✨️ Happy Sunday!

With less than two months until COP28, the United Nations’ annual conference on climate change, all signs point to a losing battle to curb global temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Industry experts are calling on stakeholders and policymakers to collaborate and rethink net-zero targets amid worsening climate change. Read more:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sustainability/singapore-international-energy-week-siew-cop28-green-transition-irena-iea-wec-3871576

Dannif Danusaputro, Chief Executive Officer of PT Pertamina New and Renewable Energy, speaks to CNA at Singapore International Energy Week and explains the company’s goal of achieving net zero by 2060, mirroring Indonesia’s aim. He also shares about the potential of geothermal energy and the challenges of a nationwide rollout. Read here:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/aiming-double-capacity-geothermal-energy-pertamina-new-and-renewable-energy-ceo-3871316

#CurrentAffairs #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #COP28 #ContentBites

CNA

‘We should be worried’: As COP28 nears, green energy transition is not happening fast enough, say industry experts

Industry experts are calling on stakeholders and policymakers to collaborate and rethink net-zero targets amid worsening climate change.

All the best for O Level English paper tomorrow, my lovelies ❤️ you have worked incredibly hard for this. Do your very very best and be proud of whatever you do, we are proud of you already! ❤️

***?***Situational Writing Tips ***?***Types of Letters (LARS):- Letter
- Article
- Report
- Speech

Tones: Formal and Informal
PACT —>Purpose: what’s the piece for? What is your objective
Audience: who is this for?
Context: what are the circumstances surrounding this piece of writing?
Tone: how should you sound when you write this

TIPS FOR SW
It says Situational Writing. So what is the situation you are in? Figure that out and then you can better figure what is the purpose. For example, you are not just writing a proposal for an event - what is the purpose of the event - is it to fundraise, if fundraise, fundraise for what cause? All these things matter to help you to add nuances to your writing

Know the difference in each requirement —

“Choose the option and state why you will like it” (this is more DESCRIPTIVE of the option — use the information in the pamphlet to describe the event)

“How it will benefit you” vs “how it will benefit your friends/club/school/etc” — how it will benefit means from the event, what can you take away or learn that you can carry to your daily life or future - i.e. interview skills, knowledge on how to work with the elderly, etc

“Suggest a way…” etc — sometimes when the word ‘suggest’ is used it could mean they are asking you to write another thing that is not given in the passage. You would have to use your general knowledge to figure that out.

Know your audience — formal tone for a police officer / figure of authority is still different from a formal tone towards a teacher/principal

#situationalwriting #sw

Hello Sparklies!! ✨️

The local arts community here in Singapore is seeing the most support in its 40-year history, with 404 donors and supporters recognised for their contributions at an awards ceremony last Tuesday. Read more:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/patron-arts-donation-support-develop-singapore-arts-scene-edwin-tong-3766811

An exclusive look at the design process of the LKY100 coin. This coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of Singapore founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s birth on Sep 16, 1923. The man behind the design is Weng Ziyan. Take a look:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/interactives/lky100-coin-lee-kuan-yew-100th-anniversary-commemorative-3761866

A strong testament to how our people are recognising the immense value that the arts and artists bring to our society, not just in the museums and galleries.
– Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong

#CurrentAffairs #Art #SingaporeArt #LKY100 #ContentBites

CNA

More than S$45 million donated to develop Singapore’s arts scene last year

Other forms of giving, such as in-kind donations, tripled to almost S$20 million, while the number of first-time patrons jumped by 45 per cent.

*? Ms. Esther’s Cheat Sheet for question types ?***
Comprehension Narrative Text and Expository/Factual Text

1. Vocabulary question
   - word replacement / explanation
   - choose a word or phrase that best suits the meaning of the word given, or explain the word / phrase given

2. Content question
   - about the passage, answer is found in the passage
   - usually 1m, can be found in the passage
   - if asked for rephrasing (In Your Own Words) - make sure you rephrase it to the best of your ability by either choosing another word to replace it or explaining the concept or idea from the story. DO NOT REPEAT keywords.

3. Simple Inference question
   - asking you about the reasons, intentions, characteristics, actions, etc of characters and or plot
   - “why did the man do this?"
   - The question is usually asking for a reason, if the reason cannot be found in the context, look for it from the sentences above and below.

4. Inference Language question
   - asking you to interpret the meaning of a word or phrase and what that word or phrase tells you about a specific character or setting or event
   - e.g. _The passage says that the man "looked away and hung his head", what does this suggest about his attitude toward the situation?_

5. Language question
   - asking you for the choice of language device / word / phrase used and how that IMPACTS the meaning of the story
   - Question types include:
   (a) Unusual Effective - what is unusual (odd) about the phrase or word in that context, and how it works in the context despite it’s weird/odd

(b) Three Details to show how the language used shows A SPECIFIC THING - 3m qn — find the focus of the question before looking for the three details, make sure every detail answers the focus. Choose 1-2 keywords from the evidence quoted to explain, don’t try to tackle the whole 10 word evidence quoted, just explain.

(c) Tone of the author - what is the author’s tone or attitude to this thing

(d) Use of a literary device - simile, metaphor, personification, exaggeration etc

1. Content Summary Question
   - 4 boxes, asking you to put a word or phrase that best describes the development of the story/feelings of the narrator etc
   - look for the focus -- check if it is development of story or feelings of narrator or main action that is happening, etc
   - understand and write the meaning of the word / phrase before putting it into the box
   - check for at least 2 evidences to ensure you are not basing your answer on only 1 evidence you found from the end of the paragraph

2. Defending Viewpoints
   - two people with differing views
   - choosing evidence from the passage to defend the person's viewpoint,
   - Choose objective evidence like statistics, facts, not people’s OPINIONS.

3. Summary question
   - 7m for language, 8 marks for 8 points (maximum)
   - Look for the focus of the question, if there is more than a single focus, make sure your summary has both parts
   - Pick your points - not a point (R E D - repetition, elaborations and dialogue)
   - Break full sentences into points to help you to rephrase each point in bitesized pieces
   - Connect them back with conjunctions, make sure your sentences flow.
   - DO NOT: do not paraphrase word for word as sometimes it messes up the entire meaning of the sentence. Do not repeat points. Do not choose from the wrong paragraph

Hello Sparklies!! ✨️Good evening!

Join me in watching the Presidential Inauguration!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlyP12rhIso

President Halimah Yacob leaves office on Wednesday after completing a six-year term. We look back at her term as Singapore’s first female head of state.
https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2023/09/thank-you-madam-president-singapore/index.html?shell

#CurrentAffairs #SGPresidency #SGPE2023 #Inauguration #ContentBites

YouTube

[LIVE] Tharman Shanmugaratnam's inauguration as Singapore's 9th President

Tharman Shanmugaratnam is officially Singapore's ninth President. In his inauguration speech, Mr Tharman swore to be “scrupulous and independent” in his decisions on Singapore's reserves. https://cna.asia/3PgOIpN Subscribe to our channel here: https://…

All the best to all those taking their first EL paper today! ❤️??