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QUESTION 1: “WE MUST HAVE COURAGE TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS IN LIFE”. WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT, HOW FAR IS THIS TRUE OF THE NOVEL YOU HAVE READ?
Based on the novel Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford that I have studied, the story is about a kid named Newton Newman who is going through many difficulties and challenges in order to be accepted in the society. In the novel, Newton Newman’s wants to be known by people. Throughout his journey to transform from the unknown, he showcases his courage in a variety of situations. Firstly, Newt climbs the dumpster to get the drum for his best friend, Cecil. At first, Newt suggests Cecil to be the one who should climb the dumpster but after Cecil makes it clear that the job is meant for the fearless Captain Nobody, Newt changes his mind. Even though he has fear of heights, he courageously overcomes his fear to fulfill his best friend’s dream. Although in the beginning he hesitates when he sees how high he is, he still pushes himself nonetheless for the sake of his friend’s dream. At the end of day, Newt succeeds in getting the big bass drum for Cecil. Although Newt was still unknown during this time, but this is the event that first sparked his courage. In my opinion, no matter what kind of challenges may come, we must face it with courage. If I were him, I will definitely do the same just to overcome my fear in order to help people. [P: Personalise J: Justify] Next, Newt showcases his courage by saving Ferocious the Ferret when it accidentally escapes from its cage. Ferocious runs wildly, so Newt and his friends are chasing after it. They chase after Ferocious until they reach the highway. Ferocious bolts into the middle of the highway and stops. Nobody is brave enough to go after it anymore. With full courage, Newt steps up to the challenge and dashes towards Ferocious to stop the traffic just to save Ferocious, despite risking his own life. Drivers are furious due to the stoppage caused by Newt. Suddenly, an airplane lands on the highway due to an emergency. This causes Newt’s brave actions to hit the headlines, although people still did not know who he was. In my opinion, if we are really determined to do something, we will have the courage to help us in achieving our goals. In this case, his goal is to spend a night with Ferocious, the team mascot. Newt has to ensure that nothing bad happens to the ferret. It is clear how his courage in enduring all the challenges to keep the ferret safe has helped him to achieve his goal. [P: Personalise J: Justify] Lastly, Newton Newman climbs up the Appleton Water Tower to save Reggie Ratner. Actually, Reggie Ratner climbs the water tower to spray paint on the water tank but people assume that he wants to commit suicide because he has grown increasingly depressed as people are blaming him for the Big Tackle incident. Newt is afraid of heights but as Captain Nobody, he climbs the rickety ladder courageously. When he looks at it fluttering down, he is terrified and wants to climb down. But thinking of Reggie Ratner alone and desperate, he climbs to the top of the tower to help him. When he reaches the top, he manages to slither his way to reach Reggie Ratner despite the other challenges that he has to face. In the end, Newt’s dream of being somebody known is finally fulfilled when his brave action is once again showcased in the news, this time, everyone knows his name. In my opinion, for a tenyear-old, his decision to climb the Appleton Water Tower, the tallest structure in town to save Reggie Ratner is very bold and extraordinary. This event explains the importance of courage and bravery in achieving our goals in life. [O: Opinion J: Justify] In a nutshell, it is undeniable that we need courage to achieve our goals in life. I have learned that it is important to be courageous to reach our dreams. In addition, we can use our courage to help others who are in need, just like what Newton Newman did. He inspires me to be a better person in life and more helpful to others.
ATHIRAH, EZREENA, AZ KHAIZUREEN, DANIEL & AZZAM SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG AHMAD SYAZWAN DANIAL BIN MOHD FADZIL MUHAMMAD IMRAN BIN MOHD ZAMRISHAM AHMAD TAWFEQ BIN MOHAMMED FAUZI SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 2: WRITE ABOUT ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED WHO FINDS A NEW IDENTITY. WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT, HOW DOES HIS/HER IDENTITY CHANGE HER LIFE?
Based on the novel Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford, I have learned that everybody has his own identity. Having an identity is very essential to create a great personality. From this novel, there is a character who manages to find a new great identity that totally changes his life. The character I am referring to is Newton Newman, who is also known as Newt and Captain Nobody in this interesting novel. Newt is an invisible and an introvert. However, he changes into a boy with a high confidence level after he becomes Captain Nobody. He is once considered as a boy who is overshadowed by his famous brother, Chris Newman. His confidence can be seen when he is being summoned by his best friend, JJ. JJ asks a huge favour from Captain Nobody, which is to correct the mistakes on the sign boards in the Sullivan’s store. As a ten-year-old boy, correcting mistakes made by adults needs a very high confidence level. As Captain Nobody is very confident, he calmly walks into the store after being convinced by JJ that the job is meant for him. Normally a ten-year-old boy will flee and never bothers about the errors as he is lacking of confidence and afraid that they will be blamed for interrupting an adult’s affair. From my perspective, although we are young, we still have the right to tell anyone about their own mistakes as long as we have the confidence in ourselves. So, in our daily life, we must be confident in doing things as long as the things would not bring us harm and negative effects and never think we was overshadowed. This event really shows that after being Captain Nobody, Newt has managed to search for his once lost characteristic which is being brave. Therefore, it is not wrong to say that he has found a new identity. [O: Opinion J: Justify] Next, Newt transforms into a brave person. From an acrophobic, Newton Newman manages to overcome his fear of height. As we know, phobia is a fear or trauma that is created in our mind and it takes a lot of courage for us to overcome it. Nevertheless, Newt overcomes his fear when he becomes Captain Nobody and he fulfills his friend, Cecil’s dream to get a big bass drum from the Dumpster as Cecil himself is afraid of slimmy bags. This event starts when Cecil summons him through the walkie talkie, he straight away dashes to the meeting place and Cecil is waiting there with a red wagon as he is determined to bring the big bass drum home. At first, Captain Nobody hesitates to climb the dumpster. He gathers all his courage after Cecil insists that the job is meant for Captain Nobody. When he reaches the top of the dumpster, he looks down and panics as he is afraid of heights. But, he reminds himself that he is Captain Nobody and it calms him down. He continues to grab the drum and passes it to Cecil’s waiting hand and fulfills Cecil’s greatest dream. In my opinion, overcoming a phobia is a big war between us and ourselves. The mind plays an enormous role to make sure that we would not lose in the inner war. Therefore, as Newt is all about to help his friend, he also wins the war between himself in overcoming his fear of heights. This really shows how Newton Newman has gained a new identity by becoming Captain Nobody. [O: Opinion J: Justify]
In a nutshell, being a new person needs us to sacrifice a lot. We must overcome our fears in order to be brave and throw the hesitation away in becoming confident. Having a new identity could spark other people to succeed. If we continue to live life without improving ourselves, how are we going to be like Newt who turns himself from zero to hero? Therefore, we must get a new identity that could change our life for the better.
SHAHRIL, SURESH, AMIERAH, AINA SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG NUR DALILI FAQHIRA BT EDZWADY SHAM NUR NAJWA SHUHADA BT MOHD ASRI SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 3: SUGGEST ONE CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED THAT YOU THINK IS ADMIRABLE. BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER AND GIVE REASONS FOR YOUR CHOICE WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT.
Based on the novel that I have studied, Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford, the character I find admirable is Captain Nobody which is also the main character, Newton Newman. He is a ten-year-old-boy who has a brother named Chris who is also a famous football star. Newton goes to Appleton Elementary with his best friends, Cecil and JJ. The reason why Captain Nobody is admirable because he is a courageous person. This is shown when Captain Nobody helps Cecil get the big bass drum from the top of a dumpster. This event happens after school when Newt receives a message from Cecil through a walkie talkie. Newt is afraid of heights. So, he suggests Cecil should be the one who climb the dumpster. After Cecil makes it clear that the job is meant for the fearless Captain Nobody, Newt changes his mind. Without any hesitation, Newt climbed the dumpster to fulfill Cecil’s dream to own the first drum. Newt carefully passes the drum to his sidekick, Cecil who is waiting with open arms on the ground. He also overcomes his fear of heights called acrophobia and as a result for his action, Cecil gets to have the big bass drum. As a friend, we must help our friend in need as the saying goes “a friend in need is a friend in deed”. Without courage, a person will not be able to help others and also themselves. It is clear that starting from courage, love exists and we will not hesitate to help others. At the end of the day, bigger result is also achieved. That is why Captain Nobody is an admirable character. [O: Opinion J: Justify] Next, Newton is always admirable because he likes to tell the truth even by doing so will cost his life. This can be seen in the event of saving Reggie from the top of the Appleton water tower. The incident starts when the news is reporting that Reggie is going to jump from the tower as he is too depressed with people condemning his act during the Big Tackle. Newton who happens to watch the news shown in the teacher’s lounge feels dutiful to explain the truth that lies behind the Big Tackle incident. Together with his friends, Cecil and JJ, they sneak out from school and head for the water tower. At the water tower, Newton bravely climbs the rung although the condition of the tower is not that promising. He overcomes his own fear just to reach Reggie so that he can explain the truth to Reggie. Although he eventually knows Reggie’s real intention of climbing the tower, he does not overreact but he continues to slither on the water tank to untie Reggie’s shoelace. In my opinion, this event shows that in order for us to explain the truth to someone or to the public, we must give our best no matter what the consequences will be. Based on the event, it is clear why Newton is an admirable character because he manages to show a lot of courage and endure a near death experience just to tell the truth to someone he barely knows. [O: Opinion J: Justify] In conclusion, Newton Newman is admirable because he has the courage to help his best friends when they are in need. Apart from that, he is willing to risk himself so that other people’s life will not be affected. Newton proves that without courage, life is meaningless.
DAENG & NURNAZREEN, IZZAH, SAIFUL, IZANI SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG NUR SYUHADAH BINTI ZULKIFLI NUR MUNIRAH BINTI MAT SALLEH SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 4: ‘FRIENDS ARE PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS SUPPORT US.’ WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED, HOW FAR IS THIS TRUE?
Based on the novel, Captain Nobody by Dean Pitfchford, there are a few events that prove the value of friendship. These events can be shown by Newt and his friends, Cecil and JJ. This novel tells about Newt and his friends who are always supporting each other in every problem that they are facing. The first evidence to support friendship value is when Newt tries to help Cecil in getting the big bass drum from the top of the Dumpster. After school, Cecil sees a big bass drum and he summons Newt so that he can help him to get it down for him. At first Newt refuses and thinks that Cecil is only joking and just ignores it. Feeling reluctant, Newt changes his mind and decides to meet Cecil at the corner of Waren and Kander streets. Although he is suffering from his acrophobic – fear of heights, he fights his fear to fulfill Cecil’s dream of owning the first bass drum. He climbs the Dumpster and carefully passes the drum to Cecil who is waiting with open arms on the ground. Lastly, he manages to put the drum down and it brings joy to Cecil’s life. This shows that Newt cares about Cecil very much as his best friend because he overcomes his fear to help Cecil. I think Newt is a good friend because of his sacrifice to satisfy his best friend’s wish. We should apply Newt’s attitude in our lives in order to achieve our goals and also to support our friends when they really need our help. [J: Justify P: Personalise] The next event that shows the value of friendship is when JJ and Cecil become so protective as they both help to defend Newt when Ricky Ratner threatens him. In the play area, a football hits Newt right on the back of his head and when he looks up, he sees a big figure of Ricky Ratner, Reggie Ratner’s cousin. Ricky insists Newt to tell Chris’ friends to stop harassing Reggie. Then, JJ and Cecil come at the right moment, standing protectively beside Newt while all the fourth grade boys surround them. Ricky and his friends decide to walk away after realizing the presence of Mr. Toomey nearby. If I was there, I would do the same thing to protect my friends from any unwanted incident. Who knows one day our friends will stand tall behind us when we really need their support? This event clearly shows that without friends, we are on our own. [P: Personalise J: Justify] The next evidence that shows the value of friendship is when JJ and Cecil help design Captain Nobody’s costume together. Newt could not decide on what to wear for Halloween Night but both of them came together to help design a costume. The costume consists of Chris’s red sweatpants tucked into Chris’s old silver track shoes, a cape, a baseball jersey and a mask. The costume later makes Newt feels confident and calls himself Captain Nobody. I would have done the same thing for Newt because good friends help one another in times of need. [P:Personalise] In conclusion, friendship is an important value in our daily life. We must keep a long-lasting friendship by always being there to support each other in dealing with any challenges. Newton Newman plays a really good character in this novel and should be the number one role model for us especially for youngsters to create a better life. As a saying goes, ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’.
NURUL IZZAHTUL, IRFAN, RAHIMAH SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG NURUL ‘IZZAH JANNATI BINTI HUZAINAL NURUL ANIS BINTI NADZMI SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 5: WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO THE TEXT, WRITE ABOUT THE VALUE OF DETERMINATION.
Based on the novel Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford, there are several events that show the value of determination. This value is clearly portrayed by the main character of the novel, Newton Newman. This novel is about a boy who gains more courage after standing behind the mask of an alter ego called Captain Nobody. Firstly, the value of determination is shown when Newt climbs the mountain of trash to get the big bass drum from a dumpster. It shows that Newt is determined in lending his friend a hand to make his friend’s wish comes true. He tries his best to overcome his fear of height which is called acrophobia after being convinced by Cecil that Captain Nobody is the only one who can do the job. When he is on the top of the dumpster, he becomes panic as he sees how high he is at that time but he feels more unwind after he thinks about his beloved friend. This is actually starts when his best friend, Cecil who is a music instrument lover, summons him through the walkie-talkie to ask him to get a drum that is placed right on top of the huge pale of trash in a dumpster. In the end, he claws to the drum, pulls it to the edge of the dumpster and slides it to Cecil’s arm. Finally, his mission to bring the drum down is successfully done after he shows high determination. In my personal view, every effort that is followed by determination will ease us in achieving success. Through this event, it is undeniable that determination can help us chasing our mission. [P: Personalise] Besides, we can find the value of determination when Newt climbs to the top of the water tower to save Reggie Ratner. Although he is afraid of heights, he climbs the rickety ladder fearlessly as Captain Nobody. He knows that it is very dangerous to climb on the rickety rung but he still aims his objective to prevent Reggie Ratner from facing a disaster after being on the top of water tower. Besides he is determined to tell Reggie that he had a vision that Darryl Peeps knocked down his brother in the Big Game. It begins when the media shows the hot news of Reggie Ratner that is going to kill himself from the high Appleton Water Tower after feeling depressed since the Big Tackle incident. Newt is in dilemma as he claims that he is the only one who knows what actually happened during the incident. Soon after, he immediately goes to the water tower to talk to Reggie Ratner. When he climbs, his mask is caught on a nail and being ripped off his face. He looks down, he is terrified and tends to climb down but thinking about the lonely Reggie, he is determined to continue his climb till the end. Lastly, Newt faces trouble when the ladder he uses to climb down is unstable. Then, he falls down from the water tower on the airbag mattress safely but suddenly Reggie Ratner that is renowned for his toughness falls on him. This causes injury to Newt but he feels relieved as Reggie Ratner is saved. From this event, we know that his determination makes the impossible things become possible. He is willing to take risks by climbing the highest water tower in the town without hesitation. In my opinion, we have to be determined in enduring any barriers so that we are able to achieve goals. Based on Newt’s action, it is clear that determination helps us to cope with any challenges. [O: Opinion J: Justify] In addition, Newt is determined to save Ferocious the Ferret which is Fillmore’s mascot. In this event, JJ and Cecil give up trying to run after Ferocious the Ferret and said that Captain Nobody can catch it. Ferocious has already bolted in the middle of the highway. Newt risks his life and dashes to the highway, waving his arms and screaming to stop the traffic. He then race with Ferocious all over with cars zooming dangerously close. Finally Ferocious comes and sits at Newts’ ankle. This event only serves to show that Newt is a determined person. He will not give up easily before he catches Ferocious. [J: Justify] In conclusion, determination is a must in one’s life to gain success. In order to strive goals, we have to be determined to make our dreams come true. Based on these events, it is clear that this novel is enriched with the value of determination.
ZHARIF, AMIRUL, FARHAN, NURASYIKIN SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG SITI NUR SAODAH BINTI SHAMSUL WAN NADIA FARHANA BINTI WAN IQBAL AFDZA SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 6: WRITE ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT IS MEMORABLE AND EXPLAIN WHY IT IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON TO YOU.
Based on the novel, Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford, the novel tells us about the adventure of a child, Newton Newman, a small, scrawny ten-year-old boy turning into an unlikely hero, Captain Nobody. There is a memorable incident that has taught an important lesson to me. The most memorable incident that I remember is the event of saving Reggie. This starts when Captain Nobody is heading for his lunch break, he notices a lot of teachers rushing into the lounge and gather around the television. There is news on television which shows Reggie on Appleton Water Tower, the tallest structure in town. It is assumed that Reggie has grown increasingly depressed as people are blaming him for the Big Tackle incident. Captain Nobody, who knows the truth about the Big Tackle quickly dashes to the tower. Although he is afraid of heights, he decides to climb the tower just to tell Reggie about the truth about the Big Tackle. JJ helps him to gain his grip to the second rung of the ladder and suddenly a policeman comes out of nowhere. As Cecil feels obliged as Captain Nobody’s sidekick, he tries to distract the policeman attention while Captain Nobody makes his way up. When he is on the top of the water tower, he slithers his way to reach Reggie Ratner. They both talk about the incident and Captain Nobody tells him that Reggie was not the one who had clashed his helmet with Chris that causes him to fall into coma. The person responsible is actually Darryl Peeps. Captain Nobody also learns that Reggie climbs the tower not to commit suicide but to vandalize it. Reggie also tells Captain Nobody that his left foot is stuck on the roof. Captain Nobody helps him by untying Reggie’s shoelace and it is broadcasted through the television. Luckily, the idea works and both of them finally go down by using the ladder. The incident of saving Reggie is really memorable as it shows some important lessons. From the incident, I have learned to be a brave person. Captain Nobody is an excellent role model for us, teenagers because he shows a lot of courage by saving Reggie. As a student we should be brave to overcome the obstacles during study to achieve success in life. Other than that, I also learn that we must be rational in taking action unlike Reggie who vandalizes the tower to express his anger and to show that he is innocent. This kind of behavior would make people worry. Some will misunderstand and assume that Reggie wants to commit suicide. Rather than vandalising, he could consult a counselor to get some advice. Irrational action would not solve the problems at all. As a teenager, we must think thoroughly before doing something. [O: Opinion J: Justify] In a nutshell, all the evidences above explain why the incident is memorable. There definitely many lessons that we can learn from the incident.
DZULHELMI, NURHIDAYAH SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG SITI NURIN JAZLINA UMMUL KARMILA SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 7: USING THE DETAILS IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED, WRITE ABOUT AN EVENT THAT SHOWS A CHARACTER’S BRAVERY. PROVIDE EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.
Based on the novel Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford that I have studied, Newton Newman is a small ten-year-old and scrawny boy, called Newt. In the beginning, Newt, who is also known as Captain Nobody, is going through many difficulties and challenges as he has Acrophobia, the fear or heights. After reading the novel, the character’s bravery is clearly shown when Newton Newman climbS the Appleton Tower to save Reggie Ratner. The event started when Newt is heading for his lunch break, he notices many teachers rushing into the faculty lounge and gathering around the television. There is news on the television reporting about Reggie Ratner who wants to jump off the Appleton Water Tower after feeling depressed since the Big Tackle incident. Newt is in a dilemma as he claims that he is the only one who knows the truth about the incident. Newt quickly sneaks out from the school without any permission and without telling others. However, Newt does not go alone as Cecil and JJ accompany him straight away to the Water Tower. In my opinion, if a ten-year-old boy can sneak out bravely just to tell the truth, we should do the same thing in our daily life. We should also be brave for the right reasons. It teaches us to be more responsible by revealing the truth. [P: Personalise O: Opinion] In addition, Captain Nobody becomes brave as he is able to overcome his fear of heights that he has since he was born. As he almost reaches up the water tower, he looks down and unfortunately his fear comes. But he is able to overcome his fear and quickly continues to climb to the water tower. On top of the tower, they both talk to each other about the Big Game and Captain Nobody knows that Reggie Ratner climbs the water tower to spray Merrimac’s colours. Coincidently, Reggie’s left foot is stuck and he needs help from Captain Nobody. Then, when they reach at a critical point, Reggie becomes unconvinced since Captain Nobody needs to climb down the ladder first. As Captain Nobody is counting every step down, he is surprised to see Reggie is also getting his hand on the ladder. Trying to find his balance with his feet dangling on the air, Captain Nobody loses his grip and falls. However, he does not scream at all. In my opinion, Captain Nobody really shows his bravery in every action he takes. He thinks of others first before himself and he is willing to go through difficulties to save Reggie Ratner. [J: Justify] In conclusion, bravery is very important in our life in order to help people and ofr us to face all the problems that occur in our life. We will easily tend to give up if we do not have any courage. On the other hand, we should be brave and also be smart to handle every actions that we face. The event at the water tower clearly shows that Newton is actually a brave boy after all.
IFFAH NAZIRA, NURUL HIDAYAH, AMIRA NUR ELMY SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG SITI NURULHANA’ NIK NUR AMALIA AFIFAH SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 8: WRITE ABOUT ONE CHARACTER WHO SOLVES HIS PROBLEM IN THE NOVEL YOU HAVE STUDIED. USING THE INFORMATION FROM THE NOVEL, SHOW HOW HE SOLVES HIS PROBLEM.
The novel that I have studied is Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford. The novel is about Newt Newman, a small, skinny, ten-year-old boy who lives in the shadows of his star athlete brother, Chris Newman. As I read the novel, there are many problems that appear surround him and he manages to solve the problem. Firstly, Newt does not have self-confidence because people see him as insignificant. This can be seen when Newt only has two friends who are always with him most of the time. Apart from that, during recess he will sit under the tree and continues to draw his heroes in his sketchbook. One day, his friends, Cecil and JJ transform an outfit worn by Newt to impress his mother into a Halloween costume. In Captain Nobody’s costume, Newt feels protected and confident. So, he keeps wearing it to school even after the Halloween. Anyone who sees him in the costume takes him seriously and does not ignore him like before. Usually when Newt is standing around adults, he stares to the ground most of the time but as Captain Nobody, he becomes braver as now he can look straight at them. Besides, when Cecil asked Newt to climb up the dumpster to take down a big bass drum, he is quite nervous in the beginning but when Cecil convinces Newt that only Captain Nobody can do the job bravely, he manages to do it and there is a sense of achievement. Newt also goes into Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan’s store to tell them about the spelling errors on the signs confidently. It is clear that things were very different when he was Newton as compared to his life when he wears the Captain Nobody costume. In my opinion, Newt did a good job with making his Captain Nobody costume to hide his true self. Briefly we must do something to attract people’s attention and gain more confidence to overcome the problem of not getting noticed. [O: Opinion] Next the other problem that always haunts Newt is his fear of the heights. This can be seen during the Appleton water tower incident. In the beginning of the story, Newt is portrayed as someone who is acrophobic. Although he manages to overcome his fear when he helps Cecil to get the Big Bass drum off a Dumpster, the water tower poses a bigger challenge for Newt. But, as he is trying to explain the truth about the Big Tackle incident, he is determined to see Reggie Ratner on the top of the water tower. So, Newt bravely fights his fear and climbs the water tower by using the rickety old ladder. Unfortunately, when he is halfway through, he stops and looks at the ground. He is terrified as his position is too high for him as an acrophobic person. Astoundingly, he gathers all his courage and proceeds with his climbing. Lastly, he manages to help Reggie Ratner to slither across the roof safely to the ladder. In my opinion, Newt is a very good role model for teenagers because he could face his fear of heights by trying to climb the water tower. Regardless of the type of challenges we are facing in our life, we must be smart and try to solve our problems courageously. In this incident, it clearly shows how Newt overcomes his fear of heights and becomes braver in his life. [J: Justify] In short, based on the given evidences, it is very clear that we should find ways to solve our problems rationally. Life can be cruel sometimes but being brave and optimistic to endure those problems will definitely help us to overcome them. As for us, we also need these values to help make our life better.
AMNI, AFIQ, KAMILIA, ARIF AINNA SYARINA BT. KHAIRUL ANWAR NUR ATHIRAH BT. MOHD HANAFI SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 9: BASED ON THE NOVEL YOU HAVE READ, WRITE ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT CHANGES LIFE OF A CHARACTER IN THE STORY. GIVE EVIDENCE FROM THE NOVEL.
The novel that I have studied is Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford. After reading the novel, I realize that the novel has portrayed many incidents that change the life of Newt Newman. It can be seen when Captain Nobody climbs the Appleton water tower to explain the Big Tackle incident to Reggie Ratner. From the incident, Captain Nobody overcomes his acrophobia. The water tower poses a bigger challenge for Captain Nobody but he keeps climbing the Appleton water tower despite his fear of heights and risks his life to ‘save’ Reggie Ratner from what others believe is a suicide attempt. When he is halfway through, he stops and looks on to the ground. He is terrified as his position is too high from him. When he arrives on top of the water tower, he manages to slither his way to reach Reggie Ratner despite the other challenges that he has to face. Without wasting time, Captain Nobody calls Reggie’s name and introduces himself as Chris’ younger brother. Then, he tells Reggie about what has really happened during the Big Game as he dreams of the Big Tackle in slow motion. It is Darryl Peeps who knocks out his brother. As a teenager, we must be determined in life because it will help us to overcome our own fear. In short, Captain Nobody becomes braver after he goes through the incident of saving Reggie. [O: Opinion] Besides, Captain Nobody also becomes the hero of the city. It can be seen when he tries to save Reggie on top of the water tower. After they both talk to each other about the Big Game and the series of events, Reggie reveals his secret about the main point why he climbs the water tower. The truth is Reggie climbs the tower to paint the water tank with Merrimac’s colours but unfortunately his foot stomps a hole in the roof and his shoe is stuck between two beams. That is why he is unable to move. Without thinking twice, he helps to untie Reggie’s shoelace so that they can climb down together. They need to wriggle across the roof to the ladder without making a single hole. Sadly, the ladder cannot take their combined weight, Newt instructs Reggie to descend only once Newt reaches the ground. As Captain Nobody is counting every step down, he is surprised to see Reggie getting his hands on the ladder. Reggie steps on a broken piece of rung and hits Newt’s forehead and makes him lose his balance. Lastly, they fall down together. All the actions are broadcasted through the media and Appleton residents start to acknowledge Captain Nobody. In the end, Captain Nobody is hailed as a hero as the water tower incident also reveals other rescue attempts which has been made by Captain Nobody and his sidekicks. I believe that every important event that happens in our lives might be blessing in disguise. The event has totally changed the life of Captain Nobody, from someone who lives in the shadow of his famous brother to a well-known person. [J: Justify] In conclusion, this event is very interesting because it shows Newton Newman’s real character that should be serve as good role model for teenagers. On the other hand, we should be brave and also be humble in every situation because we are merely human. A life changing experience may lead us to betterment if we stay positive and be optimistic about it.
ZAMRI, AQILAH, HANAFI SM SAINS SEMBRONG FATIN NATASHA BINTI ABD. AZIZ BALQIS AFIQH BINTI IKHWAN SURAZI SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 10: BASED ON THE NOVEL YOU HAVE READ, WRITE ABOUT AN INTERESTING EVENT IN THE NOVEL.
Based on the novel Captain Nobody written by Dean Pitchford that I have studied, it is about Newton Newman. In the beginning of the story, he is a coward boy but at last, he becomes a brave hero. In this novel, I think the most interesting event is when Newt climbs the Appleton Tower to save Reggie Ratner. Firstly, by saving Reggie Ratner, Newt has overcome his fear of heights. This can be seen when Newt tries to save Reggie who has climbed the water tower, the tallest structure in the town, to spray on the water tank but people around the town think he wants to commit suicide due to the Big Tackle incident. Newt has acrophobia but he still climbs the rickety ladder courageously because he is the only one who knows the truth about the Big Tackle. When he reaches the top of water tower, he talks to Reggie and he does not feel scared of height as he already overcomes his fear. Apart from that, he also helps Reggie to untie his shoelace by slithering on the roof. Apart from that, when he falls from the tower because of Reggie’s obnoxious act, he seems to have absorbed all his fear and is able to clear his mind. This clearly shows that Newt has overcome his acrophobia. As teenagers, we have to take risks in every decision we make. Therefore, in relation to the novel, Reggie is saved because Newt has overcome his fear of height. We should try to challenge ourselves and overcome our own fears. [P: Personalise J: Justify] Secondly, from the incident at the Appleton Tower, Reggie Ratner’s name is cleared. This is shown when Reggie is depressed since people are blaming him for knocking Chris unconscious during the Big Game which affects his reputation. When Newt goes to the tower, he tells Reggie that he has a vision of everything that happens during the Big Game and the person who knocks Chris out during the game is Daryl Peeps. Reggie is relieved as he hears the news and he thanks Newt for telling him the truth. Everything is revealed in this incident and it also leads to Chris waking up from his coma. However, after learning the truth, Chris does not blame Darryl Peeps for the Big Tackle incident. Apart from that, both rival teams in Appleton become friends and start to appreciate each other. To become a better person, we always need to tell the truth to other people. So that, we can avoid more catastrophic events from happening. In short, Reggie gets his reputation back by knowing the truth. We must be an honest person in order to make life better for someone else. [O: Opinion] In a nutshell, this event is very interesting because it shows the virtues of being brave in our life and the real character of Newt. Furthermore, the truth prevails as I know that Reggie is not the one who knocks Chris Newman out but Daryl Peeps. We also learn that it is accidental.
HIDAYAH, ALIEF, MUIZ, FARADHUHA SM SAINS SEMBRONG ` RABIATUL ADAWIYAH RAJA NURUL ATIQAH SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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QUESTION 11: WRITE ABOUT A MORAL VALUE THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE NOVEL AND HOW THIS MORAL VALUE HELPS YOU IN YOUR LIFE. SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER WITH EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT.
The novel I have studied in Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford has taught me a lot of good things. After reading the novel, I learn that in life, we should be strong and brave. This can be found in the novel Captain Nobody. Firstly, we should be brave in our life because it is important in guiding us to be an independent person and more confident to ourselves. This is shown by Captain Nobody when he cheats death by saving Ferocious the ferret, which Newt gets to take the animal back to his home while he already has a plan to visit his brother after school. Then, he faces Ricky Ratner and six of his friends block his way. Even though he is only ten years old, he is brave enough to face Ricky, who is bigger and older than himself. In that incident, Captain Nobody and his friends, Cecil and JJ chase after the animal since the cage door is accidentally opened when Ricky and his friends tried to grab for it. They chase after the ferret until they reach the highway. Captain Nobody bravely crosses the highway and dodges the incoming traffic just to get Ferocious. Instinctively, he waves frantically and screams ‘STOP’ at the incoming traffic and at the same time, a small aeroplane makes an emergency landing on the highway. Imagine if Captain Nobody did not take the risk to dodge the traffic, he could still be in the shadow of his brother. The incident has taught me that being brave is very important in my life so I can be more confident person. Overcoming a life challenge will eventually lead me to a brighter side. Besides, being brave will also lead to a positive outcome. It is the most important value that can be found in the novel. [O: Opinion] Secondly, bravery can improve friendship. This is shown by Captain Nobody when he climbs the Appleton water tower to explain to Reggie the truth about the Big Tackle incident. Reggie Ratner is not a person to be blamed on what had happened to his brother, Chris. Since he hears the news about Reggie Ratner sitting on the tank of the water tower because he is stressed and depressed with people around him assuming that he had caused the Big Tackle, Newt feels dutiful to explain the truth. While Captain Nobody is on his way to the water tower, he keeps thinking that he has to tell the truth about the incident. Firstly, he needs to be brave as he needs to overcome his fear of heights. He gathers all his courage and proceeds with his climbing until he reaches the top of the water tower. They talk and get to know each other better. Due to his bravery act, Reggie starts to put his trust into Captain Nobody and follows his instructions. At the end of the day, Reggie is saved by Captain Nobody but unfortunately, Captain Nobody is sent to the hospital as he suffers some injuries when Reggie lands on him. Since that incident, they become friends and people from Merrimac and Fillmore High schools start to improve their relationship. In my opinion, being brave could also be a blessing in disguise. One good deed may lead to another good deed. It is clearly shown that bravery can improve our friendship. I learn that in a relationship, we must be brave to state the truth although it hurts sometimes. At least, it is better than lying which definitely will lead into bigger problems. [O: Opinion] In a nutshell, based on the given evidence, it is very clear that we should be brave in life. Being brave is very relevant in our life nowadays as the world is getting challenging and the person who is always being passive will not achieve many greater things in life. That is why I choose to be brave, just like Newton Newman.
ARVIN, ARIF, BALQIS SM SAINS SEMBRONG, KLUANG MUSLIHAH BINTI MOHAMMAD A’ASRI FATHIN RIFKA FAKHRIANIE BINTI AWANG SMA AL-MAARIF, KUANTAN
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