These eight original exercises follow the four lessons in order. Write your answer first, then open the explanation.
If you need a lesson, start from the vocabulary and idioms hub and choose the skill that matches your mistakes.
Exercises
Exercise 1. Replace the literal phrase: Guru meminta murid membayar perhatian semasa demonstrasi.
Answer
Guru meminta murid memberi perhatian semasa demonstrasi. “Memberi” is the usual partner of “perhatian”. See choosing precise words instead of literal translations.
Exercise 2. Correct the sentence: Dia pergi ke taman di mana kanak-kanak bermain.
Answer
Dia pergi ke taman yang menjadi tempat kanak-kanak bermain. Another version: “Dia pergi ke taman tempat kanak-kanak bermain.” “Di mana” is a question word, so it is not used to join clauses in standard writing.
Exercise 3. Say whether this peribahasa fits and why: Pelajar yang sentiasa membuat persediaan lebih yakin. Sediakan payung sebelum hujan.
Answer
It fits. The peribahasa means prepare before trouble comes, which matches students who prepare in advance. The tone is positive and it follows the point. See using peribahasa only when they fit the meaning.
Exercise 4. This peribahasa is used in a paragraph about a student who helps a friend. Decide whether it fits: Ada udang di sebalik batu.
Answer
It does not fit unless the helper has a hidden motive. The peribahasa suggests something suspicious behind a kind act. For a sincere act of help, “berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing” is a better match.
Exercise 5. Choose the best word: Persatuan itu berjaya (membina / mendirikan / membangunkan) cawangan baharu di daerah itu.
Answer
Mendirikan. A branch of an organisation is established, and “mendirikan” is the partner of “persatuan” and “cawangan” in this sense. “Membina” also works in a physical-building sense, but here the meaning is setting up an organisation.
Exercise 6. Choose the best reporting verb and explain: Ketua kampung (mengatakan / menegaskan) bahawa semua penduduk mesti hadir kerana mesyuarat itu sangat penting.
Answer
Menegaskan. The sentence contains “mesti” and “sangat penting”, which show that the speaker stresses the point. “Mengatakan” would be acceptable for a neutral report, but it undersells the force.
Exercise 7. Add three partner words for “pencemaran”, and write a sentence for one of them.
Answer
Partners: pencemaran air, pencemaran udara, pencemaran bunyi. Sample sentence: Pencemaran bunyi dari tapak pembinaan mengganggu murid yang sedang belajar di sekolah berhampiran. Your sentence will differ; check that it has an object and a clear situation. See building a topic vocabulary notebook.
Exercise 8. Revise this paragraph by changing four words or phrases and explain each change: Pelajar membayar perhatian kepada tugasan di mana guru memberi. Mereka memegang janji untuk menyiapkannya dan membangunkan jambatan persahabatan.
Answer
Pelajar memberi perhatian kepada tugasan yang diberikan oleh guru. Mereka menepati janji untuk menyiapkannya dan membina jambatan persahabatan.
Changes: “membayar perhatian” becomes “memberi perhatian”; “di mana guru memberi” becomes “yang diberikan oleh guru”; “memegang janji” becomes “menepati janji”; “membangunkan” becomes “membina” because “jambatan persahabatan” is an abstract item that is built up, not an area that is developed.
If you got these wrong
Return to the lesson that matches the skill: exercises 1 and 2 to the literal-translation lesson, 3 and 4 to peribahasa, 5 and 6 to distinguishing near-synonyms in context, and 7 and 8 to the notebook and the first lesson.
For timed rehearsal, use the timed original practice session builder. If you want a teacher to go through your answers with you, see online one-to-one Bahasa Melayu tuition.