PLAY THE GAMES TO LEARN ENGLISH AND WIN PRIZES

YUEN Long JPC member Ho Yee-pak is the 'Triplets in Trouble' winner for May. 　　Yee-pak, 18, joined JPC last year and attends the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School. 　　Her favourite subjects are Chinese and Mathematics and she is a member of the Physics and Mathematics Clubs. In her spare time she also enjoys JPC activities, drawing and playing the piano.

　　Yee-pak has decided to put her well-deserved winnings into a savings account.

　　She received her $600 winner's cheque from Mr Michael Yeung Lai Tong, Manager Yuen Long Division and Yuen Long Branch, HSBC.

HONG Kong Police now have a new weapon against crime - DNA, or genetic, evidence. 　　New laws came into force on July 1 that allow Police officers to take DNA samples from suspects arrested for serious offences. 　　Previously, DNA samples could only be taken from suspects with their permission. 　　The DNA samples are most easily and commonly taken by swabbing the inside of a suspect's mouth. 　　DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the building block of life and contains the unique genetic 'fingerprint' of each person.

A Crime Wing officer demonstrates how to take a mouth swab from a suspect.

　　Hair, skin and body fluids such as blood, sweat and skin oils can provide DNA evidence at a crime scene. A matched or unmatched sample can irrefutably link a person to a crime or clear him or her of suspicion.

　　Teams of 10 to 12 officers in each Police Region started taking DNA samples from July 1. The Identification Bureau teams consist of 57 Scene of Crime Officers recently trained by the Government Laboratory to find and handle DNA evidence.

　　Chief Superintendent Crime Support Ian Mackness said: "DNA is our first new crime-solving tool in 100 years.

　　"Not since finger printing was introduced in 1901 have we seen anything of this significance come along."

How can you keep the Grammar Witch happy? Tell her which word or words in each of these sentences is an uncountable noun. There are countable and uncountable nouns in the sentences - so be careful! 1. "Would you like some ice in your lemonade?" 　asked Mei. 2. Please don't put your luggage on the furniture. 3. My baby sister loves to drink milk. 4. What do you use to make your hair so shiny? 5. Have you put the equipment in the car yet? Helpful hint! A noun is a person, place or thing. An uncountable noun is a noun that we can't count, like, water, steel or weather. Uncountable nouns don't have a plural.

If you are 'in the doghouse' it means that you
are out of favour, or in disgrace.

THE Police soon arrived at the Chan's flat. The ransom note lay on the table and Mr and Mrs Chan stared at it, almost as if they were afraid to touch it. Amy and her grandmother were sitting on the sofa as Sergeant Poon read the note out one more time.

　　"If you want to see the triplets again, leave $1 million in used banknotes in a Watson's bag in the rubbish bin outside the Hang Seng Bank in Sha Tin Centre by 12 o'clock on Friday. Don't tell the Police. You have been warned," it said.

　　"Now then, Mr and Mrs Chan," said Sergeant Poon, putting the note back on the table, "Can you remember anything unusual in the days leading up to the kidnap? Was anyone hanging around in the lobby? Or maybe someone followed you home from work, Mr Chan?

　　Amy's parents thought hard then shook their heads. "No, nothing, Sergeant," said Mr Chan. "Everything seemed quite normal. I'm sure nobody followed me."

　　Mrs Chan was looking tearful again. Sergeant Poon hastily tried to reassure her.

　　"Try not to worry, Mrs Chan. We have a few days before the kidnappers want the money and we can presume that the babies will be safe until then."

　　Then the moment came that Amy had been dreading. Sergeant Poon turned to her and asked: "What about you, Amy? Did you see anything unusual?"

　　Amy thought about the van she had seen parked outside her apartment block and the sound of the babies she heard from inside. She was sure she could remember the writing on the side of the van and the face of the man inside as he waited for his accomplices to join him.

　　Amy wondered if she should tell the Police? If she said something, maybe Ying-ying, Ying-yen and Ying-kai would be found and could come home.

　　Then Amy thought: "Maybe if I don't say anything, things will go back to how they used to be. I could have my own room again. There would be no more nappies or endless crying. And Mum and Dad would spend time with me again."

　　Amy bit her lip and made a decision.

　　"No, Sergeant Poon, I didn't see a thing. Nothing unusual happened."

(to be continued)

Questions

* Some answers require more than one word.

1. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'quickly'.
2. How much money do the kidnappers demand?
3. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'associates'.
4. Did Amy tell Sergeant Poon the truth?
5. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'fearing'.

* Entries to 'Triplets in Trouble' should be submitted no later than August 12 to PPRB, 4/F, Harcourt House, 39 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, through district JPC Clubhouses, or by faxing them to 2861 0167. Please state your name, JPC number and club. The winner will receive a $600 cheque.