PLAY THE GAMES TO LEARN ENGLISH AND WIN PRIZES

KWAI Tsing JPC member Chiu Yuen-man is the 'Triplets in Trouble' winner for June. 　　Yuen-man, 11, attends the Yan Chai Hospital Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School where her favourite subjects are English and Music. 　　In her spare time, Yuen-man enjoys playing the violin and the Chinese flute while she also loves reading and playing chess. 　　Yuen-man received her $600 winner's cheque from Mr Anthony C F Wong, Manager Kwai Chung Division and Kwai Fong Branch, HSBC. 　　She says she will use her winnings to add more books to her collection.

THE Police Dog Unit (PDU) is to get a new home base at Sha Ling, next to the Border District Headquarters in the northern New Territories. 　　The purpose-built facility on a two-hectare site will be shared with the Key Points and Search Division (KPS). 　　The move will offer the PDU better-designed kennels, a large outdoor training area, advanced quarantine kennels, a breeding centre and an advanced veterinary unit. 　　The grounds will be planted with plenty of trees and bushes. Solar energy will be used to provide pollution-free and economical sources of energy. An artist's impression of the new PDU and KPS facilities at Sha Ling. 　　The PDU and KPS will share two, three-storey buildings with ancillary facilities that include offices, indoor training areas, outdoor exercise areas and a training field. 　　Assistant Commissioner Operations Cheung Chi-shum expects the new base will help the PDU and KPS to improve their services to the community and the Police Force. 　　In the meantime, the two formations on June 26 took up temporary residence in the former Government Flying Service facilities at the old Kai Tak airport site. They will remain there until their new base opens in late-2003.

Can you keep the Grammar Witch happy? Tell her which word or words in each of these sentences is a conjunction. 1. Mark always gets top marks because he 　studies hard. 2. The jury found the robber guilty so he had 　 to go to prison. 3. My sister is an excellent pianist yet she 　 prefers to play the saxophone. 4. You need to water your seedlings every 　 day or they'll die. 5. The tourists decided to visit The Peak 　although they only had a few hours spare 　before their flight left.
Helpful Hint! Conjunctions are joining words. They join two ideas together in a sentence. For example, 'and' and 'if', are conjunctions. "We visited castles on our holiday and we lazed on the beach."

If you 'smell a rat' it means that you have grounds for suspicion.

"AARON, I've got to tell you a secret. But, you must swear that you'll never tell anyone else. Ever."

　　Amy looked her best friend right in the eyes. She had been desperate to share her secret with someone and Aaron was the only person she could trust. She knew that he wouldn't tell anyone, but she had to make sure. Aaron had been her best friend since kindergarten. Amy knew that if he said he wouldn't tell, he wouldn't let her down.

　　"Sure, Fish-face, I won't tell a soul. You can trust me," said Aaron, wincing as Amy punched him on the arm for calling her 'Fish-face'.

　　The pair sat on a bench in Amy's favourite park, where she and Aaron usually went after school to hang out. They hadn't met there for a while, as Amy had been helping out at home. Her mum had been too upset to do much since the triplets had been kidnapped.

　　"OK," said Amy, "I'll tell you. I've done something horrible. You know I told my parents and the Police that I didn't see anything on the day of the kidnap? Well, I lied. I did see something."

　　Aaron tried to hide his surprise. He knew Amy didn't normally lie to her parents.

　　Amy saw his face and tried to explain. "It's just that I didn't want the triplets back! Everything was so horrible with them around. But now...."

　　"What?" Aaron asked.

　　"Well, I miss them. The flat seems so empty and mum, dad and gran are so miserable. They just sit around anxiously waiting for the phone to ring. Things aren't back to normal!" Amy cried, tears welling up in her eyes.

　　She told Aaron about the van and hearing the babies' cries. They decided to go back to Amy's home and tell her mum and dad immediately.

　　On the way, Amy remembered that today was the day the ransom money was due to be handed over. How could she have forgotten? She and Aaron raced back, hoping that the triplets would be safe and well. Then she wouldn't have to confess.

　　When they arrived at her front door Amy's dad ushered them in and told them the news. The kidnappers hadn't collected the money. Instead they had sent a message saying they now wanted $2 million.

(to be continued)

Questions

(* Note: Some answers may require more than one word.)

1. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'usually'.

2. What is Aaron's nickname for Amy?

3. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'straight away'.

4. Where do Amy and Aaron often meet each other after school?

5. How much money are the kidnappers now demanding?

6. Choose the word that has a similar meaning to 'nervously'.

* Entries to 'Triplets in Trouble' should be submitted no later than September 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.