The Singapore Story - Chapter 2

 Title: The Singapore Story - Memories Of Lee Kuan Yew (Chapter 2)

Author: Lee Kuan Yew

Chapter Review - Growing Up (Pg 25 to Pg 44)

Summary: Stories Of Lee Kuan Yew as he was growing up

  Lee Kuan Yew was born in Singapore on 16 September 1923. His father was a storekeeper and growing up, Lee Kuan Yew had to abide by strict rules. When Lee Kuan Yew was 6, he joined the fishermen's children school nearby, but in that school, he barely understood what the teacher said. After complaining to his parents, his grandmother insisted that he would still receive some education.

  In January 1930, Lee Kuan Yew joined Telok Kurau English school under the agreement of his grandmother. Finlly, Lee Kuan Yew understood what the teachers were saying and made progress with little effort.

  After putting in tons of effort, Lee Kuan Yew won a place in a prestigious school - Raffles Institution. Lee Kuan Yew entered Raffles Institution in 1936 together with about 150 top students. After getting help from an Englishman, A.T. Greive, Lee Kuan Yew came in first in school in the Junior Cambridge examinations.

  After graduating from Raffles Institution, Lee Kuan Yew headed off to Raffles College. In Raffles College, each student had to take 3 subjects. Lee Kuan Yew took English, mathematics and Economics. He was the top student in mathematics, but to his shock, for English and Economics, he was in second place behind miss Kwa Geok Choo. It was at that time when he realised he would have stiff competition for the queen's scholarship.

  In the 1950s, Lee Kuan Yew started his career as a lawyer, which was a occupation he had aspired to be.

Questions

1. Who is Lee Kuan Yew's father?

2. Who is Lee Kuan Yew's paternal grandfather??

3. Who is Lee Kuan Yew's maternal grandfather

Answers

1. Lee Kuan Yew's father is Lee Chin Koon. He graduated from st. Joseph's institution. He works as a storekeeper.

2. Lee Kuan Yew's paternal grandfather is Lee Hoon Leong. He was born in 1871. He was educated in Raffles Institution and became a pursuer on board steamer. He brought his wife and Lee Kuan Yew's father back to Singapore after Lee Kuan Yew's father's birth.

3. Lee Kuan Yew's maternal grandfather is Chua Kim Teng, a wealthy businessman. He invested in rubber estates and had speculated on the rubber market and had gone into property as well.

Vocabulary Section 

1. matriarch - A woman who is the head of the family.

2. Allegations - a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong.

3. Verandas -   A roofed platform along the outside of a house.

4. impartially - In a way that treats all rivals or disputants equally.

5. pictorial - a newspaper or periodical with pictures as a main feature.

The Singapore Story - Pros and Cons of the separation of Singapore and Malaysia

Title: The Singapore Story - Memories of Lee Kuan Yew (Chapter 1)

Author: Lee Kuan Yew

Chapter Review - Suddenly, Independence (Pg13 to Pg24)

Summary: Singapore separated from Malaysia

 On 9 August 1965 (at about 10am in the morning), when pop tunes on radios were cut off abruptly, Mr Lee Kuan Yew announced the separation of Singapore and Malaysia and that Singapore would be an independent country.

Q1: What are the Pros and Cons of the separation of Singapore from Malaysia?

Pros Of Separation:

1.  There would be no Malay Hegemony as Singapore is a multi - national country - everyone is treated fairly

Cons of seperation:

1. Singapore is left undefended as we do not have soldiers to fight for us.

2. No trading of items with Malaysia, so may not have enough supplies.

3. Lee Kuan Yew had left his allies to fend for themselves, which includes party leaders from various states of Malaysia.

Vocabulary Section 

1. hegemony - Leadership or Dominance over a certain area (state)

2. Oblique - Something that is said not very clearly and is hard to understand

3. demeanour - Ones's outward behaviour or bearing

4. recrimination - an accusation in response to another false accusation

5. Polyglot - Someone who knows many different languages