Whodunit Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Necklace
Read Text C, and then answer Questions 2(a)-(d) and Question 3 on the question paper.
Whodunit Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Necklace
1
It was a gloomy afternoon in the heart of Kuala Lumpur when I found myself in the middle of a mystery that would test my wits and courage. My name is Amir, and I had just returned from school, eager to relax and enjoy the weekend. Little did I know that my plans would soon be interrupted.
2
As I stepped into our modest apartment, the air was thick with tension. My mother, usually cheerful and welcoming, was pacing back and forth, her brow furrowed with worry. "Amir! Thank goodness you're home!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. "Your grandmother's necklace has gone missing!"
3
My heart sank. The necklace was not just a piece of jewellery; it was a family heirloom, passed down through generations. "When did you last see it?" I asked, trying to piece together the events. "I had it on the dining table this morning," she replied, her eyes wide with fear. "I went to the market and when I returned, it was gone."
4
Determined to solve this mystery, I decided to investigate. "Let's start by checking the house," I suggested, my mind racing with possibilities. We searched every nook and cranny, but the necklace was nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to give up, I noticed something unusual. The window in the living room was slightly ajar.
5
We stepped outside, scanning the area for any clues. Suddenly, I spotted a glint of gold in the bushes nearby. "Over there!" I shouted, pointing excitedly. We rushed over and, to my astonishment, found a small piece of the necklace tangled among the branches. "This must be part of it!" I exclaimed.
6
Just then, a shadow flickered past us. I turned quickly, my heart racing. "Who's there?" I called out. A figure emerged from behind a tree, and I recognised him instantly. It was my neighbour, Mr. Tan, who had always been a bit peculiar. "What are you doing here?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.
7
"I heard some noise and came to check," he replied, his expression unreadable. "What's going on?" My mother explained the situation, and he offered to help us search. Reluctantly, I agreed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
8
As we continued to search, Mr. Tan's behaviour grew increasingly erratic. He kept glancing around nervously, and I noticed he had dirt on his shoes. "Where were you this morning?" I asked, my voice steady. "I was… gardening," he stammered, avoiding eye contact.
9
My instincts kicked in. "Gardening? But it's been raining all day!" I pointed out, my mind racing. "You couldn't have been outside." His face paled, and I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. "I… I must have mixed up the days," he muttered.
10
Just then, I remembered something. "The market! You were supposed to be at the market with my mother!" I exclaimed, piecing together the timeline. "But you weren't, were you?" The truth began to dawn on me. "You were here, and you saw the necklace!"
11
Mr. Tan's expression hardened. "You don't know what you're talking about," he snapped, but I could see the fear in his eyes. "I think you do know," I pressed on. "You took it!"
12
Realising he was cornered, Mr. Tan attempted to flee, but I grabbed his arm. "You can't run away from this!" I declared, my voice steady. "We're going to the police."
13
With the help of my mother, we called the authorities. When they arrived, I explained everything, and Mr. Tan was taken away for questioning. As he left, I felt a strange mix of emotions—relief that the necklace would be recovered and sadness for my former neighbour.
14
Later that evening, as we sat together, my mother held the necklace tightly in her hands. "Thank you, Amir," she said, her eyes shining with gratitude. "You've saved our family's legacy." I smiled, knowing that sometimes, the most ordinary days can turn into extraordinary adventures.
15
That day, I learned that mysteries can lurk in the most unexpected places, and it's up to us to uncover the truth.
Question 2(a)
Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words in bold.
Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words in bold.
(i) The atmosphere was filled with unease as my mother was worried about the missing item. [1 mark]
(ii) I felt a surge of excitement when I discovered a clue in the bushes. [1 mark]
(iii) My neighbour’s strange behaviour made me suspicious. [1 mark]
(iv) I was determined to solve the mystery of the missing necklace. [1 mark]
Question 2(b)
Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the words in bold:
Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the words in bold:
Just then, a shadow flickered past us. I turned quickly, my heart racing. "Who's there?" I called out. A figure emerged from behind a tree, and I recognised him instantly. It was my neighbour, Mr. Tan, who had always been a bit peculiar. "What are you doing here?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.
"I heard some noise and came to check," he replied, his expression unreadable. "What's going on?" My mother explained the situation, and he offered to help us search. Reluctantly, I agreed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"I heard some noise and came to check," he replied, his expression unreadable. "What's going on?" My mother explained the situation, and he offered to help us search. Reluctantly, I agreed, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
(i) peculiar [1 mark]
(ii) unreadable [1 mark]
(iii) off [1 mark]
Question 2(c)
Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer creates a sense of tension in the story. [3 Marks]
Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer creates a sense of tension in the story. [3 Marks]
As we continued to search, Mr. Tan's behaviour grew increasingly erratic. He kept glancing around nervously, and I noticed he had dirt on his shoes. "Where were you this morning?" I asked, my voice steady. "I was… gardening," he stammered, avoiding eye contact.
My instincts kicked in. "Gardening? But it's been raining all day!" I pointed out, my mind racing. "You couldn't have been outside." His face paled, and I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. "I… I must have mixed up the days," he muttered.
Question 2(d)
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in the following paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery. Write about 200 to 300 words. [15 Marks]
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in the following paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery. Write about 200 to 300 words. [15 Marks]
Paragraph 2: “As I stepped into our modest apartment, the air was thick with tension.”
Paragraph 5: “Just then, a shadow flickered past us. I turned quickly, my heart racing.”
Paragraph 5: “Just then, a shadow flickered past us. I turned quickly, my heart racing.”
Question 3
You are Amir, and you have just solved the mystery of your grandmother’s missing necklace. You decide to write an email to your friend, sharing the details of your adventure and what you learned from the experience.
- Describe the moment you discovered the necklace was missing and your mother’s reaction.
- Explain how you investigated the mystery and what clues you found.
- Share your feelings about solving the mystery and what it taught you.
In your email, you should:
Write the words of the email.
Write about 250 to 300 words. (15 Marks)