The Papan Hitam: Where in the world?

My friend Chong is in Australia for a holiday with his family. Do you know where Australia is? It is the largest island but the smallest continent in the world. Weird isn’t? It is located somewhere in the South Pacific, close to New Zealand and the Melanesian islands.

Chong wrote to me a letter and told me all about the interesting and wonderful things he has seen and done there. But he has one big problem – he always gets his tenses mixed up. Please help me spot his mistakes. Once you’ve found them, write them out in the blanks that follow.

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Hi, Cikgu Asmin!

I have been having so much fun since I arrive here 10 days ago. Australia is such a beautiful country.

But guess what? While taking a drive in the outskirts of the city with Dad the other day, I see kangaroos! Did you know that kangaroos, like the koala, opossum, wombat and wallaby, are native to Australia? They all fall into the “marsupial” category of mammals because they had pouches in the front of their bodies. These pouches are where their babies lived until they are old enough.

Unfortunately, the opossums I’ve seen have all “gone under the tyre” and lie on roadsides! But I did saw lots of sheep, cows and horses grazing happily in the fields! I also make a new friend. His name is Mark Webber. He is ten years old, of aboriginal descent. His forefathers were the original inhabitants of Australia.

He invites me to her grandfather’s house for lunch the other day and he show me how to use a boomerang. Do you know what a boomerang was, Cikgu Asmin? It is a throwing-stick that is used by aborigines to hunt. What a frightening thought it is that a little stick can kill even kangaroos!

These days, however, boomerangs just served as decorative items and souvenirs rather than weapons.

Well, I hope this letter finds you well. I will be back at the end of the month. Oh I can’t wait. Even though the weather here has been beautiful and the flowers in full bloom, there’s just no place like home. Until then, goodbye!

Your friend,

Chong