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2015 jc2 GP h1 Prelim Papers PDF
2015 jc2 GP h1 Prelim Papers PDF
2015
General Paper
H1
1 ANGLO CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE P2
2 ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE P2
10 RAFFLES INSTITUTION P2
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All Colleges 2015 Prelims P1 Questions
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HCI Prelims 2015
1. What valuable lessons do you think your country could learn from some of its neighbours?
2. ‘Do your duty!’ Explore both the possible merits and potential drawbacks of always obeying this directive.
3. Should we be extremely excited or seriously alarmed by the rapid progress being made in the fields of robotics
and artificial intelligence?
4. ‘Rather than broadening our minds, most foreign travel only serves to reinforce our prejudices!’ How far do you
agree?
5. ‘The greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ Is this the best principle to adopt as the basis for good
government?
6. Do you agree with the criticism that charities are ineffective organisations that usually do more harm than
good?
7. ‘Mother Nature knows best.’ To what extent do you agree with this piece of traditional wisdom?
8. ‘Most non-conformists are merely attention-seekers.’ How true is this in your society?
9. ‘Nothing happens by chance – there is no such thing as luck.’ Discuss.
10. ‘Parents should decide for themselves how many children they want to have – governments have no business
trying to influence their decision.’ What are your views?
11. ‘There is nothing special about our species – mankind is merely a slightly more intelligent chimpanzee.’
Discuss.
12. Do you agree with the view that art and politics should never mix?
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NJC 2015 Prelims
1. ‘More than anything else, history instills a sense of belonging.’ Is this true?
2. ‘Parents are mainly responsible for their children’s success and failure in life.’ Comment.
3. ‘The most valuable commodity in modern life is time.’ Do you agree?
4. ‘Religion divides rather than unites in today’s world.’ Discuss.
5. Discuss the importance of understanding and appreciating the power of the written word.
6. How far is healthcare a matter of personal responsibility rather than the business of the government?
7. To what extent does your society celebrate diversity?
8. ‘Despite all the technological or medical advancements that we have made, we have not create a better world
for mankind.’ Do you agree?
9. Consider the view that there is too much importance placed on freedom of expression.
10. To what extent do women in your society face discrimination?
11. ‘Experimentation on animals is necessary for scientific research.’ How far do you agree?
12. ‘Uncertainty may not necessarily be a bad thing.’ Discuss.
RI Prelims 2015
1. ‘Disease is the greatest threat facing mankind today.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?
2. In the digital age do newspapers still have a role in society?
3. To what extent can Mathematics be considered a form of art?
4. Is the study of History increasingly losing its relevance in today’s world?
5. ‘Unlimited scientific research is the only way to make real scientific progress.’ Do you agree?
6. ‘The State has no place in the private lives of its citizens.’ Do you agree?
7. ‘The developed world should bear the burden of climate change.’ Discuss.
8. How far is your society prepared for the challenges that diversity brings?
9. Consider the view that science serves mankind better than religion.
10. ‘There are enough opportunities in your society to improve one’s life.’ Do you agree?
11. ‘Tradition does more harm than good.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?
12. Should international aid only be given to others during times of economic prosperity?
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RVHS Prelims 2015
1. ‘Love for one’s country is always a good thing.’ Comment.
2. ‘Education produces a population able to read but unable to think. Discuss.
3. ‘One cannot have one’s cake and eat it too.’ Consider this statement in view of the issues faced by women
today.
4. ‘Happiness is in your own hands.’ How far do you agree with this claim?
5. To what extent should the success of your society be measured by its economic growth?
6. Do you think the world will be a better place if everyone has a religion?
7. ‘The traditional roles of a father are no longer relevant today.’ Do you agree?
8. To what extent has the media advanced the cause of conservation?
9. Can the car as a form of private transport ever be eliminated?
10. ‘Science requires as much faith as it requires logic.’ Comment.
11. ‘There is no greater threat to countries today than terrorism.’ Do you agree?
12. How far is elitism a problem in your society?
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TPJC 2015 Prelims
1. Should wild animals be kept in captivity?
2. ‘Leaders must keep their eyes more on the present than the future.’ Comment.
3. Should fathers today stay at home and look after their children?
4. ‘Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity.’ How far is this true of the elderly in your society?
5. ‘It is impossible to contain conflict within national borders in today’s world.’ Discuss.
6. Is it true that humour makes the world a better place?
7. Examine the claim that people in your society are too dependent on their government.
8. ‘Having designer babies is our right.’ Do you agree?
9. Consider the view that the arts will play a more significant role in your society.
10. ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow.’ Is this good advice?
11. ‘Healthcare is the responsibility of the individual, not the government.’ Do you agree?
12. Is international cooperation the most effective way of reducing poverty?
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ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2015
CANDIDATE
NAME
INDEX
NUMBER
Write your index number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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For
Examiner’s
Read the passage in the insert and then answer all the questions which follow below. Note Use
that up to fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English
throughout this Paper.
Note: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passage.
1 What is the author implying by describing nostalgia as “at best a trait to avoid and at worst
a root cause of depressive illness” in lines 3-4?
[1]
2 Explain the author’s use of the phrase “rose-tinted” to describe peace in line 6.
[1]
3 Explain what the author means by the “universality” (line 13) of nostalgia. Use your own
words as far as possible.
[2]
4 Explain the two positive effects of nostalgia highlighted in paragraph 2. Use your own
words as far as possible.
[2]
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For
Examiner’s
5 Why has the author placed brackets around the comment in lines 16-18? Use
[2]
6 Using material from paragraphs 3-5 only (lines 19-53), summarise how nostalgia benefits
us. Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
[8]
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For
Examiner’s
7 What is the author’s purpose in describing nostalgia as being “like choosing neural Use
pathways” and an “inexhaustible bank account” (lines 64-65)? Use your own words as
far as possible.
[3]
8 Why does the author describe storytellers as “professional nostalgics” (line 78)?
[2]
9 What does the author mean when he describes nostalgic memory as ‘bittersweet’ in line
79? Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
10 What “danger” is the author referring to in line 90? Use your own words as far as
possible.
[1]
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For
Examiner’s
Use
11 In this article, Tim Adams describes the functions of nostalgia. How far would you agree
with Tim Adams’ observations? Relate your opinions to your own society.
Justify your answer with ideas from the passage and your knowledge of your own society.
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For
Examiner’s
Use
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For
Examiner’s
Use
[10]
REEC
Band
Mark
End of Paper
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ACJC General Paper Department
JC2 Preliminary Exam 2015 P2 Answer Scheme (with Examiners’ Notes)
From Paragraph 1
1. What is the author implying by describing nostalgia as ‘at best a trait to avoid and at worst a root
cause of depressive illness’ in lines 3-4? [1m]
2. Explain the author’s use of the phrase ‘rose-tinted’ to describe peace in line 6. [1m]
From Paragraph 2
3. Explain what the author means by the ‘universality’ (line 13) of nostalgia. Use your own words as far
as possible. [2m]
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4. Explain the two positive effects of nostalgia highlighted in paragraph 2. Use your own words as far
as possible. [2m]
5. Why has the author placed brackets around the comment in lines 16-18? [2m]
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From Paragraph 6
7. What is the author’s purpose in describing nostalgia as being ‘like choosing neural pathways’ and an
‘inexhaustible bank account’ (lines 64-65)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3m]
Paraphrased
Reinforcing some formative positive where nostalgia is a process of picking/deciding on
experiences over and over could be one specific memories that we want to revisit,
way of attempting to manipulate that
subconscious selection process. (lines
56-58)
…most people have at least one nostalgic and also a process of building a collection of memories
memory that they cherish and that they that can be used endlessly/without limit/ is always
can use repeatedly (lines 62-63) accessible.
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From Paragraph 7
8. Why does the author describe storytellers as ‘professional nostalgics’ (line 78)? [2m]
From Paragraph 8
9. What does the author mean when he describes nostalgic memory as ‘bittersweet’ in line 79? Use
your own words as far as possible. [3m]
From Paragraph 9
10. What ‘danger’ is the author referring to in line 90? Use your own words as far as possible. [1m]
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SUMMARY
6. Using material from paragraphs 3-5 only (lines 19-53), summarise how nostalgia benefits us. Write your summary in no more
than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8m]
17 and tends to make children less selfish. (line 53) 17 and makes them less self-centred/ inconsiderate.
No. of
1-2 3-4 5-6 7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14 & more
Points
Marks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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11. In this article, Tim Adams describes the functions of nostalgia. How far would you agree with Tim Adams’
observations? Relate your opinions to your own society.
Requirement:
Students should -
a) explain the functions nostalgia plays in their own society
b) describe the benefits and problems of being nostalgic
c) show understanding and engage with the ideas and views raised in the passage
d) support their views with relevant examples from their own society
Explanation:
Discuss some of the following in relation to their own society
a) nostalgia and its ability to forge social cohesion
b) nostalgia and its ability to forge optimism
c) nostalgia and its ability to encourage resilience and perseverance
d) the changing perceptions of optimism and pessimism
e) how people use nostalgia in different situations
f) how nostalgia encourages creativity and imagination
g) how nostalgia can be manipulated
Evaluation:
a) question/show reasons for subscribing/not subscribing to the author’s ideas
b) provide insightful analysis of the changing perceptions towards and the reasons why people would
want to adopt these mindsets
c) critically evaluate the functions and benefits of nostalgia
d) provide cogent development of arguments
e) give examples from their own society to support their views
Coherence:
a) adopt a consistent viewpoint
b) argue logically
c) organise answers into cohesive, themed paragraphs
d) link paragraphs to show continuity and direction of argument
e) maintain relevance to the task in everything they write
f) end with a summative or concluding paragraph/ sentence
Examiners’notes:
• Some students misinterpreted nostalgia as a bad memory, when it should refer to memories of a more
pleasant past (e.g. the brutality of WWII is not an example of a nostalgic memory).
• Some students launched into long descriptions of examples without sufficient analysis of how nostalgia is
used in the context of the students’ society.
• Several AQs were incomplete, lacked an introduction or had several lines left blank in the beginning.
• Many students discuss nostalgia’s effect on Singaporean society in the past, without drawing a link to
current times.
• Many students hastily launch into describing the Singaporean context without making a link back to the
reference/ main topic of nostalgia.
• Students frequently misunderstood how nostalgia was a “nationalistic, chauvinistic tool” that could promote
national identity and patriotism, whereas the author intended to show the exploitative effects of nostalgia.
• Some students hijacked the AQ, for instance, instead of discussing how nostalgia can or cannot inspire
altruism, they went on to describe how other factors inspired people to be more altruistic instead.
• Some students selected quotes/ references that are not related to the functions of nostalgia.
• Some students rephrased the author’s points too loosely and hence distorted the author’s intended
meaning.
• Many students provided examples that are trivial, generic, or/and insignificant.
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11. In this article, Tim Adams describes the functions of nostalgia. How far would you agree with Tim Adams’ observations? Relate your
opinions to your own society.
From the Passage Guiding Agree with author Disagree with author
Questions /
Discussion
Issues
1. Nostalgia fosters Does nostalgia • Reminiscing about past experiences • Nostalgia may lead to the exclusivity of a
social cohesion create closer does create closer bonds, especially if group of people. Singaporeans may
bonds amongst the past experience is meaningful. For become all the more xenophobic since its
Claims: Singaporeans? example, national service is a common history drives social connectedness that
‘…nostalgia is known to experience for Singaporean males and may leave foreigners out of the picture. It
be both a driver of Does nostalgia many NS men recall their past might be dangerous to falsely appropriate
empathy and social build gratitude and experiences fondly and form lasting nostalgia for nationalistic agenda (E.g. A
connectedness, and a connectedness friendships with their ex-army mates. retelling of Singapore’s history may
potent internal antidote towards others? portray the British and the Japanese
for loneliness and • Reminiscing about a past common unfavourably). Taken out of context, this
alienation…’ (lines 14- experience that Singaporeans identify may lead to xenophobic, anti-foreigner
16) with also unites and bonds them. E.g. sentiments. It may also lead to minority
Most Singaporeans felt united in their groups being marginalised and viewed
‘In group situations those sense of loss during the passing of Mr negatively, being seen as riding on the
with induced nostalgia Lee Kuan Yew. coattails of their predecessors and
not only tend to feel enjoying the fruits of the labour of others.
more closely bonded • Singaporeans also feel a sense of
with the group but also identity and pride whenever
more willing to form Singapore’s remarkable development
intimate associations the past 50 years is mentioned. The
with strangers and to be sense of achievement is palpable and
freer in their thinking.’ this common pride can be used to
(lines 66-67) drive them to be more compassionate
towards fellow Singaporeans. For
‘The ability and example, as part of the SG50
encouragement to celebrations, numerous clips of
access nostalgia also Singapore’s past were aired to
builds gratitude and highlight Singapore’s past to the effect
connectedness towards of creating a common, shared history
others.’ (lines 48-50) and identity.
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2. Nostalgia provides Do Singaporeans • Thinking about the past glory days • The more people dwell on the past, the
us with a sense of use nostalgic calms any anxiety we may have about more dissatisfied or uncomfortable they
optimism and hope for thoughts as a form the uncertain and volatile future as we may become. For example, in sport,
the future. of defence against feel that if we could cope with more comparisons with the victorious Malaysia
pessimism? tumultuous times in the past, when Cup teams of the past cast the current
Claims: Singapore was in a much less football teams in Singapore in a bad light
‘Nostalgia seems to be a Does nostalgia prepared state, then what the future – where the team used to be regional
kind of in built provide holds cannot be that bad and we can powerhouses, one cannot help but feel
neurological defence Singaporeans with handle and cope with whatever new that the national team has somehow lost
mechanism, which can a sense of hope for challenges come our way. its way. For older Singaporeans, it could
be marshalled to protect the future? be a longing for the days when life in
us against negative • Common unpleasant experiences such Singapore was simpler, less competitive
thoughts and situations.’ the Hotel New World disaster, WWII, and less crowded, leading to more
(lines 18-20) the split with the Malayan Federation, bitterness directed towards the
the early struggle post-independence government today.
‘…nostalgia and SARS remind Singaporeans of our
compensates for tenacity and fortitude, inspiring us to be • Nostalgia can evoke a sense of
uncomfortable states stronger and to ride out whatever pessimism – it is easy to see the past as
such as feelings of current crisis we may face. Negative ‘the good old days’ while the present as a
meaninglessness or a past experiences and the positive pale imitation of the past and for us to
discontinuity between lessons learnt from tackling them teach worry about our society in the future. For
past and present.’ (lines us to build resources to combat example, in the past, education was
20-21) potential crises. certainly a lot less competitive and
stressful for children. The frequent
‘…nostalgia helps build complaints and pessimism about our
resources like hyper-competitive education system and
optimism…’ (lines 31-32) its bleak future have prompted
government leaders to take action to
‘…reminding them to reduce the stress placed on our students
think of happier moments (E.g. Minister of Education Heng Swee
as a defence against the Keat’s repeated calls for our education to
present and a hope for move away from the emphasis on grades,
the future.’(lines 42-43) PM Lee Hsien Loong’s exhortation to
parents to let children play and learn
through play).
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• We may get trapped in a never-ending
loop wherein we dwell upon these
idealised forms of the past so much so
that we feel pessimistic about the future.
Like a broken record, nostalgia may
instead remind one of the past, that we
cannot help but feel apprehensive about
the future. For example, the sense of a
kampung spirit has been replaced by
unease over immigration and uncertainty
over rising costs of living.
3. Nostalgia helps us Does thinking • Thinking about the past hardships • In Singapore, the past was definitely a
build perseverance and about the past help Singapore endured as a nation – as much tougher and tumultuous era as
resilience. Singaporeans build well as learning from them (e.g. SARS, compared with the present – as such, we
resilience? 2008 economic crisis, race riots, haze) do not think about the good moments we
Claims: - has indeed driven Singaporeans to had in the past as much as we think about
‘…an “as if” loop – a Does nostalgia be more resilient in the face of the bad ones – we constantly draw on
mechanism by which help Singaporeans hardship. For example, plans for instances like the racial riots we
your mind can ride out tough recurrent problems such as the haze experienced in the 1960s and the pre-
temporarily affect your times? and MERS have been put in place by independence communist insurgency as
perceived body state.’ the government to ensure Singapore warnings that our current situation is one
(lines 25-26) continues to run smoothly in case we that is fraught with potential missteps. We
face the same problems again. are constantly worried that issues that
‘It was not a solution, but plagued us in the past will crop up again
the temporary change in • On a personal level, there are many and we compensate for this pessimism by
perception allowed them stories of successful people who use passing heavy-handed laws and policies
to crucially persevere their past experiences to fuel their (for example our libel and sedition laws).
just a bit longer.’ (lines resilience and determination to
29-30) succeed that have inspired • We are not necessarily more resilient
Singaporeans to endure hardship and when we think about happier times in the
‘nostalgia grounds us to thrive in difficult circumstances. E.g. past – instead, Singapore’s economic
and gives us a base on Lim Hock Chee experienced being a success through the decades and
which to evaluate the pig farmer and a failed business to relatively good governance have bred a
present as a temporary become the owner of the Sheng Siong generation of complainers whose sense of
state, and in doing so it group of supermarkets. Navy regular entitlement is a worrisome trait. In fact,
perhaps builds Jason Chee, who lost three limbs in an some worry that Singaporeans are more
resilience.’ (lines 33-34)
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accident in 2012, is back with the Navy content to take the foot off the pedal and
because of his love for his past career. demand a less competitive society, with
more social welfare benefits and safety
nets provided by the government.
4. Nostalgia drives Does nostalgia • Nostalgia can be marketed to the • Nostalgia may only fuel fleeting frivolous
creativity and drive creativity and younger generation in novel ways – fads. What the youth in particular are
imagination. innovation in such as retro-themed cafes like The experiencing is a “hipster heritage
Singapore? Coastal Settlement, Carpenter & Cook impulse”, a form of nostalgia that appeals
Claim: and Tian Lee & Co. Nostalgia can be specifically to young middle-class, urban
repackaged for it to be relevant to the professionals who pick certain aspects to
‘…inspiration or younger generation. reminisce about.
creativity, which are
correlated with mental • Nostalgia can be an inspiration for • Nostalgia may encourage people to just
fortitude.’ (line 32) creative works of art. For example, 50 do what worked in the past and not take
Years of Theatre Memories presents risks, resulting in an unwillingness to
‘The essays written in a the memories of 50 significant theatre adapt to the changing times.
nostalgic state were practitioners in an exhibition that not
judged more imaginative only shares their diverse, enlightening
and creative…’ (lines 72- and personal moments with the
74) audience but also creates an
informative, stimulating and playful
experience to enrich a wider
appreciation and understanding of the
theatre scene in Singapore. Films like
1965, Old Romances, and most
recently, Seven Letters, are also made
with nostalgia as the main backdrop.
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5. Nostalgia has Is it always true • Nostalgia has been very often applied • Nostalgia would not be relevant or as
longevity in its use and that nostalgia in national celebrations, such as the relevant to individuals who are suffering
can be easily adapted entails positive short clip of how Singapore’s first from any form of mental incapacities e.g.
across various forms memories or Prime Minister teared in his children born with severe autism, geriatric
and over time. experiences? announcement of Singapore’s patients with degenerative Alzheimer’s
separation from Malaysia in 1965, disease etc. In the case of the latter,
Claim: How might a describing it as a moment of anguish. memories and nostalgia of the elderly’s
‘…most people have at person’s inherent That moment also marked Singapore’s better, healthier days may actually bring
least one nostalgic temperament independence and the revisiting of this more hurt and grief to the immediate
memory that they cherish colour or memory has been used in many family or caregivers as they witness the
and that they can use undermine the use circumstances – in schools, as part of withering of their loved ones’ former
repeatedly.’ (lines 57-58) of nostalgia for the National Education Curriculum, selves.
more beneficial during National Day celebrations and a
‘Nostalgia in this sense is purposes? key video clip in MM Lee’s
like choosing the neural remembrance documentaries.
pathways you want to Can everyone tap
tread most often, like into or meaningfully • Nostalgia can be encapsulated in
creating an inexhaustible harness nostalgia various art forms such as movies and
bank account…’ (lines to seek hope and songs. National Day songs such as
60-62) purpose in their “We are Singapore” allow us to revisit
lives? Are there the days where Singapore was
‘…nostalgia stands out exceptional struggling to build its economy and
as adaptive - it is distinct circumstances? infrastructure, and striving to maintain
from these negative peace and stability within its
memories in that it is community. It reminds us of the past
always related to with the lyrics, “There was a time when
intimacy maintenance.’ people said that Singapore won’t make
(lines 79-81) it, but we did. There was a time when
troubles seem too much for us to take,
but we did.” This popular National Day
song takes the community through
Singapore’s history and though some
might view it as propaganda material,
most Singaporeans young and old
resonate with the ideas presented as it
revisits this nostalgia of Singapore’s
growth and development.
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6. Nostalgia can inspire Is nostalgia a • Nostalgia can inspire acts of altruism. • One’s sense of compassion or altruism
acts of charity. compelling reason As part of the campaign of “50 ACtS” and less due to nostalgia and memories
or motivation for in celebration of SG50, the ACS nor personal experience that inspire acts
Claims: acts of grace, schools participated in an event to give of charity. For example, when
‘…nostalgia is known to charity or mandarin oranges as an act of Singaporeans donated to causes
be both a driver of compassion? gratitude and thanks to those who supporting disasters like the recent Nepal
empathy…’ (lines 14-15) have contributed to Singapore society earthquake, many did it for the sheer
(they include healthcare workers, empathy for the plight of the Nepalese
‘The ability and lawyers, the Singapore Civil Defence and less due to having experienced the
encouragement to Force and cleaning staff at various devastation of a disaster.
access nostalgia also locations) during Chinese New Year
builds gratitude… tends Eve earlier this year.
to make children less
selfish.’ (lines 48-50) • Singaporeans also feel a sense of
identity and pride whenever
Singapore’s remarkable development
the past 50 years is mentioned. The
sense of achievement is palpable and
this common pride can be used to
drive them to be more compassionate
towards fellow Singaporeans. For
example, as part of the SG50
celebrations, ComfortDelgro sold little
‘red dots’, where the profits went to the
Lions Befrienders Service Association
(Singapore), the Handicaps Welfare
Association, the Cerebral Palsy
Alliance Singapore, and the Singapore
Association of the Visually
Handicapped.
7. Collective nostalgia Is collective • The ruling PAP may be leveraging on • Collective nostalgia may be challenging to
can be manipulated. nostalgia similarly Singapore’s nostalgic jubilee muster/rally, and may also encounter
manipulated in our celebrations to create a sense of resistance especially in a multi-ethnic
Claim: context? goodwill and connectedness with society like Singapore with a people of
‘...the power of collective Singaporeans, in order to gain the diverse aspirations and goals. As the
nostalgia. Is it not the upper hand in the General Elections to income gap widens with economic
fact that such feelings
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can also manipulate us be held by the end of the year. development, the Singapore government
into doing things, buying • Advertisers/Businesses make use of has been finding it an uphill task to appeal
things, voting for things, nostalgia as a marketing strategy to to Singaporean’s shared sense of national
that in more coldly encourage mindless consumption identity, despite the inclusion of National
rational states we might during festive seasons like Christmas Education into the school curriculum and
resist?’ (lines 84-86) and Chinese New Year, and major the commemoration of various ethnic
sale seasons like the Great Singapore festivities and national celebrations. It can
‘Nostalgia can certainly Sale. thus be said that even as a “nationalistic
be a nationalistic, tool”, nostalgia merely enjoys fleeting
chauvinistic tool.’ (line appeal or short-term indulgence as more
87) practical bread-and-butter issues take
precedence for most Singaporeans.
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ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2015
[Turn over]
GP 8807_2 Anglo-Chinese Junior College
ACJC 2015 General Paper Department
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2
1 Is it healthy to dwell in the past? Up until about 15 years ago most psychologists would have
suggested probably not. The habit of living in memory rather than the present, of comparing
how things once were with how things are now, was for several centuries thought at best a
trait to avoid and at worst a root cause of depressive illness. Nostalgia was the soldiers’
malady – a state of mind that made life in the here and now a debilitating process of 5
yearning for that which had been lost: rose-tinted peace, happiness, loved ones. It had been
considered a psychological disorder ever since the term was coined by a 17th-century Swiss
army physician who attributed the fragile mental and physical health of some troops to their
longing to return home – nostos in Greek, and algos, the pain that attended thoughts of it.
2 Since the turn of this century, however, things have been looking up for nostalgia. It has 10
become a focus of enquiry in university departments across the globe, a whole new field of
academic study that takes in sociology and political science as well as psychology. Some of
the research has proved the universality of the feeling itself – a new study shows the
commonality of nostalgia effects in 18 countries in five continents. Among the measurable
effects, nostalgia is shown to be both a driver of empathy and social connectedness, and a 15
potent internal antidote for loneliness and alienation (a fact which has led to the beginnings
of nostalgia-based therapies for illnesses that include clinical depression and perhaps even
Alzheimer’s).
4 In community experiments, research suggests that nostalgia helps build resources like
optimism or inspiration or creativity, which are correlated with mental fortitude. In difficult
situations and at life’s major transitions, nostalgia grounds us and gives us a base on which 35
to evaluate the present as a temporary state, and in doing so it perhaps builds resilience.
Leaving home for the first time, increasingly to study abroad, is among the most powerful of
these types of situations. By getting homesick students to describe one particularly
meaningful or positive memory, scientists have found that these memories are mostly
nostalgic narratives – whether collective or personal – and are predominantly positive 40
experiences. They do have elements of loss, maybe even trauma and sadness. But that is
posed in a redemption sequence: for example, “I lost my grandmother, but we went to the
funeral and realised how close we are as a family.”
5 It seems that as parents, people habitually and subconsciously invoke nostalgia as one
technique of helping children through difficult periods – reminding them to think of happier 45
moments as a defence against the present and a hope for the future. Does part of
successful parenting lie in trying to lay down experiences that children can refer back to and
use in this way – is that the impulse behind memorable birthdays and holidays? One of the
strongest predictors is the parents’ use of mental time travel. Parents who had encouraged
their children to think about past things that had been fun (and also future things that their 50
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3
children would do) had children who were always the highest nostalgia-prones. The ability
and encouragement to access nostalgia also builds gratitude and connectedness towards
others and tends to make children less selfish.
6 One problem parents face is that however hard parents might try to engender such feelings,
we have little control over what childhood experiences children will actually return to and 55
what memories they will use to create their sense of identity. Reinforcing some formative
positive experiences over and over could be one way of attempting to manipulate that
subconscious selection process. If there were to be therapeutic uses of nostalgia, they would
have to include methods to direct victims of one kind of trauma or another to positive
memories. One of the strengths of nostalgia is that even if they have not had a good 60
childhood, most people have at least one nostalgic memory that they cherish and that they
can use repeatedly. Once positive memories are instantiated they might have only
represented half an hour of one’s entire childhood, but we can dwell on them and return to
them forever. Nostalgia in this sense is like choosing the neural pathways you want to tread
most often, like creating an inexhaustible bank account which is there for you if you want to 65
withdraw from it.
7 In strongly nostalgic states, individuals are shown to be more likely to commit to volunteering
or other expressions of altruism. Their sense of the value of money is weakened, leading
them to make wilful purchases. Couples use shared nostalgia narratives to create and
strengthen bonds between them. In group situations those with induced nostalgia not only 70
tend to feel more closely bonded with the group but also more willing to form intimate
associations with strangers and to be freer in their thinking. In one experiment, subjects in
whom nostalgia had been induced were asked to set up a room for a meeting – those in a
nostalgic frame of mind consistently set up the chairs closer than those in the control. In
another experiment, those in nostalgic moods were asked to write essays, which were 75
compared in a blind judging process with those of peers, who had no induced feelings of
nostalgia. The essays written in a nostalgic state were judged more imaginative and creative
(storytellers, professional nostalgics, have long intuited this, not to mention poets).
9 Of course advertisers and political speechwriters have long understood the power of
collective nostalgia. Is it not the fact that such feelings can also manipulate us into doing
things, buying things, voting for things, that in more coldly rational states we might resist?
The nostalgists concede this danger certainly exists, particularly in group situations. 90
Nostalgia can certainly be a nationalistic, chauvinistic tool. We have to tread carefully if we
use nostalgia as a group therapy. Anything that increases the bonds within the group also
has the power to increase the negativity towards other groups.
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Candidate’s Name PDG GP Tutor’s Name
/14
Write your name, PDG and GP tutor’s name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen
marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. For
Examiner’s
Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you
must still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only
copy words and phrases from the passage.
1 What does the title “First Lady of Food” (lines 8-9) suggest about the perception
Americans had of Betty Crocker?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]
2 Explain what the author means by using “seduce” (line 20) to describe the efforts of the
companies. Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
3 Explain the paradox in “this illusion becomes their reality” (lines 27-28).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
4 Why does the author describe people’s attempts to take an immaculate Instagram-
worthy selfie as “hopeless” (line 42)? Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5 What do you understand by “won the gene pool lottery” in line 45?
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7 Explain how the author illustrates his view that “image has a stranglehold on society”
(line 56) in paragraph 5. Use your own words as far as possible. For
Examiner’s
Use
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8 In paragraph 6, what explanations does the author offer for some companies’ profits
remaining unscathed despite their “less than scrupulous practices” (line 73)? Use your
own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
9 Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony in lines 77 to 79.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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10 Suggest why the evolution of Betty Crocker’s image over the years has helped the brand
to “stay relevant” (line 88).
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……………………………………………………………………………………………….......[1]
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11 Using material from paragraphs 2–4 only (lines 12–53), summarise what the author has
to say about the benefits that branding and image have for companies, and the harms For
Examiner’s
they may cause to individuals. Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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12 Lee Anderson writes about the power of image and branding, and highlights some
possible effects on individuals and society. How far would you agree with his For
Examiner’s
observations? Relate your opinions to your own society. Use
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………
For
Examiner’s
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Use
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ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 Preliminary Examination 2015
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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INSERT
1 ‘Born’ in 1921 to proud corporate parents, the endearing Betty Crocker, synonymous
with boxed cake mixes and canned frosting, has been carefully nurtured into one of
the most successful branding campaigns the world has ever known. She was
originally created to provide housewives with cooking, baking, and domestic advice,
and, as her popularity burgeoned, she was given a face, a voice, and her very own 5
signature. Her appeal to housewives was so great that she had her own cooking show
and radio programme. She even became the second best-known ‘woman’ in America
in 1945, following First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Previously known as the First Lady of
Food, the name of Betty Crocker remains current today, sharing advice and recipes
with loyal followers on a contemporary and well-maintained website. All this is only 10
made possible with clever marketing and effective branding.
2 Branding has never been more important than it is today, as it helps a company to
maintain its prominence in the market. Apt brand promotion is necessary especially
with the increasing levels of global competition that businesses face in most
industries. To capture new markets, companies need effective branding to penetrate 15
people’s wall of indifference towards their products or services and create brand heat
and product lust. In the face of current economic challenges that have been gripping
much of the modern world, it is worth noting that brands do better in tough times
compared to unbranded products. Indeed, companies that can withstand economic
recessions are those that manage to seduce the growing middle class in countries like 20
India, China and Brazil into buying premium brands at premium prices, arguably to a
point of obsession.
3 Are brands really worth the price consumers pay for them? Nobody can deny that
some brands can remain appealing for long periods because of the tried and tested
quality of their products. Still, not all brands necessarily have products that truly match 25
up to their name. The appeal of brands is often built around people’s perception.
People see what they want regardless of the reality that surrounds them. Indeed, this
illusion becomes their reality. If facts were to rule the day in marketing, many of the
top consumer brands would be relegated to the bottom shelf. If not for the power of
branding in manipulating perception, many new brands would not evolve beyond 30
mere business plans, as some recognised brands have already established a
perception of strength, quality, or leadership in the minds of consumers. It seems that
all that matters in the world of business is that consumers believe in the image that
brands strive to portray. Hence, it is not without reason that some marketing
strategists believe that having a better brand is better than having a better product. 35
Brand is perception and perception is reality.
4 Indeed, so powerful is perception that it can even devalue how we view others and
even ourselves. Many, including celebrities, go online to build a particular image –
one that they may not morally agree with, and may even resort to lying and
deliberately engaging in destructive behaviour – just to get more attention from others 40
and increase their self-worth. Such obsession has morphed conventional branding
into a highly narcissistic exercise – one selfie at a time. People may make hopeless
attempts to take that immaculate Instagram-worthy selfie, only to be obsessively
analysed by others and even by themselves. On one end of the spectrum will be
those believed to have won the gene pool lottery and are deemed to be the epitome 45
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of beauty, and on the other, the ‘lesser’ mortals. Such obsession with image can also
cause great harms to the body and bank account. A simple and mindless comment
can drive some to break the bank to go under the knife to achieve the ‘perfect’ look,
only to end up as victims of botched surgeries. Others seek to complete presumably
worthy challenges – planking 1, batmanning 2, and fire challenge 3 – that get them burnt, 50
bruised, battered and bloodied. When people’s attempts to build a perfect image fail,
they often get ridiculed, which deals a further blow to their already low esteem, and
can cause them to isolate themselves from their peers and the world.
5 Despite knowing that image is superficial and that it is rarely real, people remain
fixated on their image and that of others. Seductive or repulsive, dazzling or ordinary, 55
chic or dated – image has a stranglehold on society. No one understands this better
than people with political ambitions, who often engage a team of professional image
consultants to coach them on their physical appearance, body language, and even
the way they speak to convey an image of a strong, approachable leader. Voters are
so attuned to embracing images that they are unknowingly swayed by such subliminal 60
messages embedded in campaigns. At the ballot box, it is the overall package they
vote for. Candidates with sound policies but with less adept political campaigners
often end up trailing behind in the polls and may not get elected.
7 Branding can have unintended effects too. Companies can be so fixated on projecting 75
an impeccable image of their brand that they may not be mindful of how a diverse
audience can interpret their intended advertised messages. Sometimes, the image
which was carefully cultivated can be perceived by consumers in markedly different
ways and ironically end up reducing sales. Victoria’s Secret’s tagline “The Perfect
Body” and its stereotyping of feminine beauty unwittingly communicated an offensive 80
message to an increasingly informed and vocal consumer base. Consumers today are
more than able to see beyond the guise of sophisticated advertising, and have no
qualms about castigating companies which they believe are promoting socially
damaging values. Companies that fail to understand evolving market sentiments can
unwittingly hurt their own image and brand beyond measure. 85
8 It is nonetheless unlikely that we are able to shake off the influence that brands have
on us completely. Brands seek to become symbols of quality and reliability in the
marketplace. Reinventing an image can help a brand stay relevant in the long haul.
Just look at how Betty’s image has evolved over the years – from a typical housewife
in the 1920s to a strong, empowered career woman in the 1990s, to a faceless brand 90
today. A powerful brand dwells and grows in the mind of the consumer.
1
planking: also known as the lying down game where the participant lies face down in unusual locations, keeping the hands along the body and the feet outstretched. When this
plank-like position is achieved, a photo is taken and then posted to the Internet.
2
batmanning: hanging upside down from something by the strength of your feet and ankles
3
fire challenge: the application of flammable liquids to one's body and then setting the liquids aflame, while being recorded on video
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Anderson Junior College
JC2 Preliminary Examinations 2015
General Paper Paper 2 Answer Key
1. What does the title “First Lady of Food” (lines 8-9) suggest about the perception Americans had of Betty
Crocker? [1]
Text Answer
She even became the second best-known Americans perceived/saw Betty Crocker as an/a…
‘woman’ in America in 1945, following First
Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Previously known 1. Esteemed person (the degree of the intensity must be
as the First Lady of Food, the name of Betty suggested in the student’s answer)
Crocker remains current today, sharing
advice and recipes with loyal followers on a 2. in the field of food/cooking/culinary arts.
contemporary and well-maintained website.
2. Explain what the author means by using “seduce” (line 20) to describe the efforts of the companies. Use
your own words as far as possible. [2]
Text Answer
Indeed, companies that Companies
can withstand economic
recessions are those that Idea of companies drawing consumers (force of attraction):
manage to seduce the 1. lure consumers into [1m]
growing middle class in
countries like India, To purchase products against their logic (Negative connotation):
China and Brazil, into 2. making ill-advised purchases. [1m]
buying premium brands
at premium prices,
arguably to a point of
obsession.
3. Explain the paradox in “this illusion becomes their reality” (lines 27-28). [2]
Text Answer
Are brands really worth the price 1. Stating of the apparent contradiction in the paradox:
consumers pay for them? Nobody can Products may not actually possess the same level of
deny that some brands can remain appealing quality in reality as what consumers think
for long periods because of the tried and
tested quality of their products. Still, not all 2. Reason why the paradox exists:
brands necessarily have products that However, consumers can choose to believe their untrue
truly match up to their name. The appeal perception of these brands (so strongly) that
of brands is often built around people’s
perception. People see what they want 3. Possible resolution of the contradiction in the paradox:
regardless of the reality that surrounds them. they think what is unreal about the brands is actually
Indeed, this illusion becomes their reality. If real.
4. Why does the author describe people’s attempts to take an immaculate Instagram-worthy selfie as
“hopeless” (line 42)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Text Answer
People may make hopeless attempts to take The attempt to take an immaculate Instagram-worthy selfie
that immaculate Instagram-worthy selfie, is a futile endeavour
only to be obsessively analysed by others
and even by themselves. 1. because there will always be criticisms by the self or
their peers [1m]
Words in bold cannot be lifted
2. and a picture can therefore never appear perfect. [1m]
5. What do you understand by “won the gene pool lottery” in line 45? [1]
Text Answer
On one end of the spectrum will be those Some people are lucky to be born with exceptionally good looks.
believed to have won the gene pool and whether one is born with the perfect look or otherwise is
lottery and are deemed to be the entirely random.
epitome of beauty, and on the other, the
‘lesser’ mortals.
Text Answer
On one end of the spectrum are those Those who are more plain-looking may be perceived by some to
believed to have won the gene pool have less worth than those who are blessed with good looks but
lottery and are deemed to be the do not truly have less worth.
epitome of beauty, and on the other,
the ‘lesser’ mortals.
7. Explain how the author illustrates his view that “image has a stranglehold on society” in paragraph 5.
Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
Text Answer
Despite knowing that image is The author gives the example of:
superficial and that it is rarely real,
people remain fixated on their image 1. Politicians who are able to package themselves very well (to
and that of others. Seductive or appear confident),
repulsive, dazzling or ordinary, chic or
dated – image has a stranglehold on 2. and the voters/people are subconsciously impressed by their
society. No one understands this image
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better than people with political
ambitions, who often engage a team 3. These politicians who may not have very strong policies often
of professional image consultants to win the vote
coach them on their physical
appearance, body language, and
even the way they speak to convey
an image of a strong, approachable
leader. Voters are so attuned to
embracing images that they
are unknowingly swayed by
such subliminal messages
embedded in campaigns. At the ballot
box, it is the overall package they
vote for. Candidates with sound
policies but with less adept political
campaigners often end up trailing
behind in the polls and may not
get elected.
8. In paragraph 6, what explanations does the author offer for some companies’ profits remaining unscathed despite their “less than
scrupulous practices” (line 73)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Text Answer
9. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony in lines 77 to 79. [2]
Text Answer
Sometimes, the image which was carefully 1. One would expect that the image that is nurtured would
cultivated can be perceived by consumers help appeal to customers
in markedly different ways and ironically
end up reducing sales. 2. yet the image backfired and resulted in decreased profits
10. Suggest why the evolution of Betty Crocker’s image over the years has helped the brand to “stay
relevant” (line 88). [1]
Text Answer
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Reinventing an image can help a brand The evolution of her image manages to adapt to changing
stay relevant in the long haul. Just look at preferences/circumstances in the world (in order to continue
how Betty’s image has evolved over the to be appealing to consumers). [1m]
years – from a typical housewife in the
1920s to a strong, empowered career OR
woman in the 1990s, to a faceless brand
today. A powerful brand dwells and grows in The reason it is able to stay relevant is that it constantly
the mind of the consumer. evolves to be in line with societal changes over time. [1m]
OR
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11. Using material from paragraphs 2–4 only, summarise what the author has to say about the benefits that
branding and image have for companies, and the harms they cause to individuals.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below.
Use your own words as far as possible.
(lines 12-14)
2 To capture new markets (line 15) Capture To attract new/additional consumer pool
Market(s) / consumers / expanding economies
(economies include people and markets)
6 brands do better in tough times ‘Do better’ Strong brands / companies with good
compared to unbranded products. ‘Tough times’ branding are able to cope with
Indeed, companies that can Withstand difficult economic crises
withstand economic recessions ‘Economic
(lines 19-20) recessions’ Note: Context of economics must be
present
7 seduce the growing middle class in Seduce make their consumers to exorbitant
countries like India, China and premium prices (for their products)
Brazil, into buying premium brands
at premium prices (line 21)
8 To a point of obsession (line 22) Obsession Where consumers keep paying high
prices in an addicted manner
From Paragraph 3 (Benefits to Companies)
9 Are brands really worth the price Worth Good branding allows companies to get
consumers pay for them? not all ‘Match up’ away with selling inferior goods
brands necessarily have products
that truly match up to their name
(lines 25-26)
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10 new brands would not evolve Evolve New companies can enter the market
beyond mere business plans (lines Plans with branding
30-31)
11 some recognised brands have Established Branding allows companies to build a
already established a perception ‘Perception lasting reputation
of strength, quality, or leadership in of strength, quality,
the minds of consumers (lines 31- or leadership’
32)
From Paragraph 4 (Harms to Individuals)
12 devalue how we view others (line Devalue However, branding can lead to
37) degrading / deprecating views of others
13 (devalue how we view) even Devalue (branding can lead to degrading views)
ourselves (line 38) and ourselves
14 build a particular image – one that It can lead to people engaging in
they may not morally agree with unethical /
(line 38)
15 resort to lying (line 39) Resort (turn to) lying,
16 engaging in destructive behaviour ‘Destructive And damaging actions
(line 40) behaviour’ *Do not accept negative behaviour (too
vague)
17 highly narcissistic exercise (line 42) Narcissistic overly focusing on themselves
18 harms to the body (line 47) Harms their body
Do not accept ‘waste away’ (wrong
meaning)
19 (harms to the) bank account (line ‘Bank account’ Harms wealth
47) OR
wastes their money
21 When people’s attempts to build a Blow Failure to achieve their desired image
perfect image fail, they often get Esteem can further damage their self-worth /
ridiculed, which deals a further confidence
blow to their already low esteem OR
(lines 51-52) their low self-worth / confidence is hurt
even more
22 isolate themselves from their peers Isolate Segregate themselves from their
(line 53) Peers *Do not accept general terms like
“people”
23 (isolate themselves from) the world Isolate (Segregate themselves from) and the
(line 53) World society
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world
12. Lee Anderson writes about the power of image and branding, and highlights some possible effects on
individuals and society. How far would you agree with his observations? Relate your opinions to your own
society. [10]
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CATHOLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 Preliminary Examination 2015
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
CANDIDATE
NAME
CLASS
Write your name and class on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid on your work.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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For
Read the passage and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks will be given for Examiner’s
the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and
you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use your own
words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words and phrases from the
passage.
1 From paragraph 1, explainExplain why the author compares the mass tourism industry to a ‘high
speed train racing toward a cliff edge’ (line 3)..? Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2 From paragraph 1, Wwhat is the author implying when he uses the word ‘illusive’ (line 9)? Use
your own words as far as possible.
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3 From paragraph 2, Wwhat does the word ‘infected’ (line 16) suggest about the author’s attitude
towards budget travel (line 16)? Using your own words as far as possible.
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[21]
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4 According to the author in paragraph 2, how are travellers different from tourists in paragraph 2? For
Examiner’s
Use your own words as far as possible. Use
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5 In paragraph 6, explainExplain what the author means by cheap travel being ‘a right, not a
privilege’ (line 567).? Use your own words as far as possible.
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6 From paragraph 6, explainExplain what the author means by ‘there is no magic wand or silver Formatted: No Spacing
bullet’ as used in line 589.? Use your own words as far as possible.
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7 Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5, summarize what the author has to say about the current For
Examiner’s
harms posed by mass tourism. Use
Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, Italic
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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Questions from Passage 2
87 From paragraph 1, Wwhy does the author insert the phrase ‘still exclusive’ in parentheses (line For
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98 From Wparagraph 2, why is ecotourism’s claim to be ‘sustainable’ considered ‘circular logic’ (line For
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12 Anna Pollock argues that mass tourism has reduced the value of travel, while Jim Butcher For
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argues that some types of mass tourism are beneficial. Which of the two authors are you more Use
inclined to agree with? Explain the reasons for your choice with reference to you, and your
society.
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11 Using material from Passage 1, Paragraphs 3 to 5, summarize what the author has to say about For
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the current harms and future challenges posed by mass tourism. Use
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Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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12 Anna Pollock argues that mass tourism has reduced the value of travel, while Jim Butcher argues that For
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some types of mass tourism are beneficial. Which of the two authors are you most inclined to agree Use
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Passage 1: Anna Pollock writes about the drawbacks of mass tourism
1 Despite the slow but steady increase in the number of enterprises claiming to be responsible
or green, the fact remains that the current system of mass international tourism is utterly
unsustainable. The industry resembles a high-speed train racing toward a cliff edge, crammed
with passengers with cheap tickets. International tourism has exploded in size since the 1950s
and swept into virtually every nook and cranny of the planet, washing up cash, jobs, golf 5
courses, airports and enormous amounts of real estate. Undoubtedly, tourism continues to be
a stimulant of economic recovery, generating more than $2.1 trillion in annual revenues. In
many countries and regions of the world, tourism is now the primary source of foreign
exchange, employment and cash. This illusive statistic masks the quality of jobs generated
through tourism for many developing countries such as Kenya in East Africa, which are often 10
low-paid, seasonal shift work.
2 Gleefully, the media reaps a lot of money from advertising holiday locations around the world,
but on a subliminal level, perhaps consumers have each become so addicted to the promise
and pleasures of cheap and frequent travel that the prospect of going without is simply too
much to contemplate. Perhaps, with the democratisation through budget travel, a form of 15
myopia has infected us all and we take for granted the chance to travel. Travel is reduced to a
superficial sojourn and we fail to see the bigger purpose of travel as a privilege to open
ourselves to new experiences. For one thing, travellers stay longer, prepare better, are more
discreet when there, and make an effort to know something of the language. Tourists move in
crowds from one must-see to another, typically looking but not always seeing, often 20
photographing instead of thinking, invariably devoting more energy to worries about finding a
lavatory and somewhere to eat rather than being open to new experience.
3 With more than 1.8 billion travellers within the next 17 years, the challenge turns out to be far
more complex than just the prospect of run-away volume growth on a finite planet. Even with
the worldwide growth of the travel industry, there remains uncertainties in visitor arrivals. With 25
the misguided focus on growing the tourism industry, many sectors are running themselves
into the ground financially as margins dwindle to razor thin. Meanwhile, thanks to congestion or
overuse of scarce water and land resources, many destinations are destroying the natural
landscapes and cultural attractions on which they depend. In Bali, each day, 13,000 cubic
metre of trash are thrown into the public dumps, only half of which is recycled. Colossal traffic 30
jams created by unchecked car growth congests many arteries: there are 13 % more cars
every year, for a mere 2.28 % increase of roads suitable for motor vehicles. The irony is stark
when the locally elected prefects in Bali are fixated on speeding up development to attract
more tourists to the extent that it is unsustainable. The environmental damage distances
tourists from the romanticised idyllic and pristine environment. 35
4 Apart from the ecological catastrophe, it is clear that mass industrial tourism would inevitably
dilute the wondrous experience of travel through sterile commodification. Travel has been
reduced to a sleekly packaged product that is based on mass-market assembly, distribution
and consumption and, as a consequence, one product is substitutable for another. The
commodification of what should be revered as unique is further aggravated by the application 40
of industrial cost cutting strategies of homogenisation, standardisation and automation that
further strip out any remaining vestiges of difference, let alone mystique. Tourists ‘do’ places
and rarely get the chance to stand in awe and wonder at ‘unique’ attractions.
5 The unruly behaviour of tourists also poses concerns for the host country. Some tourists
imagine that because they are abroad, they are no longer subject to the restraint of home. The 45
cliché of the drunk English youth burned lobster-pink by the sun, yelling and brawling, dressed
in nothing but Union Jack shorts and a can of lager is all too true (though admittedly his degree
of restraint at home is not much greater). Their inconsiderate acts have caused disruption to
the lives of the people in the host country. Even the sacred historic sites are not spared from
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the mischief of tourists. A Chinese student sparked an outcry in Egypt after scratching his 50
name on the wall of an ancient temple in Luxor. Thai authorities issued thousands of Chinese-
language etiquette manuals after Chinese tourists were caught drying underwear at a temple,
kicking a bell at a sacred shrine and washing their feet in a public restroom. Such culturally
insensitive acts have earned the ire and frustration of local residents.
6 Regrettably, more tourism often means less benefit to the host communities. Technological 55
connectivity and price comparison engines have shifted purchasing power to consumers, who
have been convinced, by repeated discounting, that travel is now a right, not a privilege. We
need to develop the idea of conscious travel and start to imagine a better alternative.
Unfortunately, there is no magic wand or silver bullet - change will need to occur at the
grassroots level, one destination at a time. It will require hosts to wake up and see their world 60
differently - not as a resource to be exploited, but as a sacred place to be protected and
celebrated for its uniqueness.
Adapted from “Six Reasons Why Mass Tourism in Unsustainable” by Anna Pollock
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Passage 2: Jim Butcher claims that some forms of mass tourism have value
1 Does mass tourism deserve this level of contempt? Is it really as bad as it is painted by the
champions of ethical holidays? One place I have never heard associated with ethical tourism
is the Spanish town of Torremolinos, 50 years ago, Torremolinos was a poor fishing
community, with high rates of infant mortality and low levels of literacy. Partly due to the
development of mass package tourism, it now enjoys levels of wealth and education that 5
enable many Spanish people to join the (still exclusive) club of leisure travellers.
2 But can ecotourism sustain the high moral claims that have been made for it? As a model of
development, ecotourism's claim to be ‘sustainable’ and ‘ethical’ resides in its ability to link
conservation and development. It is part of the growth of integrated conservation and
development projects that attempt to bring together these two apparently competing aims 10
within biodiversity-rich areas. The argument is carried by its own circular logic: revenue
through ecotourism means that conservation is incentivised, and conservation ensures that
the ecotourist revenue will keep on coming. Nevertheless, ecotourism has proven itself to be a
viable solution to strengthen, nurture and encourage the community's ability to maintain and
use traditional skill, particularly home-based arts and crafts, agricultural produce, traditional 15
housing and landscaping, in a sustainable manner.
3 Another category of ethical mass tourism - popularly known as dark tourism - seeks to engage
people to ponder on the afflictions of war, poverty, destruction and death. This form of tourism
that seeks to be a sort of memorial – such as Auschwitz in Poland and the Killing Fields
Museum in Cambodia – often succeeds in providing an education in an appropriately sensitive 20
manner. Usually, they are respectfully managed. Even the most controversial forms of dark
tourism, such as disaster tourism involving visits to actual war zones, are not necessarily a
bad phenomenon. Dark tourism must be understood within the context of the fast, globalized
society that we live in today; people have a strong desire to find out what is going on and if a
disaster is on Twitter and other social media sites, they will want to see what has actually 25
happened. The resulting empathy would spur them to be bastions of morality in this sea of
uncertainty.
4 Thus, ethical forms of mass tourism though controversial are still of value to society.
Eschewing such tourism would ultimately mean sacrificing the chance of development on any
transformative scale on the altar of environmental and cultural limits. 30
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Answer Scheme for 2015 CJC GP JC2 Prelim Paper 2
1. Explain why the author compares the mass tourism industry to a ‘high-speed train racing toward a cliff
edge’ (line 3)? UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted Paraphrase
2. What is the author implying when he uses the word ‘illusive’ (line 9)? UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted Paraphrase
3. What does the word ‘infected’ (line 16) suggest about the author’s attitude towards budget travel?
UYOWAFAP [1]
Lifted Paraphrase
with the democratisation through budget travel, a A) Attitude: Disapproving, critical, unsupportive
form of myopia has infected us all and we take for Ans: His attitude is disapproving because ‘infected’
granted the chance to travel. suggests that like a virus, budget travel has spread
and negatively impacted us.
The word ‘infected’ suggests that like a virus,
4. According to the author in para 2, how are travellers different from tourists? UYOWAFAP.
[2]
Lifted Paraphrase
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their comfort zone during the trip, but travellers
are willing to break away from their group/from
their comfort zone.
*Teaching Point - Answers must have some clear
sense of contrasting language, whether it’s A1 +
A2 (closely linked), or (A1, B1, C1, + A2, B2, C2)
*Understanding of more must be evident
NB: Each paired point gets 1 mark, 1 mark per pair.
5. Explain what the author means by cheap travel being ‘a right, not a privilege’ (line 57)?
UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted Paraphrase
Technological connectivity and price comparison Consumers have been led to believe that cheap
engines have shifted purchasing power to travel is/ has become a fundamental equal
consumers, who have been convinced, by entitlement (1m)
repeated discounting, that travel is now a right, rather than something that is exclusive / open only
not a privilege. to the enjoyment of a few (1m)
6. Explain what the author means by ‘there is no magic wand or silver bullet’ as used in line 59?
UYOWAFAP [1]
Lifted Paraphrase
‘there is no magic wand or silver bullet’ Magic bullet means something that solves a
Context: ‘Change will need to occur at the difficult problem easily without negative
grassroots level, one destination at a time. ’ consequences. (1m)
OR there is no quick/fast fix/solution to mass
tourism
OR Mass tourism needs to be transformed slowly/
little by little from the ground up / Alternatives to
mass tourism will not address the issue
immediately/entirely
NB: Students must refer to the subject matter of
mass tourism to obtain the mark.
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Lifted Paraphrase
9. Why is ecotourism’s claim to be ‘sustainable’ considered ‘circular logic ‘ (Line 11)? UYOWAFAP. [2]
Lifted Paraphrase
10a. In paragraph 3, why is the word ‘ethical’ in inverted commas (line 8)? [1]
Lifted Paraphrase
But can ecotourism sustain the high moral claims The author questions /has skeptical reservations
that have been made for it? As a model of about the claim that ecotourism is morally right.
development, ecotourism's claim to be Do not accept: Disagree/ Critical/ Disapprove
"sustainable" and "ethical" resides in its ability to (Para 3 is written as a counterargument)
link conservation and development.
10b. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘nevertheless’ in line 13. [1]
Lifted Paraphrase
But can ecotourism sustain the high moral claims NOTE: Answer must provide a sense of a contrast
that have been made for it? As a model of by using these phrases:
development, ecotourism's claim to be (a) Despite his belief that the premise is weak /
"sustainable" and "ethical" resides in its ability to although this is the case /
link conservation and development. It is part of
the growth of integrated conservation and PLUS
development projects that attempt to bring
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together these two apparently competing aims (b) he still recognises / begrudgingly
within biodiversity-rich areas. The argument is acknowledges the value of ecotourism as an
carried by its own circular logic: revenue through answer to the local community’s
ecotourism means that conservation is economy/sustainability
incentivised, and conservation ensures that the
ecotourist revenue will keep on coming. Teaching point: Author’s intention
Nevertheless, ecotourism has proven itself to be ‘Nevertheless’ is a conjunction that reflects a
a viable solution to strengthen, nurture and contrast being made, contrast must be made
encourage the community's ability to maintain and between a negative point from before and positive
use traditional skill, particularly home-based arts point
and crafts, agricultural produce, traditional
housing and landscaping, in a sustainable
manner.
11. What explanations does the author offer for the growth of ‘dark tourism’? UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted Paraphrase
Summary
7. Using material from paragraphs 3 - 5, summarize what the author has to say about the current harms
posed by mass tourism.
Para 3 A Deluded/ Wrong emphasis / direction / ill-
Misguided focus on growing the tourism conceived in developing the tourism industry
industry
Many sectors are running themselves B Many sectors are making extreme losses/
into the ground financially as margins bearing too much costs /facing economic
dwindle to razor thin collapse / bankruptcy / on a downward spiral
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*answer must reflect intensity
overuse of scarce water and land D over-/ excessive reliance on limited natural
resources resources
to the extent that it is unsustainable I to the point that it cannot be maintained over
(Inferred) the long term/ managed / to a destructive
level
from the romanticised idyllic and pristine K from the idealised untainted beauty of the
environment place
commodification M2 Commercialization
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that are a result of mass production.
one product is substitutable for another O the goods become replaceable / goods are
strategies of homogenisation, manufactured/produced to look identical / the
standardisation and automation that items become generic
further strip out any remaining vestiges
of difference Accepted: Mass production
the commodification of what should be
revered as unique Lift: Differentiated
rarely get the chance to stand in awe R they do not often have the opportunity to
and wonder at “unique” attractions marvel at distinctive/exceptional attractions
they are no longer subject to the restraint S while touring, they do not need to adhere to
of home the social norms/rules/expectations of their
country/society
have caused disruption to the lives of U have disturbed / negatively affected the
the people in the host country. locals’ way of life / adversely/imposed on the
lives of the locals
Even the sacred historic sites are not V to the extent that the respected/revered holy
spared places are marred/desecrated by their acts
*Lack of Respect = BOD
Such culturally insensitive acts W Such behaviour has angered and irritated the
have earned the ire and frustration of locals.
local residents The tourists’ thoughtless disrespect of the
locals’ traditions/heritage have angered the
locals
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Marks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
“we fail to see the bigger purpose of EV (Agree): Tourism has become a popular global leisure
travel as a privilege to open ourselves activity particularly for those who can afford to leave the
to new experiences.” country to enjoy the benefits of leisure time and to get away
from the stressful confines of the workplace. Seen in this
light, mass tourism with its packaged tours and packed
itineraries, allow their clients to visit various key attractions
and sites in the limited time available to them (e.g. 3 days to
two weeks), to take their selfies and photographs and to
boast of having visited some or many significant places of
interest in that time. In such cases, the travel experience
becomes a superficial one and a ‘numbers game’, where the
purpose is to have visited a country rather than to have learnt
more about the culture and way of life of the locals. The easy
access to various countries as a result of technology and
growth of the travel industry is easily taken for granted.
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different travel operators.
“Many sectors are running themselves EV (Agree): While not really pertinent to Singapore, this may
into the ground financially as margins be true for countries who are overly-reliant on tourism and the
dwindle to razor thin” industry may be hit by uncertain political situations, terrorism
and health epidemic that could cause a huge dip in tourism
arrivals. Tourism is largely seasonal, and businesses in
places like Thailand are struggling from a fall in tourist
numbers due to the military coup and political protests that
have driven tourists away in 2014. The most recent example
being Malaysia’s Sabah due to the earthquake and Korea as
a result of the Ebola outbreak.
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changed direction to attract more sophisticated travellers who
tend to stay longer and spend more - and as such, even with
more uncertainties in political situations and aviation
accidents, tourism receipts are still healthy despite a drop in
tourism arrivals and sports events such as F1 help to
rejuvenate the retail sector. According to STB, tourism
increased slightly to $23.6 billion in 2014 from $23 billion the
previous year. The fact that STB is pumping in more money
to galvanise attractions like the Project Jewel and revamp the
Zoo with the River Safari shows that margins have not
dwindled to razor thin.
“Travel has been reduced to a sleekly EV (Agree): Commercialisation has diluted the authenticity of
packaged product that is based on the the cultural experiences.
mass-market assembly” E.g. Hawaii or New Zealand where the essence of the culture
is packaged in a way that it appeals to the tourist
convenience and accessibility. E.g NZ’s Hangi experience
and the Hawaiian’s Hula dance is now more dramatized and
presented out of its historical context.
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authenticity of the cultural monuments/environment/buildings.
E.g. Cambodians work with Japan and India to restore parts
of Ang Kor Wat in its original form. In Italy, tourists are not
permitted to take photographs or to touch the physical
structures of some churchs to ensure that there is no further
damage to the buildings.
“The unruly behaviour of tourists also EV (Agree): The reports of unruly tourists behaving poorly on
poses concerns for the host country” airlines or the host countries have been on the rise. Tourists
very often bring with them their habits which might be
considered cultural norms in their own country which has led
to problems when such tourists disrespect the rules and
cultural norms of the host country.
E.g 1: Mt Kinabalu earthquake in June was blamed on the
foreign tourists who ‘showed disrespect to the sacred
mountain’ by posing naked on the mountain. Even after
having been arrested, Emil Kaminski who became infamous
among the online community after posting the pictures has
not apologised and since called Masidi Manjun, the minister
for tourism, culture and environment in the East Malaysian
state of Sabah, an "idiot" and "not a minister of tourism" for
blaming the nudists for the quake, which left at least 16
people dead.
Eg 2: Tourists China's economy saw a major boom over the
past decade raising the income levels of its middle class and
their ability to travel out of the country. A total of $102bn
(£70bn) was spent by Chinese travellers overseas in 2012,
which makes them the world's biggest spenders followed by
German and US tourists, according to the UN World Tourism
Organization. Earlier this year, several Chinese tourists
reportedly outraged locals in Thailand by drying
undergarments at the airport, defecating in public and kicking
a bell at a temple. News of such reports has embarrassed
China such that the government is set to form a "blacklist" of
its citizens who behave badly as tourists abroad. The
National Tourism Administration (NTA) will create a database
of people who commit offences overseas and their names will
be passed onto police, banks and customs officials. A 64-
page 'Guidebook for Civilized Tourism' was also written,
advising tourists on appropriate behaviour.
EV (Disagree): Although the concerns raised are valid, the
fear of unruly tourists are only a reflection of a small group of
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tourists and is not a global phenomena
“the impact of tourism revenues from the 1960s EX (Agree): Singapore has been recognized as a
played an important part in Spain's economic tourist destination - indeed it has reaped the
modernisation, and, some even argue, in breaking economic benefits of tourism - with SGD 23.5 to
down social conservatism”[1] SGD 24 billion expected in tourist receipts this
year, tourism has become one of the country’s
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major industries.
“As a model of development, ecotourism's claim to EV (Agree) The argument prima facie is plausible.
be "sustainable" and "ethical" resides in its ability Tourism that is informed and derives its inspiration
to link conservation and development” not only from commercial motivations but also
from moral concerns about the environment can
indeed significantly contribute to its preservation
and pave the way for further progress in this
regard if managed in the right way. Singapore, in
many different ways, is living proof of this. Apart
from being established as a commercial hub, it
has strategically built up and integrated ecological
concerns with economic considerations through its
concept of a ‘Garden’ city.
And within its national boundaries, despite limited
space, certain areas of land have been set aside
for nature reserves (e.g. Bukit Timah Forest
Nature Reserve) and also its world famous
Botanical Gardens - giving rise to a win-win
situation on both fronts, in terms of generating
millions of tourist dollars and at the same time
developing and consolidating community eco-
consciousness.
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EV (Disagree) The argument is superficially
plausible. Examined more closely, its claim to
credibility becomes far less tenable and
defensible. Ever since the rise and spread of
capitalism, and its ideology of material greed and
economic exploitation, it has become increasingly
apparent (for anyone who opens their eyes) that
the desires of economic gain and ecological
preservation cannot coexist harmoniously over the
long term, and in the end, every time, the
environment loses out. Why do we now have
global warming? Why are the polar ice caps
melting? Why are we seeing more extreme
weather in this new century? Eco-tourism amounts
to nothing more than sham tourism.
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“This form of tourism that seeks to be a sort of EV (Disagree): The purpose of acting as a
memorial… often succeeds in providing an memorial for victims may be eroded due to tourists
education in an appropriately sensitive manner.” acting in a disrespectful or unsympathetic manner.
There may be a propensity for such behaviour
especially when such an experience is so vastly
different from one’s own life, when one holds onto
conventional notions of what being a tourist entails
and when one merely goes with the intention of
experiencing something ‘thrilling’ in a type of
tourism that is distinctly different from other types.
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CANDIDATE NAME CLASS INDEX NUMBER
6C __ __ 0 0 __ __
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
[Turn over
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2
1 Time is such a fundamental concept that one finds it almost impossible to refer to it without
mentioning its name. Yet, it is a notion that still eludes us and scholars have trouble
coming to an agreement on its definition. From day to night, to the changing of the
seasons, every single portion of time carries with it varying significance to our survival.
One thing is for sure though, no one escapes its effects. People can only track animals for 5
food when there is adequate light from the sun; we need to ward against nocturnal
predators when the light goes out; the warmth of the long summer days brings with it
bountiful harvests; the frigid temperatures of the dreadfully long winter nights remind us to
ration our caches well. Even the recurring periods of dusk and dawn compel us to adopt a
daily regime. It is no wonder that throughout civilisation, we are constantly trying to perfect 10
our measurement of the flow of time – from crude sundials and hourglasses to the precise
millisecond afforded by cesium atomic clocks – just so we can live to see another day.
3 For all commodities that are important – and scarce – we attach higher price tags to them,
time included. With the penetration of technology on a global scale, economies are now
inter-linked. It does not matter whether we are on Greenwich Mean Time or Pacific Time;
as long as someone is awake in one part of the world, the rest must follow suit or risk 30
losing the chance to make more money. Playing the stock market is essentially playing the
game of time – we monitor trends as closely as possible, making sure that we buy and sell
at the right moment to strike a windfall, or at the very least, not plunge into bankruptcy. The
media industry exploits our obsession with time, churning out classics like Back to the
Future, Doctor Who, and The Girl who Leapt through Time, with the common theme of 35
protagonists trying to control time. Authors of self-help books also jump on the bandwagon
by playing on our fear of inefficiency, admonishing us about squandering away time on our
vices and then urging us to toil to make every second count. Ultimately, it is deeply
ingrained in us that time is money (as espoused by Benjamin Franklin).
4 For that reason, we buy cars so that we might reach our destination faster, and invest in 40
newer and faster laptops so that we might complete our work sooner. We outsource work
that seems mundane or trivial, so that we can redeem time that we think would otherwise
be wasted on worthless tasks. As such, we pay our domestic helpers to cook for us so that
we can focus on the more important task of educating our children, leave our canine
friends with dog-walkers at $20 for a 20-minute session so that we can just play with them 45
(presumably loving one’s pet does not include being personally involved in taking care of
its basic needs), let concierge services remind us of our loved ones’ birthdays and help us
get the perfect present just in time. After all, are we not looking for the fastest and most
efficient way to show our love and respect for the ones we care for? Unsurprisingly, certain
time-saving service industries have become increasingly popular in major cities; they are 50
particularly patronised by young people who are mesmerised by the time-is-money notion.
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3
5 That we might exchange money for time is the prerogative of those who are more affluent;
we think we have the capital and capability to fill up our pot, or more accurately, pots of 55
gold quickly. Typically, we believe that the exchange is a well-calculated move which
creates more productive time for us to roll in more personal profits. This obsession to count
every minute can be attributed fundamentally to meritocratic societies and individualistic
cultures which emphasise, reward and celebrate personal achievements. We have come to
wear our ranks like little scouts with multiple badges. As economies grow and incomes rise, 60
our finite time becomes even more valuable and we start to get more anxious about the
degree to which we have used time profitably and meaningfully. In wealthier cities like New
York, higher wages and soaring costs of living raise the value of people’s time even further
which explains why rich city-dwellers are thriftier with their minutes than residents of
Nairobi. Within cities, in the corporate world, executives everywhere are afflicted with a 65
perennial time-scarcity problem. Gallup, a polling company, reported in 2011 that “the more
cash-rich working Americans are, the more time-poor they feel”. Professionals today are
twice as likely to work long hours as their less-educated peers. Lunches (and even dinners)
now tend to be efficiently sloshed down at one’s desk, with an eye on the screen and its
multiple windows. When we finally dare to leave the office, the constant beeping of our 70
smartphones reminds us that our work never gets done.
6 As we pack in more tasks in a day to save time, we invariably let time slip like sand through
our fingers. We shrug our shoulders and accept the refrain: we win some and we lose
some. Modernisation is akin to a Trojan Horse, bringing us some victories but possibly
destroying us in the midst. But who has time for such complex soul-searching, especially 75
when it promises no returns at the end of lengthy reflection? And so, a generation of us
continue to run life’s treadmill, hit our milestones and help our children reach theirs without
really thinking about what Life is or should be. Alas, if Time be our Idol, we would not idle.
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4
BLANK PAGE
Acknowledgements:
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DUNMAN HIGH SCHOOL
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
CANDIDATE
NAME
INDEX
CLASS 6 C NUMBER 0 0
Write your Class, index number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
AQ Mark
Content / 35
Language / 15
Total / 50
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2
Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks will For
Examiner’s
be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and
you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use your own
words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words and phrases from
the passage.
[1]
2 In the first paragraph, explain the effects of time on our survival. Use your own words as far
as possible.
[3]
3 Explain how the examples given in lines 15–21 show the ways we can turn the tides of war to
our advantage.
[2]
4 Suggest two reasons why the author compares playing the stock market to playing the game of
time in lines 31–33.
[2]
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3
5 In paragraph 5, explain why the author thinks that those who are more affluent are more likely to For
Examiner’s
exchange money for time. Use your own words as far as possible. Use
[3]
[1]
7 In paragraph 5, what differences are there between life in New York and Nairobi? Use your
own words as far as possible.
[2]
8 What does the phrase ‘run life’s treadmill’ in line 77 suggest about how we live our life?
[1]
9 Suggest why the author uses the sentence ‘Alas, if Time be our Idol, we would not idle’ in line
78. Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
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4
10 Using material from paragraphs 3–4 only, summarise the ways in which time is associated with For
Examiner’s
monetary value. Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
[8]
[ ______ words]
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5
11 In this article, Justin Thyme shares his observations on how the modern world views time. How For
Examiner’s
valuable is time to you and your society? Use
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6
For
Examiner’s
Use
[10]
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DUNMAN HIGH SCHOOL
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
INDEX
CLASS 6 C NUMBER
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2
Question 1
Explain the irony in lines 1-3. [1]
Lifted Inferred
Time is such a fundamental concept that one People do not have a standardised
finds it almost impossible to refer to it without understanding of time and we would not have
mentioning its name. Yet, it is a notion that still expected people to be clear about what we are
eludes us and scholars have trouble coming to referring to and yet we use the term ‘time’ as if
an agreement on its definition. we all know what we all mean.
OR
Question 2
In paragraph 1, explain the effects of time on our survival. Use your own words as far as
possible. [3]
Lifted Paraphrased
(a) People can only track animals for food when a) People could only hunt when there is enough
there is adequate light from the sun; sunlight / in the day
(b) we need to ward against nocturnal predators b) we need to guard against / protect ourselves
when the light goes out; from animals in the night
(c) the warmth of the long summer days brings c) heat in summer is needed to grow food in
with it bountiful harvests; abundance
(d) the frigid temperatures of the dreadfully long (reference to seasons required; sunlight
winter nights remind us to ration our caches well. only not acceptable)
(e) Even the recurring periods of dusk and dawn d) extreme cold in winter signals for us to
compel us to adopt a daily regime. portion / budget/ save our supplies
(reference to seasons; no need degree)
(reference to seasons)
e) even the transitional/ diurnal periods of the
day force us into a routine
1-2 points = 1m
3-4 points = 2m
5 points = 3m
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3
Question 3
Explain how the examples given in lines 15 – 21 show the ways we can turn the tides of war to our
advantage. [2]
Lifted Inferred
Whether to strike while the iron is hot or Key elements: surprise and patience
to bide one’s time, we are constantly on the Should be about strategy and not the result
lookout for opportune moments to turn the tides Needs to be explained in relation to the
of war to our advantage: example/ context. Can collapse 2 examples.
Richard the Lionheart led a sudden shock attack Richard the Lionheart’s unexpected charge /
after suffering many hours of arrow rain to offense shows how we need to act at the right
decimate the Saracens in the Battle of Arsuf moment or risk losing the chance forever. [1m]
during the Third Crusade;
the destruction of three Roman legions in the Arminius lying in wait to trap the enemy shows
Teutoburg Forest by Arminius and a troop of how we should wait patiently for a good
Germans remains one of the most successful opportunity to act. [1m]
and consequential ambushes in history.
Question 4
Suggest two reasons why the author compares playing the stock market to playing the game of time
in lines 32 – 33. [2]
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4
Question 5
In paragraph 5, explain why the author thinks that those who are more affluent are more likely to
exchange money for time. Use your own words as far as possible. Use your own words as far as
possible. [3]
Lifted Paraphrased
We (a) think we have the (b) capital and (c) They (a) imagine/ perceive that they have the
capability to fill up our pot, or more accurately, (b) resources/ financial resources/ money and
pots of gold quickly. (c) ability/ talent to make even more money at a
fast pace.
Typically, we (a) believe that the exchange is a They are also (a) certain that they have
(d) well-calculated move which creates more (d) well thought of ways to achieve success
productive time for us to roll in more personal more quickly.
profits.
… As economies grow and incomes rise, our As our societies become richer, our limited time
finite time becomes even (e) more valuable and becomes (e) more precious, and we are (f) more
we start to (f) get more anxious about the degree worried if we are maximising the time.
to which we have used time profitably and
meaningfully. 1-2 points = 1m
3-4 points = 2m
5-6 points = 3m
Question 6
What is the significance of the word ‘typically’ in line 56? [1]
Lifted Inferred
Question 7
In paragraph 5, what differences are there between life in New York and Nairobi? Use your own
words as far as possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
In (a) wealthier cities like New York, higher (a) Rich vs poor/ High vs low salary
wages and (b) soaring costs of living raise the
value of people’s time even further which (b) Expensive vs Cheaper living expenses
explains why rich city-dwellers are (c) thriftier
with their minutes than residents of Nairobi. (c) Busy vs Free / Lack time vs Have time
Within cities, in the corporate world, executives
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5
everywhere are afflicted with a perennial time- (d) Afraid of losing their jobs vs Free from
scarcity problem. Gallup, a polling company, worries
reported in 2011 that “the more cash-rich
working Americans are, the more time-poor they 1-2 differences = 1m
feel”. Professionals today are twice as likely to 3-4 differences = 2m
work long hours as their less-educated peers.
Lunches (and even dinners) now tend to be MUST COMPARE
efficiently sloshed down at one’s desk, with an
eye on the screen and its multiple windows.
(d) When we finally dare to leave the office, the
constant beeping of our smartphones reminds us
that our work never gets done.
Question 8
What does the phrase ‘run life’s treadmill’ in line 77 suggest about how we live our life? [1]
And so, a generation of us continue to run life’s It suggests that we have to complete our
treadmill, hit our milestones and help our personal list of endless cycle OR
children reach theirs without really thinking about tedious of tasks OR futile (busy yet gets
what Life is or should be. nowhere).
Question 9
Suggest why the author uses the sentence ‘Alas, if Time be our Idol, we would not idle’ in line 78.
Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
1-2points = 1m
3points = 2m
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6
Question 10
Using material from paragraphs 3-4 only, summarise the ways in which time is associated with monetary
value.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed
below. Use your own words as far as possible.
Lifted Paraphrased
Paragraph 3 We place higher monetary value on time because…
a For all commodities that are important – it is significant and limited.
and scarce – we attach higher price tags to
them, time included.
b With the penetration of technology on a As technology becomes widespread, markets are
global scale, economies are now inter- now inter-dependent.
linked.
c as long as someone is awake in one part of Hence, we need to stay up all day/ watch the market
the world, the rest must follow suit all day
d or risk losing the chance to make more in order to acquire more money/ earn more profits.
money.
e Playing the stock market is essentially Playing the stock market means that we observe
playing the game of time… we monitor patterns intently
trends as closely as possible,
f making sure that we buy and sell at the and ensure that our decisions are opportune/
right moment to strike a windfall, or at the executed in a timely manner.
very least, not plunge into bankruptcy.
g The media industry exploits our The film business capitalises on our fascination with
obsession with time, time,
h churning out classics… with the common providing us with numerous movies with the similar
theme of… trying to control time. idea of attempting to master/ manipulate time.
i Authors of self-help books… (play) on our Writers of self-help books take advantage of our
fear of inefficiency, insecurity about our incompetence,
j admonishing us about squandering away warn us about wasting time on bad habits,
time on our vices
k and then urging us to toil to make every and exhort us to work hard to maximise our use of
second count. time.
l Ultimately, it is deeply ingrained in us that Consequently, the value of time is firmly entrenched
time is money in us/ we strongly believe in the value of time.
Paragraph 4
m we buy cars .. and invest in newer and We purchase advanced gadgets
faster laptops
n so that we might reach our destination as they help us to finish our work more quickly.
faster… so that we might complete our NB: comparative element must be present.
work sooner/ looking for the fastest and
most efficient way
o We outsource work that seems mundane We pay for others to do our work
or trivial,
p so that we can redeem time that we think in order to regain/ free time/ in order to exchange for
would otherwise be wasted on worthless time that is otherwise lost on useless jobs.
tasks.
NB: Student to get point if able to paraphrase
“redeem” or “wasted”
q are we not looking for the fastest and most These are done to show affection/ appreciation/
efficient way to show our love and respect care for our dear ones.
for the ones we care for?
r certain time-saving service industries have Particular service providers which help us to increase
become increasingly popular in major efficiency/ productivity have become more in
cities; demand in large cities.
s service providers have embarked on an Service companies collude to persuade those
insidious conspiracy to convince us
t that our time is worth the exorbitant prices, with deep pockets to pay excessive amounts for
but only if we can afford them. their services.
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7
Question 11
In this article, Justin Thyme shares his observations on how the modern world values time. How
valuable is time to you and your society? [10]
Para 1- introduction
Everyone understands the meaning of time even though there is no common definition.
Para 2
We have learnt to effectively use time to our advantage (in times of war and conflict and in politics).
Para 3
The media exploit our obsession with time; authors exploit our fear of being inefficient.
Para 4
We believe that time is money and spend money on gadgets and services so that:
- we do not waste time on trivial pursuits; and
- we can use the time freed up for more worthwhile tasks.
But only if we can afford to pay the hefty prices for these.
Para 5
The more affluent believe that they can buy time with money as they have the resources and ability to do
so.
Our obsession to make every second count stems from meritocratic societies and individualistic cultures
which value personal achievements
High costs of living make us more obsessed with making full use of time.
This is why in wealthier cities, people rush through their days and they constantly worry about not getting
sufficient work done.
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8
Para 6 Conclusion
We are trapped in this constant cycle of doing and achieving more when we should be spending time
more meaningfully.
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HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
JC2 Preliminary Exam
Higher 1
CANDIDATE
CT GROUP 14A/S
NAME
GP TUTOR
CENTRE INDEX
NUMBER NUMBER
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1) Write your name, CT class and GP tutor’s name clearly in the spaces at the top of this page.
2) Write in dark blue or black pen in the spaces provided in the answer booklet.
3) Do not use paper clips, highlighters, correction fluid or tape.
4) Answer ALL questions.
5) You may attach additional pieces of writing paper if necessary.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Note that up to 15 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.
You are reminded of the importance of legible handwriting and good presentation.
Staple the passage to the back of this answer booklet at the end of the examination.
Language / 15
Total / 50
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Read the passage and then answer all the questions which follow below. Note that up to fifteen marks
will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this paper.
For
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and you Examiner’s
Use
select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use your own words to
express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or phrases from the passage.
1 Why does the author refer to the pedestrian as ‘an extremely fragile, virtually extinct species’ (lines
3-4)? Use your own words as far as possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[1]
2 In paragraph 2, the author describes civic spaces as ‘stages for our public lives’ (line 10) and ‘bridge
building places’ (line 12). Explain what she means in each case. Use your own words as far as
possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
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3 Why does the author say that walking through certain urban areas can be an ‘unnerving’ experience
(line 19)? Use your own words as far as possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
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4 How did the introduction of a pedestrian district transform Copenhagen’s city centre? Use your own
words as far as possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
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5 Explain the author’s use of the word ‘trumpet’ in line 43. Use your own words as far as possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
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Using material from paragraphs 4 and 5 only, summarise what the author has to say about what is
For
6 Examiner’s
wrong with cities today, the changes that need to be made and the benefits they would bring.
Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed
below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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7 What similarity does the author draw between cave paintings and Creative Placemaking? Use
your own words as far as possible.
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........................................................................................................................................................[2]
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‘Genuinely green cities…prettify shopping malls’ (lines 68-70). What does this sentence tell us
For
8 Examiner’s
about the author’s opinion of current attempts to make cities look ‘greener’? Use your own words
Use
as far as possible.
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9 In paragraph 8, show how the author employs an extended metaphor to illustrate the fact that cities
are in urgent need of transformation. Use your own words as far as possible.
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10 According to the author in paragraph 9, what are the main obstacles that currently stand in the
way of transforming cities? Use your own words as far as possible.
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11 Explain the relevance of the final paragraph to the title of the article. Use your own words as far
as possible.
…………..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[1]
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Alissa Walker severely criticises modern cities in general and argues that there is an urgent need
For
12 Examiner’s
to make them more ‘liveable’. Discuss the relevance of her observations and recommendations to
Use
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Examiner’s
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HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
JC2 Preliminary Exam
Higher 1
CANDIDATE
CT GROUP 14A/S
NAME
CENTRE INDEX
NUMBER NUMBER
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
This Insert contains the passage for Paper 2.
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RECLAIMING OUR CITIES
1 Today, the majority of mankind lives in soul-crushing cities plagued by belching traffic, bloated roads,
emaciated sidewalks, and shrivelled trees. In a hostile environment where the automobile is the alpha
predator, the pedestrian has become an extremely fragile, virtually extinct species. Under the right
conditions, this creature thrives and multiplies, but creating those conditions requires urgent attention to
a broad range of challenging criteria before our urban environments degenerate into post-apocalyptic 5
nightmares. Success in the transformation of our cities will depend upon the adoption of a holistic
approach that integrates efforts to make them engaging, enriching, and liveable.
2 Civic spaces are key elements of individual and social well-being, the places of a community’s
collective life, expressions of their cultural richness and a foundation of their identity. When they work
well, they serve as stages for our public lives: they can be the settings where celebrations are held, 10
where social and economic exchanges take place, and where friends run into each other. Civic spaces
are also bridge-building places which draw a diverse population that can include the elderly, teenagers
and children, as well as an ethnic and cultural mix. A successful civic space acts as a common ground
which encourages people to integrate, get involved and take pride in the area. While this ambitious
mixture of attributes is a complex puzzle to piece together, it is increasingly sought after by civic 15
leaders who are desperately trying to reknit the unravelling fabric of urban life.
3 While only a century ago public spaces almost everywhere were crowded with people, many are nearly
empty now. Walking through certain communities can be an alienating, not to mention extremely
unnerving, experience, as if the whole place had been evacuated for an emergency that no one told you
about. “Cultures and climates differ all over the world,” notes Jan Gehl, “but people are the same. They 20
will gather in public if you give them a good place and reason to do it.” Gehl, an international consultant
and professor of urban design, has charted the progress of Copenhagen's central pedestrian district
since it opened in 1962. At that time, the pavements were deserted and cars infested the streets. The
pedestrian zone was conceived as a way to revitalise a moribund city centre. It has been expanded
incrementally each year ever since, with parking spaces gradually removed, and biking and public 25
transport facilities improved. Sidewalk cafes, once thought to be exclusive to the Mediterranean, have
become the life blood of Copenhagen's social life – places of encounter, conversation and debate. The
pedestrian district is now the pulsing heart of a reinvigorated city.
4 Too many cities suffer from streets dedicated to moving multitudes of cars quickly – a goal that
effectively eliminates foot traffic and precludes the social intercourse vital for healthy street life. Rich 30
rewards, Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City argues, await cities that move to tame traffic and put
pedestrians first by creating attractive streetscapes with congenial environments: in other words, truly
walkable places. More than a utopian notion, the walkable city is an eminently feasible solution to a
number of pressing problems that affect our overall health as a society. Much more than a faddish
amenity, walkability is an ecological imperative, and to an increasing extent, as fuel costs spiral, a 35
financial one as well. Revitalising streets for walking, gathering and shopping also makes broader
economic sense. In New York, greenmarkets are not only helping to bring conviviality to
neighbourhoods but also providing opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurship. In Arkansas, Little
Rock’s River Market has helped bring the city’s downtown to life, spurring the development of cultural
amenities such as museums and galleries as well as a host of recreational facilities such as a 40
skateboarding park and a sports arena.
5 Truly walkable streets need to be lined with aesthetically appealing buildings, not the cold monolithic
monstrosities with grim facades that most modern cities erect to trumpet their global status. This is
where the conscientious conservation of heritage buildings plays a crucial role in injecting architectural
charm, testifying to a city’s unique historical personality and celebrating its rich cultural identity. But 45
meaningful conservation is not merely about preserving the façade of a building, much less converting
vital places into mouldy museums. Whilst they have tremendous value as historical icons, heritage
buildings must also remain organically connected to city life. This requires not only careful resurrection
but also judicious repurposing to maintain them as living entities that breathe character, proclaiming
the identity of vibrant communities where people still live and work. Such edifices not only strengthen a 50
sense of belonging by forging emotional bonds to places but also sustain a sense of collective memory
even as we move into an uncertain future. They anchor people securely amidst the swirling currents of
globalisation which threaten to cast them adrift.
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6 For cities to thrive, their inhabitants need to encounter art, to enjoy performances and to participate in
a wide range of cultural activities. From Shakespeare in the Park to string quartets at a downtown 55
plaza, good places foster and enhance a city’s cultural dynamic. In America, ‘Creative Placemaking’ is
a new concept pioneered by a number of foundations such as ArtPlace America and the National
Endowment for the Arts which involves reimagining and reinventing public spaces using arts and
culture as the lynchpin in building vibrant urban communities. In San Jose, a grant was awarded to a
project to turn an abandoned park into an ‘urban living room for the arts’. Whether on a local, state or 60
national level, Creative Placemaking is not only a potent strategy for civic renewal, but also a window
into something deeper. Starting with the first cave paintings 40,000 years ago, we have been using art
to transform places that feel dark and menacing into places that are inviting and vibrant. From primitive
hand prints of blue and red pigment on gloomy cavern walls to Project Storefront in Connecticut which
transforms abandoned and derelict New Haven storefronts into artists’ studios, the creative process 65
that informs placemaking is an unbroken chain. What defines us, and the places where we live and
work, is our art.
7 Finally, our dismally grey cities desperately need to go green. Genuinely green cities are a far cry from
those of today where token trees camouflage congested roads or manicured shrubs in concrete
troughs vainly attempt to prettify shopping malls. The Urban Greenspaces Institute of Vancouver 70
wants to create ‘liveable and loveable’ cities where the built and natural environments are interwoven,
not set apart. Collaborating with government agencies, businesses, architects and landscape
architects to achieve its mission, it is committed to the restoration of a vibrant green infrastructure in
our cities comprising interconnected systems of healthy ponds, parks and recreational nature trails. Its
motto, ‘In Livable Cities is Preservation of the Wild’, reflects its philosophy that a prerequisite of any 75
well-designed city should be that it is ‘nature-rich’ for the ecological health, civic vitality and overall
quality of community life.
8 Cities today are social, cultural, aesthetic and environmental wastelands. Transforming such
inhospitable and arid landscapes requires equal parts sensitivity and rigour. Sensitivity, because
planners need to realise that every city is not only a unique cultural and historical product, but also an 80
evolving organism. Rigour, because drastic measures need to be applied and scrupulous attention paid
to enable their present revival and ensure their eventual blossoming.
9 But before the resuscitation of the city can commence, we need to first rid ourselves of the soulless
planners whose cookie cutter designs suffocate them, banish the faceless corporations whose colossal
towers smother them, and outlaw the gas-guzzling brutes that choke them. We need to return the city to 85
its rightful owners – the people. As American author and urbanist Jane Jacobs so astutely cautioned
several decades ago: "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because,
and only when, they are created by everybody."
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BLANK PAGE
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Hwa Chong Institution
2015 JC2 Preliminary Examination
Paper 2 Answer Key
1. Why does the author refer to the pedestrian as ‘an extremely fragile, virtually extinct species’ (line 3)? (1)
Lift from Passage Paraphrase/appreciation
In a hostile Either: By using the phrase ‘alpha predator’, the author presents an image of the car
environment where prowling cities in a menacing way, ‘preying’ on vulnerable people who are too fearful of
the automobile is the their lives to venture outside/walk the streets. Hence, pedestrians are analogous to an
alpha predator… ‘endangered’ species.
(students might also mention the ‘emaciated sidewalks’ and ‘belching’ traffic as further
evidence of a hostile environment for pedestrians in terms lack of safety and pollution)
2. In paragraph 2, the author describes civic spaces as ‘stages for our public lives’ (line 10) and ‘bridge-building places’
(line 12). Explain what she means in each case. Use your own words as far as possible.
Lift from Passage Explanation
…they serve as stages for our collective lives: they can Physical facilitation (STAGE)
be the settings where celebrations are held, where They are the ‘platforms’/backdrops/settings/focal
social and economic exchanges take place, and where points/venues where we ‘perform’/enact our
friends run into each other. personal/group/communal interactions (with the added
implication of others being the ‘audience’) (1)
Civic spaces are also bridge building places which Social facilitation (BRIDGE)
draw a diverse population that can include the elderly, They bring together different groups/sections of the
teenagers, and children, as well as an ethnic and community (with different interests, perhaps conflicting
cultural mix. A successful civic space acts as a views/attitudes), thus giving them the opportunity to
common ground which encourages people to communicate/mingle and thereby bond/connect/come
integrate, get involved and take pride in the area. together as a harmonious community. (1)
3. Why does the author say that walking through certain urban areas can be an ‘unnerving’ experience (line 19)? Use
your own words as far as possible. (1)
Lift from Passage Explanation
Walking through certain communities can be an It can be an unsettling/ discomforting/ disconcerting/
alienating, not to mention extremely unnerving, daunting feeling / instil a sense of foreboding (1/2)
experience, as if the whole place had been
evacuated for an emergency that no one told you as the area is inexplicably and ominously/ eerily desolate
about. (like a wasteland), so people instinctively feel that
something is very wrong/something terrible has
happened. (1/2)
4. How did the introduction of a pedestrian district transform Copenhagen’s city centre? Use your own words as far
as possible. (2)
Lift from Passage Paraphrase
At that time, the pavements were deserted and cars Before:
infested the streets. The pedestrian zone was Dead/dying/lifeless/in decline (1/2)
conceived as a way to revitalise a moribund city
centre. Because:
It was overrun by traffic and there were no pedestrians/
It has been expanded incrementally each year ever the sidewalks were empty. (1/2)
since, with parking spaces gradually removed, and
biking and public transport facilities improved. After:
Sidewalk cafes, once thought to be exclusive to the Re-
Mediterranean, have become the life blood of energised/’resurrected’/revived/revitalized/vibrant/lively
Copenhagen's social life – places of encounter, (1/2)
conversation and debate. The pedestrian district is
now the pulsing heart of a reinvigorated city. Because:
5. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘trumpet’ in line 43. (1)
Lift from Passage Inference
…to trumpet their The use of the word suggests that the buildings were used to
global status loudly/arrogantly/boastfully/proudly proclaim/vaunt/broadcast that the cities have “arrived”
or attained a certain/elevated standing/position in the world.
(do not accept ‘announce/declare’ as these do not adequately capture the negative
connotation of brash arrogance or ‘crowing’ about an achievement in a strident manner)
6. Using material from paragraphs 4 and 5 only, summarise what the author has to say about what is wrong with
cities today, the changes that need to be made and the benefits they would bring. Write your summary in no more
than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as
possible.
Cities need to change because…
Lift from Passage Paraphrase
1 suffer from streets dedicated to roads exclusively allocated to moving large amounts
moving multitudes of cars quickly– a of/droves/hordes of traffic/vehicles (allow cars) essentially
goal that effectively eliminates foot exclude/prohibit pedestrians/stop people walking on the streets
traffic
2 and precludes the social intercourse which prevents/bars/stops/obviates the communal/societal
vital for healthy street life gatherings/events/activities crucial/essential/imperative for a
vigorous/lively/robust community life (allow street life)
3 tame traffic and put pedestrians first We need to curb/control/severely restrict/regulate vehicles in favour
of pedestrians/walkers/and prioritise pedestrians
9 as fuel costs spiral, a financial one as And, as energy/gas/petrol prices continues to sky-rocket/rapidly
well rise/increase, a monetary/economic/fiscal one as well
13 bring the city’s downtown to life Creating vibrant city centres / revitalizing/ re-energising/ reviving
inner cities
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amenities such as museums and the growth/expansion of facilities supporting the arts
galleries
15 a host of recreational facilities A multitude of entertainment/leisure/amusement amenities
21 and celebrating its rich cultural identity and commemorating/saluting/honouring/paying tribute to/lauding its
long/rich/diverse traditions/heritage
24 remain organically connected to city life They should also continue to be natural /living parts of the city/ part
of its life blood
Careful resurrection
(repetition of point 18)
25 judicious repurposing astute/thoughtful/careful re-use / employing buildings for a different
use or function
26 living entities that breathe character Vital/functioning buildings that exude/emanate personality
31 They anchor people securely amidst They firmly sustain our ties/attachment to a place, (‘mooring’ us
the swirling currents of globalisation firmly/steadily/strongly to prevent us from being ‘swept away’ by the
which threaten to cast them adrift forces of globalization)
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7. What similarity does the author draw between cave paintings and Creative Placemaking? Use your own words
as far as possible. (2)
Lift from Passage Paraphrase
Starting with the first cave paintings 40,000 years ago, Both use art to radically change areas/places/settings
we have been using art to transform places that feel which seem bleak/desolate and
dark and menacing threatening/intimidating/foreboding (1)
into places that are inviting and vibrant. into areas which are friendly/welcoming and lively. (1)
8. ‘Genuinely green cities…prettify shopping malls’ (lines 68-70). What does this sentence tell us about the author’s
opinion of current attempts to make cities look ‘greener’? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)
Lift from Passage Inference
Genuinely green cities are a far cry The author thinks the current attempts to do so are woefully /
from those of today where token pathetically inadequate and completely unsuccessful. (1)
trees camouflage congested roads (accept ‘critical’, ‘scornful’ but not ‘sceptical’ or ‘doubtful’)
or manicured shrubs in concrete
troughs vainly attempt to prettify Because they are insincere/half-hearted/inauthentic (merely
shopping malls. perfunctory/cosmetic/paying mere lip-service) - totally different from
what a truly/real green city should be encompass. (1)
9. In paragraph 8, show how the author employs an extended metaphor to illustrate the fact that cities are in urgent
need of transformation. Use your own words as far as possible. (2)
Lift from Passage Language appreciation
Cities today are social, cultural, She employs natural imagery, comparing cities to living
aesthetic and environmental organisms/landscapes which are dying, describing them as bleak/
wastelands. Transforming such barren/ desolate/ empty/ neglected ‘wastelands’ (1)
inhospitable and arid landscapes
requires equal parts sensitivity and EITHER:
rigour. Sensitivity, because planners She subsequently uses the adjective ‘arid’ to reinforce the same image
need to realize that every city is not of cities being
only a unique cultural and historical parched/barren/lifeless deserts
product, but also an evolving
organism. Rigour, because drastic OR: (preferred)
measures need to be applied and She proceeds to develop this natural image by prescribing remedies
scrupulous attention paid to enable for their ‘revival’ and ‘eventual blossoming’ (1)
their present revival and ensure their
eventual blossoming. Alternative Answer
She employs natural imagery, comparing cities to
changing/growing/developing/embryonic living things/entities (i.e.
evolving organisms) (1)
10. According to the author in paragraph 9, what are the main obstacles that currently stand in the way of transforming
cities? Use your own words as far as possible. (3)
Lift from Passage Paraphrase
The main obstacles are:
the soulless planners whose cookie 1. uninspiring/characterless architects/developers whose designs are
cutter designs suffocate them, uniform/ identical/ unvaried/ indistinguishable/ homogeneous/ mass
produced/ lack originality/ all the same (1)
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11. Explain the relevance of the final paragraph to the title of the passage. Use your own words as far as possible.
(1)
Lift from Passage Appreciation
…we need to first rid ourselves of the soulless In this paragraph, the author says the city has been
planners whose cookie cutter designs suffocate them, appropriated/seized/taken over by technocrats/big
banish the faceless corporations whose colossal business/automobiles and must be returned to its
towers smother them, and outlaw the gas-guzzling original and legitimate (‘rightful’) owners – the people -
brutes that choke them. We need to return the city to from whom it has been ‘stolen’. (1/2)
its rightful owners - the people. As American author
and urbanist Jane Jacobs so astutely cautioned The title ‘Reclaiming our Cities’ encapsulates this idea
several decades ago: "Cities have the capability of – ‘reclaiming’ meaning retrieving or recovering
providing something for everybody, only because, and something once taken that is rightfully yours and the
only when, they are created by everybody." plural possessive pronoun ‘our’ referring to the
people/inhabitants/denizens of cities in general (1/2)
12. Alissa Walker severely criticises modern cities in general and argues that there is an urgent need to make them
more ‘liveable’. Discuss the relevance of her observations and recommendations to your country in particular. (10)
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INNOVA JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC 2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2
in preparation for General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
CANDIDATE
NAME
Write your name and class on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in the brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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Read the passages in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks will be
given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper.
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and you
select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use your own words to
express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words and phrases from the passage.
1 Why do the authors begin the passage with the quotation in lines 1-2?
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2 Why do the authors place inverted commas around ‘conspiracy’ (line 12)?
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3 According to the authors, how can humour lead to ‘exclusion’ (line 13)? Use your own words as
far as possible.
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4 Explain how humour might be associated with either ‘higher self-esteem’ (line 39) or ‘intelligence’
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5 According to the authors, when are comedians considered ‘good comics’ (line 45)? Use your own
words as far as possible.
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6 Explain how using humour to deal with ‘normally unacceptable’ (lines 52-53) content is ‘like a
sugar coating to bitter medicine’ (line 54)?
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7 Explain what the authors mean by ‘Even though the audience may laugh it off, the cogs will have
started spinning in their minds’ (lines 63 – 64).
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8 In paragraph 9, why do the authors suggest that there is a place for ‘offensive humour’ (line 72)?
Use your own words as far as possible.
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9 Explain why the authors use the word ‘old’ in line 81.
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10 Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5 of the passage, summarise what the authors have to say
about the benefits of humour.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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11 Louis Franzini and Nichole Force write about the value of humour. How important is humour to you
and your society? In your answer, develop some of the points made by the authors and give your
own views and some account of the experiences which have helped you to form them.
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End of Paper
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Louis Franzini and Nichole Force write about humour.
1 The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “A serious and good philosophical work could be
written consisting entirely of jokes.” Despite the buffoonish imagery that comes to mind when
one considers the joker, the clown or the pie-in-the-face comedian, humour is more than
mere silliness. It is an advanced intellectual means of developing new perspectives and
coping with extreme circumstances. 5
2 Humour is a quintessentially social phenomenon. Jokes and other humorous utterances are a
form of communication that is usually shared in social interaction. The topics and themes
people joke about are also generally central to the social, cultural and moral order of a
society or a social group. Humour not only is a sign of closeness among friends, it is an
effective way of forging social bonds too, even in situations not very conducive to closeness: 10
it ‘breaks the ice’ between strangers, unites people in different hierarchical positions, and
creates a sense of shared ‘conspiracy’ in the context of illicit activities like gossiping or joking
about superiors. The flip side of this inclusive function of humour is exclusion. Those who do
not join in the laughter, because they do not get the joke, or even worse, because the joke
targets them, will feel left out, shamed or ridiculed. 15
3 For individuals, the direct benefits of humour lie in the body’s chemical reaction to laughter.
Among other things, laughter has been shown to reduce stress and boost the immune
system. Rather than taking antidepressants, one can ‘self-medicate’ by watching a funny
movie, going to a comedy show or playing a fun game. For the rejected lover or laid off
worker, this self-induced boost provided by humour activates a neurochemical reaction that 20
enhances their ability to tolerate the stress response and think creatively of coping options.
Theorist Martin Armstrong, who wrote about the function of laughter in society, may have said
it best when he wrote, “For a few moments, under the spell of laughter, the whole man is
completely and gloriously alive: body, mind and soul vibrate in unison… the mind flings open
its doors and windows.” 25
4 In fact, humour has also been known to possess healing powers. Some medical settings offer
a special room for patients and their family where a variety of materials with humorous
content is available for their use as desired. Sometimes an aide brings a comedy cart to the
patient’s room, which typically includes choices of funny movies, tapes, joke books and other
amusing materials. It is an extraordinarily powerful and effective way to use humour to 30
alleviate pain and increase the cheerfulness of patients residing in institutions that are often
much less comfortable for them than being at home.
5 A keen sense of humour is a quality nearly all of us claim in ourselves and one we seek and
highly value in others. We love a sense of humour in our dates and mates, our children and
basically everyone with whom we have social contact. When our humour-making is 35
successful, we are drawn closer to people and share a bonding experience with them. We
enjoy life more and our troubles seem to lessen instantly. Most important, we like that person
even more. Laughter and humour can buffer stress and reduce experiences of pain. The use
of humour has been shown to be associated with a positive self-concept, higher self-esteem
and intelligence, and even the enhancement of enjoyment of positive life events. 40
6 Given the benefits of humour, it is no wonder why people are willing to pay to watch
comedies. Most people find comedy as merely funny, but comedy is more than just a
laugh. Beneath the humour lies a rich layer of social commentaries ranging from the political,
to gender, to class and to other social issues. While comedians will make everyone
uncomfortable at some point, good comics play an important function in society by holding up 45
a mirror and forcing us to confront realities that we would often prefer to ignore. For minority
groups, humour also serves as a tool to neutralise the power of stereotypes that obstruct their
path to equal participation in society. Comedy can give social critique and instigate
transformation in a way that leaves many audience members wanting more.
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7 Comedy regularly draws criticism for being offensive and for perpetuating negative
stereotypes. This, however, is a sign of a healthy comedy culture because it means that 50
comedians are pushing social boundaries. Stories and expressions that are normally
unacceptable are met with laughter and agreement when they are told on stage. The fact that
the content is encrusted in humour is like a sugar coating to bitter medicine. The laugh takes
away the sting. As Mary Hirsch the humourist once commented, “Humour is a rubber
sword—it allows you to make a point without drawing blood.” Observational comedy, 55
situational comedy, slapstick comedy, comedy that both enlightens and offends—these are
forms of creative destruction at their height and in their depths, and they have long allowed
us to talk about things that taboos, or at the very least taste, might otherwise preclude.
8 Comedy can also take on a political face. While oftentimes, such political comedy focuses on
more trivial matters such as a politician’s appearance or personality, political humour also has 60
its serious side that sometimes provides political, social or economic commentary. It can
attack the character, policy or even the larger electoral system. Even though the audience
may laugh it off, the cogs will have started spinning in their minds. It is this type of political
humour that politicians, institutions and authority figures over the centuries have feared the
most. 65
9 The fear of humour points to the fact that humour can be destructive, cruel, belittling,
humiliating, relationship destroying, blatantly biased, extreme in its effects, unpleasant to
nearly all listeners in addition to the butts of the joke, and simply outrageous in its disregard
for its consequences and lack of boundaries. Humour that is racist, sexist, ageist, obscene
and otherwise politically incorrect can at times be as funny as it is offensive. However, there 70
is a place for such offensive humour. Some audiences love high-intensity controversy and
sarcasm, while others prefer only safe non-controversial topics. It is no wonder why
comedians develop the skill of using humour as a lens through which they can examine all
kinds of topics and observations about life, subjects that may be otherwise unremarkable,
unpleasant or just unfunny. Humour is the Philosopher’s Stone that turns everyday lead into 75
comedy gold. It makes the mundane, the awful, the sad or the embarrassing into something
we can all laugh at and find funny.
10 As comedy began to do a better job of reflecting the world, it began, as well, to take on the
responsibilities associated with that reflection. It began to recognise the fact that the long
debate about the things comedy owes to its audiences and itself—the old “hey, I’m just 80
making a joke” line of logic—can be partially resolved in the idea that nothing, ultimately, is
“just a joke”. Humour has moral purpose. Humour has intellectual heft. Humour can change
the world.
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1. Why do the authors begin the passage with the quotation in lines 1-2? [2]
Passage Answer
‘A serious and good philosophical work a) The authors are setting the tone
could be written consisting entirely of for the whole passage
jokes.’ b) which looks at humour as a
humour is more than silliness…coping grave/not a trivial subject matter
with extreme circumstances. OR
a) The quotation is
aligned/consistent with/related
to/shows from the
outset/beginning
b) their view that humour is a
grave/not a trivial subject matter
2. Why do the authors place inverted commas around ‘conspiracy’ (line 12)? [2]
Passage Answer
creates a sense of shared ‘conspiracy’ in a) The word is used in jest/tongue-
the context of illicit activities like in-cheek//rather inappropriately/
gossiping or joking about superiors not used in the usual sense
(either of these must be paired
with the correct context in b) [1]
b) because activities like gossiping
and joking about superiors are not
really/too mild to be considered
unlawful/very harmful/
treacherous. [1]
3. According to the authors, how can humour lead to ‘exclusion’ (line 13)? Use your
own words as far as possible. [2]
Passage Answer
Those who do not join in the laughter, a) Those who do not share the
because they do not get the joke, or humour
even worse, because the joke targets b) because they do not understand
them, will feel left out, shamed, or it
ridiculed. c) or they are at the receiving end of
it
[(a), (b) or (c) = 1m]
d) will experience the sense of not
being part of/included in the
group,
e) embarrassment/ humiliation
f) or a sense of being
mocked/made fun of.
[(d) must be paired with (e) or (f) to
earn 1m]
[(d), (e) or (f) alone = 0m]
4. Explain how humour might be associated with either ‘higher self-esteem’ (line 39) or
‘intelligence’ (line 40) [1]
Passage Answer
A keen sense of humour is a quality a) Humour can lead to a higher self-
5. According to the authors, when are comedians considered ‘good comics’ (line 45)?
Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Passage Answer
Comedians are good comics
While comedians will make everyone a) when they perform a significant/
uncomfortable at some point, good essential/necessary/valuable role
comics play an important function in in society
society by holding up a mirror and b) by making us reflect on
forcing us to confront realities that we ourselves/our lives//showing us
would often prefer to ignore. our true selves//highlight the
actual situation
c) and compelling us to face
situations we would frequently
rather/want to/choose to
disregard/dismiss/not pay
attention to.
Any 2p = 2m
6. Explain how using humour to deal with ‘normally unacceptable’ (lines 52 – 53)
content is ‘like a sugar coating to bitter medicine’ (line 54)? [2]
Passage Answer
This, however, is a sign of a a) Just as medicine which tastes awful {but
healthy comedy culture because it is good for us} is made more
means that comedians are pushing palatable/tasty/easy to swallow by a
social boundaries. Stories and sweet coating/external layer, [1]
expressions that are normally
[Cannot lift: “sugar” or “bitter”]
unacceptable are met with laughter
and agreement when they are told b) so content which may be {socially
on stage. The fact that the content significant but} usually hard to take is
is encrusted in humour is like a more easily received/accepted when it
sugar coating to bitter medicine. is funny/laced with humour. [1]
The laugh takes away the sting.
Note: Attempt at (a) must be present for (b) to be
awarded.
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7. Explain what is meant by ‘Even though the audience may laugh it off, the cogs will
have started spinning in their minds.’ (line 63 – 64). [2]
Passage Answer
political humour also has its serious a) The people listening to political
side that sometimes provides political, humour
social, or economic commentary. It can [context of ‘political’ must be present to
attack the character, policy or even the award (a)]
larger electoral system. Even though b) may dismiss it as merely
the audience may laugh it off, the funny/humorous/amusing,
cogs will have started spinning in c) but they are already beginning to
their minds. It is this type of political think about the matter.
humour that politicians, institutions, and
authority figures over the centuries 1-2p=1m
have feared the most. 3p=2m
8. In paragraph 9, why do the authors suggest that there is a place for ‘offensive
humour’ (line 72)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Passage Answer
Some audiences love high- a) Some people like/enjoy/are
intensity controversy and entertained by
sarcasm b) extreme
c) debatable/disputable/contentious
arguable issues
d) and ironic/mocking/ contemptuous
language//caustic/sneering/cutting
witticism/cynical
1p = 0
2p = 1m
3-4p = 2m
9. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘old’ in line 81. [2]
Passage Answer
It began to recognize the fact that the long He uses the word ‘old’ to make the point
debate about the things comedy owes to its that
audiences and itself—the old ‘hey, I’m just (a) the idea/reasoning/thinking that
making a joke’ line of logic—can be comedians are
partially resolved in the idea that nothing,
merely/only/simply being funny
ultimately, is ‘just a joke.’
[1]
(b) is no longer relevant/true
(Inferred from ‘nothing, ultimately,
is just a joke’) [1]
10. Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5 of the passage, summarise what the author has to say
about the benefits of humour.
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Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed
below. Use your own words as far as possible.
Lifted Paraphrased
From Paragraph 2
1 The topics and themes people joke about Its content is usually essential/very
are generally central to the social, important/key/fundamental/primal to human
interrelationships
2 cultural traditions/customs
3 moral order of a society or a social group ethics/conventions/mores of a community
4 a sign of closeness among friends a symbol/an indication/an expression of
intimacy among peers/buddies
5a it is an effective way of it is a powerful/efficient/successful
method/technique for
5b forging social bonds too building/creating/developing/establishing
OR relationships/connections/people to come
it ‘breaks the ice’ between strangers
together
OR
unites people in different hierarchical
positions
OR
creates a sense of shared ‘conspiracy’
in the context of illicit activities
OR
(from paragraph 5) we are drawn closer
to people and share a bonding experience
with them.
6 even in situations not very conducive to even under circumstances that are not very
closeness suitable/appropriate/helpful/comfortable to
facilitate tight friendships/intimacy
From Paragraph 3
7 laughter has been shown to reduce Humour has been proven to
stress decrease/alleviate/mitigate
OR anxiety/distress/strains/tensions
(from paragraph 3) tolerate the stress
response OR
OR Humour has been proven to enhance our abilities
(from paragraph 5) Laughter and humour to cope with anxiety/distress/strains/tensions
can buffer stress OR
Humour can help to be a defence/shield an
individual from anxiety/distress/strains/tensions
8 and boost the immune system. and enhance/increase the body’s
defences/body’s ability to fight diseases
9 Rather than taking antidepressants, one Humour is a form of treatment that one can
can ‘self-medicate’ administer/dispense/provide for/give to
OR oneself/himself // We are able to cure / treat our
this self-induced boost provided by
humour own illness / condition
10 think creatively of coping options think innovatively of / Think of new/fresh
ways/methods/suggestions to
adapt/readjust/handle the situation
11 the whole man is completely and with humour, an individual is fully/totally and
gloriously alive
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greatly/remarkably
rejuvenated/refreshed/engaged
12 the mind flings open its doors and Psychologically/mentally
windows liberated/freed/illuminated
From Paragraph 4
13 possess healing powers has/contains the ability to cure/mend/ an
individual
14 extraordinarily powerful and effective greatly/immensely/exceptionally/remarkably
way potent/capable/efficient/successful/strong
/useful method
15 to alleviate pain to lower suffering/discomfort/hurt //
OR to relieve/lessen agony/suffering /discomfort
(from paragraph 5) reduce experiences
of pain
16 increase the cheerfulness of patients heighten/elevate the happiness/joy of patients
17 residing in institutions that are often who stay in/live in places that are not as
much less comfortable for them than conducive/pleasant/cosy/snug as their own
being at home
dwellings
From Paragraph 5
18 one we seek and highly value in others makes a person more
OR desirable/appreciated/popular/
We love a sense of humour in our dates
charming/attractive
and mates, our children, and basically
everyone with whom we have social
contact
OR
we like that person even more
19 We enjoy life more We can better relish life // We can have a better
time // Increase our pleasures in life // We relish
life to a larger extent
20 our troubles seem to lessen instantly helps to reduce our
anxieties/sufferings/pain/distress immediately
21 a positive self-concept a healthy/good/favourable image of the
individual // a healthy/good/favourable way in
which one views/sees himself
22 higher self-esteem elevated/increased confidence/respect/regard
for themselves // more faith in themselves
23 Intelligence (Inferred) Others perceive you as
brilliant/sharp/smart/clever
OR
Using humour develops a sharp mind
[Must be framed as a benefit]
24 the enhancement of enjoyment of increase the delight we get from our good
positive life events experiences
11. Louis Franzini and Nichole Force write about the value of humour. How important is
humour to you and your society? In your answer, develop some of the points made
by the authors and give your own views and some account of the experiences which
have helped you to form them.
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JURONG JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2015
CANDIDATE’S NAME
Write your name, civics class and GP tutor’s name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
EXAMINER’S USE
Content / 35 Comments:
Language / 15
Total / 50
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Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks For
Examiner’s
will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must
still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only
copy words or phrases from the passage.
1 a Why is ‘a common tongue’ more important than ever (line 3)? Use your own words as far
as possible.
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2 What is the author’s purpose in providing us the series of examples in lines 9 to 10?
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3 Explain what the words ‘realities’ and ‘seductive’ imply about the pressures on minority
language speakers in each case (line 12).
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4 How does paragraph 3 illustrate the ‘rapid die-off of languages’ (line 15)?
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5 Explain the futurists’ reaction to the ‘rapid die-off of languages’ (line 21). For
Examiner’s
Use
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6 Why does the author describe the common wisdom about globalisation as ‘undeniable’
(line 26)? Use your own words as far as possible.
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8 In paragraph 9, how does the author feel about the survival of minority languages in the
future and how does he illustrate his attitude?
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9 Using material from paragraphs 6 to 8 only, summarise what the author has to say about For
Examiner’s
why the extinction of minority languages is not a certainty. Write your answer in no more Use
than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own
words as far as possible.
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10 In this article, Eric Garland writes about the pressures of globalisation on minority For
Examiner’s
languages and how their extinction is not a certainty. How far would you agree with Eric Use
Garland’s observations? Relate your opinions to your society.
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Examiner’s
Use
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JURONG JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2015
CANDIDATE’S NAME
[Turn over
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2
1 Globalised economics and the media are changing the face of culture around the globe,
reducing the number of languages that humans speak. As the world economy becomes
more integrated, a common tongue has become more important than ever to promote
commerce, and that puts speakers of regional dialects and minority languages at a distinct
disadvantage. In addition, telecommunications has pressured languages to become more 5
standardised, further squeezing local variations of language.
2 Over the past 500 years, as nation states developed and became more centralised, regional
dialects and minority languages have been dominated by the centrist dialects of the ruling
parties. Cornish has given way to English, Breton to French, Bavarian to High German, and
Fu-jian-wa to Cantonese. Linguists concur that minority languages all over the world are 10
giving way to more dominant languages, such as English, Mandarin, and Spanish, among
others. The realities of commerce and the seductive power of world pop culture are placing
pressure on speakers of minority languages to learn majority languages or suffer the
consequences: greater difficulty doing business, less access to information...
3 These pressures are inducing a rapid die-off of languages around the world. Languages 15
have been disappearing steadily, with 3,000 of the world’s languages predicted to disappear
in the next 100 years. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, there are
5,000 to 7,000 spoken languages in the world, with 4,000 to 5,000 of these classed as
indigenous, used by native tribes. More than 2,500 are in danger of immediate extinction,
and many more are losing their link with the natural world, becoming museum pieces rather 20
than living languages. Futurists have noted this loss with no little despair, for significant,
culturally specific information may disappear along with a language. For instance, knowledge
about unique medicines and treatments used by aboriginal groups could be lost forever if the
language used to transmit that information is banned by a majority culture.
4 The common wisdom is that globalisation is the wave of the future, and in many respects this 25
is undeniable. For centuries, dialects and languages have been unifying to facilitate national
identity, scientific research, and commerce. Without question, there will be a need for
common languages, as standardisation allows growth in software and in people. However,
swept up in this conventional wisdom is the notion that languages and cultures will simply
cease to exist, and people will instead choose “global” cultures and languages that will 30
transcend boundaries. This is not the only potential scenario. It is possible for globalisation
and new technology to safeguard cultural identity while simultaneously allowing free
exchanges of ideas and goods. Global prosperity and new technologies may also allow
smaller cultures to preserve their niches. It is clear from several modern examples that a
dying or dead language can turn around and become vibrant again, depending on people’s 35
determination and the government policies that are put in place.
5 The idea of saving languages is very modern. When linguistics scholar Joshua A. Fishman
first wrote of “reversing language shift” in his book of that title in 1990, one reviewer actually
laughed at the notion. The conventional wisdom among linguists, historians, and sociologists
was that, if your culture and language were on the way out, their doom was assured in a 40
globalised world. After all, the prevailing trends are toward globalisation and a unified world.
Tiny dialects — such as Breton, the Celtic language spoken in Brittany, a province on the
north-western coast of France — are not a benefit in the global economy, since they are
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difficult to learn, poorly adapted to modern life, and unintelligible to almost everyone beyond
a small region. 45
7 Changing world geopolitics is already reforming the pressures on languages. The fall of the
Soviet Union actually spurred a trend toward reversing language loss. In many of the former
Soviet republics, older Turkic languages have been revived, now that the Russian influence 55
is gone. Turkey is spending US$1.5 billion to encourage the resurgence of Turkish
throughout the region. Language is power, economic and otherwise, and the Turks are
capitalising on the possibility of extending their reach, causing a reverse of language shift in
the region. It is becoming clear that, when people have a strong cultural reason to reverse
language shift, they can effectively resist the onslaught of majority languages. Moreover, the 60
mass media technologies that allowed the one-way dialogue of majority languages to drive
out minority languages and dialects are now helping those silenced languages to make a
comeback. Speakers of these smaller languages can use interactive technologies such as
websites, e-mail, and message boards to talk back to the world by creating and distributing
media in their own language to a global diaspora. 65
8 Globalised commerce and the media are not necessarily the death knell for local languages,
because certain trends support their preservation. Whereas one-way mass media
technologies such as TV, radio, and print served to support majority languages, today’s
computer technology is turning the tables. It is considerably less expensive now to produce
video and audio in any language, and communications technologies allow you to transmit 70
these media to a diaspora anywhere in the world. In the future, with lower prices for powerful
computers and dramatic advances in broadband Internet (such as IPv6 architecture that will
soon turn any Internet connection into a broadcast device), majority languages may no
longer possess an advantage in distributing information to the public. In the future, anybody
anywhere on Earth could conceivably receive the evening news in Welsh or Irish Gaelic. 75
Also, the availability of cheap, powerful multimedia will allow teachers to translate
educational materials into a local language more easily. These educational technologies will
be essential to the survival and prosperity of languages in the future. Only education of the
youth assures the continuity of a language.
9 The pressures of globalisation on minority languages are undeniable, and many will likely 80
disappear. However, extinction is not a certainty. The trend toward the homogeneity of global
culture has stimulated many people to search for their native roots and hold tighter to their
cultural identity. The availability of government services in a chosen language is the only
path to its legitimacy in a political sense, but even more critical is for a minority language to
be used in commerce. We are living in interesting times, linguistically, as powerful national 85
languages encounter fierce resistance in their drive to dislodge local languages. New
technologies are offering people greater freedom to choose their own cultural identity, and
many are choosing minority local languages. The linguistic giants will not be the only choice
in the future.
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BLANK PAGE
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JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2015
Paper 2 Answer Scheme
1. (a) Why is ‘a common tongue’ more important than ever (line 3)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
As the world economy becomes more integrated (a) As the world becomes more interconnected,
to promote commerce (b) a common tongue will make it easier to carry out
trade or other economic activity with people from
other countries,
..that puts speakers of regional dialects and minority
languages at a distinct disadvantage. (c) without which we would lose our economic edge over
others.
1=1m, 2-3 = 2m
1. (b) Suggest what is causing languages to become ‘more standardised’ (lines 5 – 6). [1]
Lifted Paraphrased
In addition, telecommunications has pressured A common language makes it easier for global
languages to become more standardised communication to take place.
1 = 1m
2. What is the author’s purpose in providing us the series of examples in lines 9 to 10? [1]
Lifted Inferred
Cornish has given way to English, Breton to French, He wants to emphasise/ highlight
Bavarian to High German, and Fu-jian-wa to Cantonese
how majority languages are prevailing over the minority
ones.
minority languages have been dominated by the centrist
dialects OR
Lifted Inferred
The realities of commerce… (a) The word ‘realities’ suggests that there is no choice /
there are harsh repercussions for those who do not
learn majority languages or suffer the consequences: learn majority languages. (‘push’ factor)
greater difficulty doing business, less access to
information...
the seductive power of world pop culture (b) The word ‘seductive’ suggests that world pop culture
offers a strong attraction/ impetus for minority
language speakers to learn the common/ popular
language. (‘pull’ factor)
4. How does paragraph 3 illustrate the ‘rapid die-off of languages’ (line 15)? [3]
Lifted Paraphrased
(a) The author uses examples, statistics to show (as
long as the technique is shown)
3,000 of the world’s languages predicted to disappear in (b) how nearly half of the world’s languages are
the next 100 years expected to vanish within the next century
More than 2,500 are in danger of immediate extinction (c) with more than half local dialects expected to be
lost soon.
and many more are losing their link with the natural (d) There are also countless others that are losing
world, becoming museum pieces rather than living their relevance/ place in today’s society
languages
OR
5. Explain the futurists’ reaction to ‘the rapid die-off of languages’ (line 21). [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
Futurists have noted this loss with no little despair, (a) They are greatly dismayed/devastated at the loss of
languages
for significant, culturally specific information may
disappear along with a language. For instance, (b) as it meant the loss of important and often exclusive
knowledge about unique medicines and treatments used wisdom that is beneficial to humankind.
by aboriginal groups could be lost forever if the language
used to transmit that information is banned by a majority
culture. Note: Students need to be accurate about the emotion or
tone to get the full 2 marks.
2 = 2m
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6. Why does the author describe the common wisdom about globalisation as ‘undeniable’ (line 26)? Use your own
words as far as possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
For centuries, (a) This is because, for the longest of time
dialects and languages have been unifying to facilitate (b) dialects and languages are sought to ease the
national identity, creation of a sense of a nation as a cohesive whole,
Without question, there will be a need for common (e) It is also obvious how a common language has
languages, as standardisation allows growth in software brought about advance and progress.
and in people.
Note: Students are allowed to capture either (c) or (d).
Four points out of five needed for 2m.
1 – 3 = 1m, (a) + (b) + (c) or (d) + (e) = 2m, 4-5 = 2m
Lifted Paraphrased
Without question, there will be a need for common (a) The author wants to highlight/emphasise
languages, as standardisation allows growth in software
and in people. However, swept up in this conventional (b) that simply because these languages are widely
wisdom is the notion that languages and cultures will used/accepted, it does not mean that a homogenised
simply cease to exist, and people will instead choose culture is going to become a reality.
“global” cultures and languages that will transcend
boundaries. Note: No marks to be awarded if the answer does not
contain ‘emphasise/ highlight’ or if the student writes
‘trying to emphasise/ highlight’.
2 = 2m
8. In paragraph 9, how does the author feel about the survival of minority languages in the future and how does he
illustrate his attitude? [2]
Lifted Inferred
We are living in interesting times, linguistically, as (a) The author is fairly/cautiously optimistic/ hopeful/
powerful national languages encounter fierce resistance confident.
in their drive to dislodge local languages. New
technologies are offering people greater freedom to (b) This can be seen from his choice of words such as
choose their own cultural identity, and many are choosing ‘fierce resistance’, ‘many are choosing’ and ‘will not’
minority local languages. The linguistic giants will not be which indicate the certainty with which people would
the only choice in the future. fight to preserve their minority tongue
(c) and how the latest technology ensure that people can
and are opting for languages other than the majority
languages.
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9. Using material from paragraphs 6 to 8 only, summarise what the author has to say about why the extinction of
minority languages is not a certainty. Write your answer in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening
words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8]
9 — if not a necessity — for the future in Europe but is also fast becoming an essential prerequisite for
(line 52) sustainable development.
10 Changing world geopolitics is already reforming The dynamic geopolitical trends are transforming the tension
the pressures on languages. (line 53) that globalisation places on languages
11 The fall of the Soviet Union actually spurred a (Inferred from examples)
trend toward reversing language loss. In many
of the former Soviet republics, older Turkic in some cases inducing/ providing the impetus for the
languages have been revived, now that the restoration of minority languages and
Russian influence is gone. (line 53)
12 Turkey is spending US$1.5 billion to encourage (Inferred from example)
the resurgence of Turkish throughout the region.
(line 56) some countries expend on campaigning for such restoration.
13 Language is power, economic and otherwise, Language has the capacity to influence both economics and
(line 57) politics
14 and the Turks are capitalising on the possibility (Inferred from example)
of extending their reach (line 57-58)
and can be used by countries to spread their influence in other
societies.
15 It is becoming clear that, when people have a Preservation of our heritage provides solid grounds to use
strong cultural reason to reverse language minority tongues
shift, (line 59)
16 they can effectively resist the onslaught of and that can help us prevent the homogenisation of culture
majority languages. (line 60) and languages.
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17 Moreover, the mass media technologies that The same communication technologies that help majority
allowed the one-way dialogue of majority languages dominate can also aid in the revival of minority
languages to drive out minority languages and ones
dialects are now helping those silenced
languages to make a comeback. (line 61)
18 Speakers of these smaller languages can use as increasingly more users are generating and disseminating
interactive technologies such as websites, e-mail, content in their native tongues to the rest of the world using
and message boards to talk back to the world by such technologies.
creating and distributing media in their own
language to a global diaspora. (line 63)
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Points Marks
13 and above 8
12 7
10 - 11 6
8-9 5
6-7 4
4-5 3
2-3 2
1 1
Table of Specifications:
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10. In this article, Eric Garland writes about the pressures of globalisation on minority languages and how their
extinction is not a certainty. How far would you agree with Eric Garland’s observations? Relate your opinions to
your society. [10]
Main Ideas:
Paragraph 1 Globalised economics and the media are changing the face of culture around the globe, reducing the
number of languages that humans speak.
Paragraph 2 The realities of commerce and the seductive power of world pop culture are placing pressure on
speakers of minority languages to learn majority languages or suffer the consequences.
Paragraph 3 These pressures are inducing a rapid die-off of languages around the world and futurists have noted
this loss with no little despair, for significant, culturally specific information may disappear along with a
language.
Paragraph 4 Globalisation not only causes languages to die off but it can also help dying or dead language to turn
around and become vibrant again.
Paragraph 5 The idea of saving languages is very modern because in the past this would not have been possible
(refer to previous paragraph about ‘globalisation’).
Paragraph 6 There are various benefits to learning or relearning a native language/ several languages.
Paragraph 7 It is becoming clear that when people have a strong cultural reason to reverse language shift, they can
effectively resist the onslaught of majority languages.
Moreover, mass media technologies are now helping minority languages to make a comeback.
Paragraph 8 Globalised commerce and the media are not necessarily the death knell for local languages, because
certain trends support their preservation.
The availability of cheap, powerful multimedia will assure a continuity of minority languages.
Paragraph 9 The extinction of minority languages is not a certainty because:
• the trend toward the homogeneity of global culture has stimulated many people to search for
their native roots and hold tighter to their cultural identity and
• new technologies are offering people greater freedom to choose their own cultural identity.
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Main Ideas Examples from Singapore
Paragraph 2 – Use of English in Singapore
Globalisation • Official language medium in Singapore is English, English as the lingua franca.
pressuring speakers • English is the dominant language of commerce and government.
of minority • Information released by the government is primarily in English on government
languages to learn websites and supplemented with Mandarin, Malay and Tamil (at times) but the non-
majority languages Mandarin Chinese dialects are not used for official communication purposes.
or suffer the • Bilingual education policy teaches English and the vernacular language.
consequences • The Ministry of Education places great emphasis on English and believes that the
mastery of English is vital to Singapore’s pupils because English is “the language of
administration, education, commerce, science, technology, and global
communication”.
• As the only country in the South East Asian region to use English as the working
language, it offers us a comparative advantage as compared to other countries in the
region.
Balance
• English was also chosen to be the “working language” in the early years of our
independence in order to give all races equal opportunities through a common
language to learn.
• Bilingual education policy stresses on the importance of mastering one’s Mother
Tongue as well as English this has mainly affected the Chinese to stop speaking
dialects and speak Mandarin instead.
• Proficiency in Malay and Tamil are still emphasised by the government.
Paragraph 3 – General Impacts
Significant, culturally • Declining language proficiency.
specific information • Changing language attitudes.
may disappear along
with a language Chinese dialects
• The use of Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hainanese and
Hakka has been declining over the last two decades, although they are still being
used especially by the older generations of the Chinese population.
• Much of the younger generations of Singaporeans are neither fluent nor conversant
in their dialects (due to lack of use, exposure and education).
• The Media Development Authority (MDA) states that on National Television, all
Chinese programmes, except operas or other programmes specifically approved by
the Authority, must be in Mandarin. Dialects in dialogues and songs may be allowed
provided the context justifies usage and is sparingly used.
• The clan associations of Singapore (Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Teochew Poit Ip
Huay Kuan, Singapore Kwang Tung Association, Nanyang Khek Community Guild,
The Singapore Hainan Kwee Kuan, Sam Khiang Huay Kwan and the Singapore
Foochow Association, all of which are under the Singapore Federation of Chinese
Clan Associations) are active in keeping the Chinese dialects alive but these
associations do not seem to be popular to the young, whom Garland argues in line
78 are crucial to the continuity of a language.
• On the other hand, such clans are a platform for minority languages as they promote
understanding of Chinese language, culture and values and are a testament to how
important it is to learn local and vernacular culture in a globalised world.
Malay
• There has been a marked increase in the number of sermons delivered in English at
mosques during Friday prayers.
• Greater use of English in MUIS religious knowledge programmes at kids, teens and
youth levels.
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Tamil
• Spoken by 60% of Singapore’s Indian population, other widely spoken Indian
languages are Punjabi, Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu.
• Acknowledged by many to be facing a number of crises:
⇒ Tamil as a home language is not being maintained by the better-educated.
⇒ Policy studies have shown that the shift towards using English as a home
language is the most obvious among the Indians in Singapore.
⇒ Indian education in Singapore is not living up to the expectations many
people have for it.
⇒ More than half of the Indians surveyed said that they learn about their religion
(Hinduism) mainly through English.
⇒ Tamil is thought of as a “coolie language”.
Paragraphs 4 & 5 - • In Singapore, the force of globalisation has stirred nostalgia and a desire to cement
Globalisation not Singapore’s heritage cultural identity and to improve inter-generational communication –
only causes this has resulted in small-scale ground-up initiatives in reviving minority languages.
languages to die off
but it can also help • A series of books with the back-to-basics approach has been published and sold in
dying or dead Singapore by Koh Kuan Eng, a creative director in advertising turned social worker.
language to turn There are currently 5 books in this series that covers 5 Chinese dialects – Hokkien,
around and become Teochew, Hainanese, Cantonese and Hakka (from sibeynostalgic.com).
vibrant again.
• Along with this series of books, a series of tote bags have also gained popularity. They
Paragraph 9 – feature various objects and items with how they are spoken in various dialects (from
Extinction of minority sibeynostalgic.com).
languages not a
certainty because • Dialects are also featured in many local Jack Neo films, further cementing the Singapore
the trend of identity.
homogeneity of
global culture has • The People’s Association has rolled out dialect-related activities in several Community
stimulated many Centres island-wide. There are dialect singing courses and a dialect initiative piloted in
people to search for 2011 to reach out to young people through courses such as “Learn Cantonese Language
their native roots and through Forgotten Cantonese Cuisine”.
hold tighter to their
cultural identity • The Chinese Theatre Circle has older Chinese Singaporean members and supporters
who turn to opera for opportunities to speak dialects with one another. The Glowers
Drama Group whose members are all above 50, use a mix of Cantonese, Mandarin and
English in their plays.
Paragraph 6 – • “An act of self-definition, one that brings solidarity with our neighbours”.
There are various ⇒ Singapore identity and heritage.
benefits to learning ⇒ Pre-schoolers learn about Singapore’s heritage through Mother Tongue languages
or relearning a (pilot programme in 2015 by National Heritage Board).
native language/ ⇒ Can be used as a tool to differentiate between Singaporeans and foreigners due to
several languages. the use of Singlish.
⇒ Singlish amalgamates various minority languages with English as it consists of words
originating from Malay, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Tamil and etc.
⇒ Singaporeans are proud of Singlish even though it is heavily discouraged officially but
continues to be used in daily life and even in local dramas and comedies.
⇒ Celebrated during the SG50 National Day Parade as one of the distinguishing factors
of being a born-and-bred Singaporean.
⇒ Code-switching is a skill that Singaporeans have been repeatedly urged to master so
that we are able to revert to using Standard English as well as our mother tongues in
formal situations.
• “Can help young people to master several languages” which could be an advantage.
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⇒ For Singaporeans, the advantage comes from having better inter-generational
communication with the older population.
⇒ There is not much economic or political advantage for Chinese dialects; however, the
Singapore government constantly urges Chinese Singaporeans to be conversant and
proficient in Mandarin as such a proficiency would be beneficial to us due China’s
huge economic role in the world today.
⇒ For Malay and Tamil and the other minority Indian languages, some economic and
political advantages could be present (e.g. Taufik Bautisah, first ever winner of
Singapore Idol, could break into the Malaysian entertainment scene by singing in his
mother tongue).
• Due to Singapore’s unique geographical location, some are stressing on the importance
to learn or be proficient in Malay.
⇒ All of Singapore’s Prime Ministers (as well as some key ministers) could
converse fluently in Malay as it is crucial in establishing important political ties (as
well as fluency in Mandarin and English).
⇒ Remembering that Malay is Singapore’s national language could help us to better
connect with our historical heritage.
Paragraph 7 - • Contrary to what Garland asserts, there is no need to resist any “onslaught of majority
It is becoming clear languages” in Singapore and thus “reverse language shift” – any resurgence of minority
that when people language in Singapore mostly comes from the desire to retain Singapore’s culture and
have a strong heritage, in which many minority language played a crucial role in.
cultural reason to
reverse language • It is not very clear or obvious that it is the multimedia that will assure “a continuity of
shift, they can minority languages” in Singapore. Rather, it is the very essence of Singapore’s multi-
effectively resist the racial and multi-ethnic social fabric that is a larger determinant of the continuity of minority
onslaught of majority languages in Singapore as each generation, backed by political and social rhetoric, seeks
languages. to pass down the traditions, culture and language associated to each of the minority
languages (though it is not so much the case for Chinese dialects).
Moreover, mass
media technologies • The internet and social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook allow the younger
are now helping generation to have access to greater variety of programmes and videos that contain
minority languages minority languages.
to make a ⇒ While local broadcasting channels censor dialects from their programmes, one would
comeback. be able to find many short clips containing these censored portions on YouTube.
⇒ There are even videos put up by young people that aim to teach others how to speak
Paragraph 8 - dialects.
Globalised
commerce and the
media are not
necessarily the
death knell for local
languages, because
certain trends
support their
preservation.
The availability of
cheap, powerful
multimedia will
assure a continuity
of minority
languages.
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2015 Prelim Paper 2 Standardisation (AQ)
Script A
• There are limited attempts to evaluate and link to the student’s society
• However, the development of ideas is not really coherent
• Student rehashes the text towards the end of the AQ response
• Fits into Band 3
Mark: 3/10
Language: 9/15
• Better than Script B because there are fewer grammar errors
• Some lifting in summary
Script B
• Like Script A, there are attempts to evaluate and link back to Singapore society but content does not
reflect reality
• Misinterpretation of the text in the second paragraph
Mark: 2/10
Language: 8/15
• Errors are frequent but there are consistent attempts to rephrase so the language does not fit into Band
C
Script C
• The response has features that fit into Band 2 – it has valid evaluation and there is a basic
understanding of the text
• Not high Band 2 because the overall response does not really answer the question
Mark: 4/10
Language: 11/15
• There are consistent attempts to paraphrase
• Decent fluency in AQ
• Varied sentence structures and few glaring grammar errors
Script D
• Fits into Band 2 because there are attempts to answer the question and provide evaluation – not merely
restating the text
• Development of ideas in paragraphs is not really coherent in the first half of the response, and some
contradiction in arguments
• Last body paragraph offered a better quality response
• Comparable to C, but same grade is given for different reasons
Mark: 4/10
Language: 11/15
• Organisation of ideas is rather weak (from AQ)
• Language is more succinct than C but there are more instances of lifting than script C
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• Some expression inaccuracies and lifting
Script E
Mark: 5/10
Language: 12/15
• Technical errors are rare
• There is overall fluency throughout the script
• Expression is succinct and more precise than all the other scripts
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NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE
1 hour 30 minutes
ANSWER BOOKLET
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name, class and GP tutor’s name in the spaces at the top of the page.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
SAQs /17
Summary /8
Application Qn /10
Language /15
Total /50
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Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to For
Examiner’s
fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English Use
throughout this Paper.
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer,
you must still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers
which only copy words or phrases from the passage.
1 Explain in your own words as far as possible how clothes shopping is “much like
social media” (line 3).
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2 Explain what the writer means by “hedonic treadmill” (line 9). Use your own words as
far as possible.
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4 What is the writer implying about fast fashion brands by the use of the word “notorious” For
(line 26)? Examiner’s
Use
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5 Explain in your own words as far as possible the difference in the ways fast fashion
labels and mid-market and luxury brands “play off consumers’ desire for a bargain” (line
29).
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6 What are the “conditions” that “make it easy for people to buy things that they don’t
need or even really want” (lines 38 – 39)? Use your own words as far as possible.
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7 Explain what the writer means by “this glut of clothing is having effects beyond stuffing
our closets” (line 40). Use your own words as far as possible.
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8 In paragraph 7, what conclusions can be easily made and what are not, when studying For
the consumption patterns of Americans? Examiner’s
Use
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9 How does the popularity of YouTube haul videos (line 62) demonstrate millennials’ love
for shopping?
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11 Using material from paragraphs 10 – 13, summarise what the writer has to say about
compulsive shopping and the backlash against mindless overconsumption as well as For
his response to the backlash. Examiner’s
Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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12 Marc Bain discusses some issues around the subject of clothes shopping. How far For
Examiner’s
would you agree with his observations, relating your arguments to your society? Use
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For
Examiner’s
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THE END
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NANYANG JUNIOR COLLEGE
________________________________________________________________
This insert consists of 4 printed pages including the cover page.
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Marc Bain writes about clothes shopping.
1 In wealthy countries around the world, clothes shopping has become a widespread
pastime, a powerfully pleasurable and sometimes addictive activity that exists as a
constant presence, much like social media. The Internet and the proliferation of
inexpensive clothing have made shopping a form of cheap, endlessly available
entertainment—one where the point isn’t what you buy so much as it's the act of 5
shopping itself.
2 This dynamic has significant consequences. Secondhand stores receive more clothes
than they can manage and landfills are overstuffed with clothing and shoes that don’t
break down easily. Consumers run the risk of ending up on a hedonic treadmill in which
the continuous pursuit of new stuff leaves them unhappy and unfulfilled. For most, 10
breaking the cycle isn’t as easy as just vowing to buy nothing. It’s no accident that
shopping has become such an absorbing and compulsive activity: The reasons are in
our neurology, economics, culture, and technology.
4 Fast fashion perfectly feeds this neurological process. First, the clothing is incredibly
cheap, which makes it easy to buy. Second, new deliveries to stores are frequent, which
means customers always have something new to look at and desire. Zara stores get two
new shipments of clothes each week, while H&M and Forever21 get clothes daily. These 25
brands are notorious for knocking off high-end designers, allowing the customer to get
something at least superficially similar to the original at a small fraction of the cost, and
they’re priced lower than the rest of the market, making their products feel like a bargain.
Mid-market and luxury brands play off consumers’ desire for a bargain as well, with
many seeming to be perpetually holding sales. To facilitate the frequent markdowns they 30
offer, several now inflate their initial retail prices. They’re able to protect their margins
and let customers believe they’re getting a deal, enticing them to buy more.
5 Overall, clothes have been getting cheaper for decades, ever since apparel
manufacturing started moving to developing countries, where production costs are
significantly lower. The spread of fast-fashion chains has also helped spur the process. 35
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index shows that clothing
prices have generally decreased. This means Americans are able to buy more clothing,
and as incomes have increased overall, they spend less of their money on it. These
conditions make it easy for people to buy things they don’t need or even really want.
6 This glut of clothing is having effects beyond stuffing our closets. About 10.5 million tons 40
of clothes end up in American landfills each year, and secondhand stores receive so
much excess clothing that they only resell about 20 percent of it. The remainder is sent
to textile recyclers, where it’s either turned into rags or fibers, or, if the quality is high
enough, it’s exported and cycled through a cutthroat global used-clothing business.
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7 Determining exactly how much time people spend shopping for clothing isn’t simple. The 45
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts an American time use survey, but clothes
shopping is lumped in with shopping for everything else except groceries and gas. It is
clear, however, that more and more Americans are shopping online, and early evidence
suggests that they are shopping more often. Andrew Lipsman, vice president of
marketing and insights at the Internet research firm ComScore, says that mobile 50
shopping in particular has “exploded.”
8 Mobile, in fact, is now the primary way people buy online, and one ComScore study on
mobile shopping in five key European countries found that purchases of clothing and
accessories led all other categories. Lipsman also points out that this mobile browsing
didn’t necessarily lead to purchases. Browsing is also about research and entertainment. 55
“It is more than just transactional,” he says.
10 Studies of how the Internet plays into compulsive buying are in their early stages, but the
evidence so far suggests there may be a link. One of the few relevant longitudinal
studies on compulsive shopping, published in 2005, looked at the way East Germans
integrated into Western society after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The study found that, as
East Germans settled into Western consumer culture, they showed a “marked increase” 70
in compulsive buying. The authors concluded that postmodern consumer societies
“create an atmosphere which supports the rise of compensatory and compulsive
buying.”
11 April Lane Benson, a psychologist and the author of To Buy or Not To Buy: Why We
Overshop and How To Stop, specialises in treating compulsive shopping. When she 75
describes the reasons for people constantly browsing as entertainment, she makes it
sound like an existential crisis. “I think that it has something to do with the pace that we
live our lives at and the paucity of time that so many of us spend in pursuits that really
feed our souls,” she says. “Shopping is a way that we search for our selves and our
place in the world. A lot of people conflate the search for self with the search for stuff.” 80
Shopping therefore becomes a “quick fix,” as she puts it, for other problems.
12 There has been a backlash against what some perceive as mindless overconsumption.
In the past few years a “slow fashion” movement has emerged which emphasises buying
less clothing and sticking to garments made using sustainable, ethical practices. The
recent book by Japanese organisational guru Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of 85
Tidying Up, has led to what’s been described as a “cult” of decluttering, with her acolytes
boasting of shedding piles of clothing.
13 Let’s take a breath here. Residents of industrialised societies are not all doomed to
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endless “compensatory” shopping just because our brains seem to enjoy it and our
cultures are set up for it. The five-minute break from work you take to look at clothes 90
doesn’t necessarily mean you’re searching for your identity in a pair of pants, or that
you’re trying to fill a void. The evidence does suggest, however, that shopping has taken
on a new role in our society and in our lives. It’s no longer just a transaction, a way to
procure necessities or luxuries, but rather has become an end in itself. It’s a leisure
activity, much like watching TV. It’s consumerism as entertainment. 95
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1. Explain in your own words as far as possible how clothes shopping is “much like
social media” (line 3). [2] (PARAPHRASING)
ANSWER II:
a. The relentless/never-ending
consumption of new stuff [1]
3. Explain the writer’s use of the word ‘engineer’ (line 20). [1] (USE OF LANGUAGE)
If seeing items you want and getting a The writer wants to show that the
bargain both elicit waves of shopping joy, enjoyable culture of shopping OR
you couldn’t engineer a more pleasurable consumer culture (CONTEXT)
consumer culture than the modern, is (artificially) created/designed/planned.
globalized West. (MEANING)
NOTE:
Both context and meaning must be
correct to secure the mark
‘enjoyable’ is not necessary
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4. What is the writer implying about fast fashion brands by the use of the word
“notorious’ (line 26)? [1] (USE OF LANGUAGE)
These brands are notorious for knocking The writer is implying that fast fashion
off high-end designers, brands are
(a) infamous/well or widely known
(MEANING)
DO NOT ACCEPT:
‘famous’ or ‘recognised’ (positive
connotation)
‘well known despite knocking off high
end designers’ (misinterpretation)
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5. Explain in your own words as far as possible the difference in the ways fast fashion
labels and mid-market and luxury brands “play off consumers’ desire for a bargain”
(line 29). [2] (CONTRAST/DIFFICULT PARAPHRASING)
These brands are notorious for knocking a(i) Fast fashion labels copy designer
off high-end designers, allowing the clothes and
customer to get something at least
superficially similar to the original ALSO ACCEPT: sell clothes that are alike
to/are identical to/ are the same
at a small fraction of the cost, and as/imitate/replicate/resemble clothes of
they’re priced lower than the rest of the high-end designer brands
market, making their products feel like a
bargain. a(ii) and sell them at an extremely low
price, [1]
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6. What are the “conditions” that “make it easy for people to buy things that they do
not need or want” (lines 38 – 39)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
(PARAPHRASING)
Overall, clothes have been a. Clothes today are far more affordable
getting cheaper for decades, because
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor NOTE: Candidates can lift ‘prices’
Statistics’ Consumer Price Index shows
that clothing prices have
generally decreased.
NOTE:
Candidates can lift ‘apparel
manufacturers’, ‘developing
countries’ and ‘production costs’
‘significantly’ must be paraphrased
The spread of fast-fashion chains has ii. The presence of fast fashion labels
also helped spur the process. is growing.
DO NOT ACCEPT:
‘the opening of fast fashion stores’
‘the rising popularity of fast fashion
stores’
This means Americans are able to buy b. At the same time, people are earning
more clothing, and as incomes have more / more affluent.
increased overall, they spend less of their
money on it.
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Mark scheme: 1-2 points – 1m; 3 points: 2m; 4 points: 3m
Candidates will not get any mark for (i) and/or (ii) if (a) is incorrect (very unlikely,
though). (b) is independent of (a).
7. Explain what the writer means by ‘this glut of clothing is having effects beyond
stuffing our closets’ (line 40). Use your own words as far as possible. [2] (EXPLAIN
WHAT THE WRITER MEANS/PARAPHRASING + INFERENCE)
DO NOT ACCEPT
‘Shopping for clothes’
(Excessive) ‘Shopping for things’
‘Shopping’
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8. In paragraph 7, what conclusions can be easily made and what are not, when
studying the consumption patterns of Americans? [2] (IDENTIFICATION)
It is clear, however, that more and more a(i) that more and more Americans are
Americans are shopping online, shopping online and
and early evidence suggests that they are a(ii) that they are shopping more often/
shopping more often. spend more time on shopping
Determining exactly how much time The conclusions that cannot be easily
people spend shopping for clothing isn’t made are
simple. The U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics conducts an American time use (b)(i) how much time people spend
survey, but clothes shopping is lumped in shopping for clothing
with shopping for everything else except
groceries and gas.
Andrew Lipsman, vice president of (b)(ii) Mobile shopping in particular has
marketing and insights at the Internet “exploded”
research firm ComScore, says that mobile
shopping in particular has “exploded.” NOTE: Paraphrasing is not necessary
Mark scheme: 1-2 points – 1m; 3-4 points: 2m
9. How does the popularity of YouTube haul videos (line 62) demonstrate millennials’
love for shopping? [1] (USE OF EXAMPLES)
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10. Identify one phrase in paragraph 1 which echoes “It’s consumerism as
entertainment” (line 95). [1] (IDENTIFICATION)
ANY ONE
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11. Using material from paragraphs 10 – 13, summarise what the writer has to say
about compulsive shopping and the backlash against mindless overconsumption as
well as his response to the backlash.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8]
Compulsive shopping… …
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6 and our place in the world. our role/purpose in society/the world
(l79-80)
DO NOT ACCEPT: ‘status’, ‘position’
escape/distraction
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especially to an adverse fate’
OR
We are (a) not always
(b) vulnerable/susceptible or do not
always fall victim to compulsive
shopping
13 just because our brains seem to enjoy just because people like to shop/a
it bargain
(l89) OR
people derive neurological pleasures
from shopping
14 and our cultures are set up for it. and their (a) lifestyles/ways of life
(l89) (b) allow/encourage it.
15 The five-minute break from work you He does not think we (a) always shop
take to look at clothes to (b) assert our individuality/acquire
doesn’t necessarily mean our sense of self
you’re searching for your identity in a
pair of pants. NOTE: ‘necessarily’ must be
(l90-91) paraphrased
18 It’s no longer just a transaction Shopping is (a) no longer (b) merely (c)
(l93) a business deal/economic activity/an
exchange of money for goods
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‘just’)
20 but rather has become an end in itself. People shop for the sake of shopping.
(l94)
Mark allocation
1-2 pts: 1m 3-4 pts: 2m
5-6 pts: 3m 7-8 pts: 4m
9-10pts: 5m 11-12pts: 6m
13-14pts: 7m 15pts and above: 8m
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12. Marc Bain discusses some issues around the subject of clothes shopping. How far
would you agree with his observations, relating your arguments to your society? [10]
WHY I DISAGREE
While the prices of clothes itself may be low, clothes
shopping is not necessarily cheap when one factors
in the high shipping costs that often accompany
shopping. (EVALUATION)
Shipping costs for Forever21’s clothing is
ludicrously expensive – US$50 worth of purchases
would cost US$48 to ship to Singapore which is
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almost equivalent to the price of the clothes!
(EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I AGREE
But this material pursuit is an ultimately
unsatisfactory one. (EVALUATION)
As evident from the above, Singapore is
a materialistic society, not to mention a highly
competitive one, where everyone struggles to
keep up with, or better yet outdo, everyone else.
Because of their materialistic and competitive
nature, they like some form of tangible evidence
showing that they are successful, and so they go
shopping. Their status symbols are luxury brands
like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes because
their designs are easily identifiable, and their
hefty price tags put their owners clearly in an
income bracket that not only appreciates but also
deserves the finer things in life. Sadly, it is not
enough for Singaporeans to make a purchase
once and for all and be happy. They must keep up
with the latest fashion or otherwise be seen as
outdated or worse, inferior to their friends and
neighbours. These material wants do not come
cheap, and we have to work harder than we
already are in order to keep up with the pretense.
Unless we learn to stop living to earn and spend
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money in a continuous cycle, we will never get off
the endless “hedonic treadmill” that keeps us
down and miserable while constantly looking
forward to the occasional temporary high for the
energy to keep us running on.
(ELABORATION/EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
While the consumer culture is engineered to induce
satisfaction, ultimately getting people to shop to
their heart’s content, shoppers may not always find
the experience pleasurable. (EVALUATION)
The biggest problem with the vast majority of
shopping malls in Singapore is a lack of
differentiation – they look and feel as if they are
all made from the same mould. With the
exception of high-end malls, such as Orchard Ion,
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Ngee Ann City and Paragon, the rest have more or
less the same tenants – you can expect to see a
Uniqlo, H&M and/or Charles & Keith in any large-
scale shopping centre. After a while, shopping
becomes boring, and Singaporeans find it more
satisfying to shop online or do it overseas.
(ELABORATION & EXEMPLIFICATION)
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of-season sales twice a year, the majority of
coveted items, especially the classic colours and
styles, never go on sale. They also happen to be
the most popular with customers and are usually
sold out soon after they are displayed on the shelf.
(EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
While it is true these conditions make it easy for
people to buy more things unnecessarily, a more
significant reason for why people make unnecessary
purchases these days can be attributed to the rise of
mobile shopping. (EVALUATION)
With most Singaporeans owning a 3G enabled
mobile phone as well as more retailers opening
up more online store options, including mobile
apps created just for it, shopping has never been
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more convenient. However, the danger of such
convenience is that it makes it easy for people to
make immediate purchases to gratify their
shopping impulses, even irrational ones.
(ELABORATION)
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their shops with attractive discounts, member
coupons and with free delivery as well as returns
and refunds. Online shops like Zalora and Asos
have regular promotions and offers, and some
have even tied up with companies that offer cash
back schemes like Shopback. And until recently
most physical shops in Singapore did not accept
refunds and even an exchange in size was
frowned upon. Due to competition from e-
retailers, some of these shops, such as Uniqlo and
CottonOn, have started accepting refunds but the
vast majority still does not. Hence, Singaporean
shoppers are beginning to fully embrace the
attractive offers available online to get good deals
and offers.
In 2014, online spending here exceeded $1 billion,
up 13 per cent year on year – beating the 12 per
cent pace set in 2013. Conversely, sales at many
malls in Singapore have reported a significant
drop in number of customers and the shopping
belt in Singapore, Orchard Road is losing its shine
amongst consumers. (ELABORATION &
EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
No doubt, shopping for clothes online is a rising
trend worldwide, but compared with their Western
counterparts, Singaporean shoppers are still rather
traditional in their approach towards clothes
shopping. This is especially true for older shoppers –
the middle aged and elderly. (EVALUATION)
Many still enjoy the experience of trawling malls
and physically trying on clothes.
They are also fearful of purchasing clothes that
may not fit them and the hassle of having to mail
them back. According to The Straits Times:
Western shoppers are more ready to purchase
clothes while browsing online compared with
Asian shoppers, according to Asian e-commerce
giant Zalora and that buyers in Asia tend to spend
a lot more time considering their purchases. Due
to this e-retailers are coming up with
sophisticated software to try on clothes virtually
via avatars and fit determiners.
Furthermore, they have fears of using their credit
card information to make payment online (the
usual method of making payment for online
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shops) due to the possibility of credit card theft
and the find other options available such as using
Paypal and other such middleman services,
daunting due to the complexity involved in setting
up such accounts. (ELABORATION &
EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
More shoppers may have become more
environmentally and socially conscious, but by and
large the vast majority of people are not active
supporters of the “slow fashion” movement,
(EVALUATION PART 1) as they are not particularly
concerned about the implications, which do not affect
their lives in any significant way.
Most still feel that vintage fashion is taboo as the
more superstitious older Singaporeans, for
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example, feel that it is not advisable to wear used
clothing due to paranoia (associations with dead
previous owners, hygiene etc.)
In addition, there is a common perception
that eco-fashion is not fashionable or of good
quality. Most would prefer to purchase from
regular stores.
Furthermore, often eco-friendly fashion uses
alternative sources (hemp, bamboo, organic
cotton etc.) which are more costly due to the
complexity of the production methods, with the
exception of a few like H&M. Many charge
exorbitant prices for their eco-friendly pieces.
Often the majority of these eco-friendly brands
are also high fashion brands that are trying to
woo the wealthier crowd (Stella McCartney, Gucci
and Saint Laurent etc). The hefty price tags mean
that only a few can afford and relate to the cause.
(ELABORATION & EXEMPLIFICATION)
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PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Higher 1
ANSWER BOOKLET
GP Tutor: ______________
Write your name, CT group and GP tutor’s name on the cover page of this answer
booklet.
The number of marks is given in the brackets [ ] at the end of each question or each
part question.
Content /35
Language /15
TOTAL /50
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PAPER 2 (50 marks) For
Examiner’s
Use
Read the passage and then answer all the questions which follow below. Note that up to
fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout
this paper.
Note: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE and you select the appropriate material from the passages for your answer,
you must still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers
which only copy words or phrases from the passages.
1 In lines 2-3, what similarity do the authors see between the Age of Loneliness and the
ages that precede it? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
2 What is the claim made by Thomas Hobbes in lines 7-8 and why do the authors
disagree with it? Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
3 What do the words ‘just as’ (line 14) tell you about the effect of the epidemic on older
people?
[1]
4 What is implied by the ‘shifts’ (line 20) described in the sentence ‘Today, people travel
by car instead of buses and use YouTube rather than the cinema’ (line 19)?
[2]
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5 Explain the phrase ‘to fight like stray dogs over a dustbin’ (line 31). For
Examiner’s
Use
[2]
6 Explain the ‘income-happiness paradox’ in lines 39-40. Use your own words as far as
possible.
[2]
7 What does the word ‘assailed’ in line 73 tell us about how loneliness affects the rich?
[1]
[1]
(b) Why does the author repeat the phrase ‘for this’ in lines 76 and 78?
[1]
9 What is the authors’ opinion about schemes like ‘Men in Sheds’ and ‘Walking Football’ in
line 80?
[1]
[1]
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11 Using material from paragraphs 7 to 9, summarise what the authors have to say about For
Examiner’s
the harmful effects of loneliness on people. Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
Loneliness leads to
[8]
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12 George Monbiot and Philippa Perry argue that the Age of Loneliness is killing us. For
Examiner’s
Use
How far would you agree with their observations? Relate your arguments to your own
society.
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For
Examiner’s
Use
[10]
END OF PAPER
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Insert
George Monbiot and Philippa Perry argue that the Age of Loneliness is killing us.
1 What do we call this age? It is not the information age: the collapse of popular education
movements left a void filled by marketing and conspiracy theories. Like the stone age, iron age
and space age, the digital age says plenty about our artefacts but little about society. The
anthropocene, in which humans exert a major impact on the biosphere, fails to distinguish this
century from the previous twenty. What clear social change marks out our time from those that 5
precede it? To me, it is obvious. This is the Age of Loneliness.
2 When Thomas Hobbes claimed that in the state of nature, before authority arose to keep us in
check, we were engaged in a war “of every man against every man”, he could not have been
more wrong. We were social creatures from the start, mammalian bees, who depended entirely
on each other. The hominins of east Africa could not have survived one night alone. We are 10
shaped, to a greater extent than almost any other species, by contact with others. The age we
are entering, in which we exist apart, is unlike any that has gone before.
3 Recently, we read that loneliness has become an epidemic among young adults. Now we learn
that it is just as great an affliction of older people. A study by Independent Age shows that severe
loneliness in England blights the lives of 700,000 men and 1.1 million women over 50, and is 15
rising with astonishing speed. Social isolation is as potent a cause of early death as smoking 15
cigarettes a day; loneliness, research suggests, is twice as deadly as obesity. Psychological and
physical ailments become more prevalent when connections are cut. We cannot cope alone.
4 Today, people travel by car instead of buses and use YouTube rather than the cinema. However,
these shifts alone fail to explain the speed of our social collapse. These structural changes have 20
been accompanied by a life-denying ideology, which enforces and celebrates our social isolation.
The war of every man against every man – competition and individualism, in other words – is the
religion of our time, justified by a mythology of lone rangers, sole traders, self-starters, self-made
men and women, going it alone. For the most social of creatures, who cannot prosper without
love, there is no such thing as society, only heroic individualism. What counts is to win. The rest 25
is collateral damage.
5 British children no longer aspire to be train drivers or nurses – more than a fifth say they “just
want to be rich”: wealth and fame are the sole ambitions of 40% of those surveyed. A government
study in June revealed that Britain is the loneliness capital of Europe. We are less likely than
other Europeans to have close friends or to know our neighbours. Who can be surprised, when 30
everywhere we are urged to fight like stray dogs over a dustbin? We have even changed our
language to reflect this. Our most cutting insult is “loser". We no longer talk about people. Now
we call them individuals. So pervasive has this alienating, atomising term become that even the
charities fighting loneliness use it to describe the bipedal entities formerly known as human
beings. 35
6 One of the tragic outcomes of loneliness is that people turn to their televisions for consolation:
two-fifths of older people report that the one-eyed god is their principal company. This self-
medication aggravates the disease. Research by economists at the University of Milan suggests
that television helps to drive competitive aspiration. It strongly reinforces the income-happiness
paradox: the fact that, as national incomes rise, happiness does not rise with them. Aspiration, 40
which increases with income, ensures that the point of arrival, of sustained satisfaction, retreats
before us. You have only to think of the generalised obsession with fame and wealth, the
pervasive sense, in watching it, that life is somewhere other than where you are, to see why this
might be.
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7 Lonely people are nearly twice as likely to die prematurely as those who do not suffer feelings of 45
isolation. Being lonely it seems, is a lot more worrying for your health than obesity. Its dramatic
consequences on health is more pressing for the elderly. In a US report, the effect of satisfying
relationships on the elderly was measured and the report concluded that the lonely elderly was
adversely affected in developing their resilience and their ability to bounce back after adversity.
8 Not surprisingly, there is no corresponding good news for those less well connected to other 50
people. Feeling isolated from others can disrupt sleep, raise blood pressure, lower immunity,
increase depression, lower overall subjective well-being and increase the stress hormone
cortisol. The Lonely Society, in its 2010 report commissioned by The Mental Health Foundation,
cited a link between our "individualistic society" and the increase in common mental health
disorders in the last 50 years. It also drew on research showing that mental health problems 55
occur more frequently in unequal societies where lonely people are often left behind. By
squandering "social capital" in the individualistic pursuit of greater wealth, or treating social
networks as incidental, are we neglecting a part of life that makes us happy and keeps us healthy
for longer?
9 Loneliness is often the core feeling that gives rise to mood swings. Lonely people frequently feel 60
that they are disliked, are often self-obsessed and lack empathy with others. They fear rejection
and keep themselves at a distance, which feeds the loneliness. People who are lonely often think
that everyone else is doing OK while they are not. They think they are the only ones carrying a
burden. Clients talk about putting their "game face" on rather than sharing truthfully about
themselves and it can be difficult to know when it is appropriate to make the move from the 65
former to the latter.
10 So what is the point? What do we gain from this war of all against all? Competition drives growth,
but growth no longer makes us wealthier. It is noted that while the income of company directors
has risen by more than a fifth, wages for the workforce as a whole have fallen in real terms over
the past year. Even if competition did make us richer, it would make us no happier, as the 70
satisfaction derived from a rise in income would be undermined by the aspirational impacts of
competition. Even the rich are not happy. A survey by Boston College of people with an average
net worth of $78m found that they too were assailed by anxiety, dissatisfaction and loneliness.
Many of them reported feeling financially insecure: to reach safe ground, they believed, they
would need, on average, about 25% more money. 75
11 For this, we have ripped the natural world apart, degraded our conditions of life, surrendered our
freedoms and prospects of contentment to a compulsive, atomising, joyless hedonism, in which,
having consumed all else, we start to prey upon ourselves. For this, we have destroyed the
essence of humanity: our connectedness. Yes, there are palliatives, clever and delightful
schemes like Men in Sheds and Walking Football developed by charities for isolated older 80
people. But if we are to break this cycle and come together once more, we must confront the
world-eating, flesh-eating system into which we have been forced.
12 Hobbes’s pre-social condition was a myth. But we are entering a post-social condition our
ancestors would have believed impossible. Our lives are becoming nasty, brutish and long.
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Pioneer Junior College
JC2 Preliminary Examination 2015
Paper 2 Answer Scheme
1. In lines 2-3, what similarity do the authors see between the Age of Loneliness and the ages
that precede it? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
2. What is the claim made by Thomas Hobbes in lines 7-8 and why do the authors disagree with
it? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
3. In paragraph 3, what do the words ‘just as’ tell you about the effect of the epidemic on older
people? [1]
4. What is implied by the ‘shifts’ (line 21) described in the sentence ‘Today people travel by car
instead of buses and use YouTube rather than the cinema’ in line 20? [2]
OR
Just as stray dogs compete for food in their
fight for survival, so do people regard others as
competitors.
6. Explain the ‘income-happiness paradox’ in lines 40-41. Use your own words as far as
possible. (2m)
7. What does the word ‘assailed’ in line 74 tell us about how loneliness affects the rich? [1]
8. (b) Why does the author repeat the phrase ‘for this’ in lines 77 and 79. [1]
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9. What are the authors’ opinion about schemes like ‘Men in Sheds’ and ‘Walking Football’ in line
82? [1m]
10. Why is Hobbes mentioned again in the first line of paragraph 12? [1]
11. Summary
Using material from paragraphs 7 to 9, summarise what the authors have to say about the
harmful effects of loneliness on people.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. (8m)
Loneliness leads to …
4 the lonely elderly was adversely 50 As they were less able to recover from
affected in developing their hardship / difficulty
resilience
OR 50
and their ability to bounce back
after adversity
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# Lift Lines Paraphrase
8 where lonely people are often left 58 as lonely people are not given the chance to
behind. go forward / marginalised/ sidelined
OR 65
19 rather than sharing truthfully about 66 Instead of being open/ honest with others
themselves
20 difficult to know when it is 67 Unsure of when to confide in others
appropriate to make the move from
the former to the latter.
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8 5
9- 10 6
11-12 7
>13 8
12. Application Qn
George Monbiot and Philippa Perry argue that the age of loneliness is killing us.
How applicable are their observations to yourself and your own society? (10m)
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For example, the Samaritans of Singapore reported in
July 2013 that there was an 80% increase in suicide
rates in the age group 20 – 29 years old from 2012
and this is attributed to struggles with stressful
studies or work, social interactions and feelings of
loneliness.
Disagree
Ex
Altruism is still present in individualistic societies with
the government and community organizations
pitching in to create opportunities for interaction,
reducing the likelihood of loneliness and mental
illnesses.
E.g.
Estates with a high percentage of elderly residents
often see Senior Activity Centres set up at the foot of
their HDB blocks, such as that of the Lions
Befrienders Senior Activity Centre in Toa Payoh and
Bendeemer. The elderly residents can chat with
friends, take part in mass exercise sessions and
handicraft classes or help prepare meals for each
other once in a while.
E.g.
Public campaigns such as Eat with Your Family Day,
which fell on 29 May this year saw a day set aside for
all workers as well as students to get off work or
school early and spend quality evening time with their
families.
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E.g. Unilever Future Leaders’ League (UFLL) is a
dynamic global competition that brings together
students from all over the world to experience what
tomorrow's leadership is all about through
collaboration.
6 Yes, there are The author is mocking the schemes and indicating
palliatives, clever and their ineffectiveness. However, this may not be true in
delightful schemes like Men in Singapore.
Sheds and Walking Football
developed by charities for Ex: In fact, the Government may have pre-empted
isolated older people. that isolation is divisive and have thus implemented
sustainable policies or activities that help make our
society more inclusive.
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Raffles Institution
2015 Year 6 Preliminary Examination
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
Write your name, CT group and GP tutor’s name in the spaces at the top of this page.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
TOTAL /50
____________________________________________________________________________
This document consists of 7 printed pages, 1 blank page and 1 Insert.
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Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions which follow. Note that up to
fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this
Paper.
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passage.
For
Examiner’s
Use
1. From paragraph 1, what is the author’s purpose in sharing her personal experience?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………..………………………………..……..[1]
2. How do the two questions in line 3 demonstrate the author’s excessive anxiety?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………..………………………………..……..[1]
3. “And the shouldering of that one task can snowball into responsibility for the whole
assembly line of child-minding.” (lines 6-8)
i. What does “snowball” suggest about the nature of child-minding?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………..………………………………..……..[2]
ii. Why does the author describe child-minding as an “assembly line”?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.……………………………………………………………..………………………………..……..[1]
2
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For
Examiner’s
Use
4. From paragraph 3, what are the consequences in the workplace for the mother as a result
of her “worry work” (line 16) at home? Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………. ….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………. …
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………. [3]
5. Why does the author find the situation of gender discrimination towards household
supervision “surprising” (line 19)? Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………. ….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..………………………………………………….[2]
6. What does this insertion in parentheses (lines 22-24) reveal about women’s new approach
towards housework?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………... [1]
3
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For
Examiner’s
Use
7. From lines 32-33, show how mothers’ excessive concerns about their children reveal a
contradiction in their own situation. Use your own words as far as possible.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………. ….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………………….….[2]
8. “And when I say ‘we’, you know who I mean.” (lines 33-34)
i. Identify the tone used by the author when she says “And when I say ‘we’, you know
who I mean”.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………... [1]
ii. What is the author’s intention in saying this?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………... [1]
9. What do lines 38-41 suggest about how men and women see their contributions to
housework?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………... [1]
4
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For
Examiner’s
Use
10. Suggest one reason why the author ends the passage with the sentence “Just ask the
Finnish mothers.” (line 85)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
.……………………………………………………………..……………………………………... [1]
11. Using material from paragraphs 8 to 12 only (lines 47-70), summarise what the author has
to say about why mothers get stuck with the micromanagement of child-minding and end
up worrying more than fathers about their children.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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No of words: ___________
5
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For
Examiner’s
Use
12. Judith Shulevitz argues that mothers play more of an active role in their children’s lives than
fathers. How far would you agree with the author’s views? Relate your views to both you
and your society.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. For
Examiner’s
Use
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7
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8
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Raffles Institution
2015 Year 6 Preliminary Examination
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
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Judith Shulevitz writes that child-minding duties are not equal between mothers and fathers.
1 There’s a story my daughter loves to hear me tell: the day after I came home from the hospital with her
big brother, my first child, I was seized by the certainty that I was about to die. I sobbed uncontrollably. I
asked my husband, “But who will keep him in socks? Who’ll make sure he’s wearing his little socks?”
2 New parenthood, of course, does things to your brain. But I was on to something, even in my deranged,
postpartum way. I should state for the record that my husband is perfectly handy with socks. Still, the 5
parent more obsessed with the children’s hosiery is the one who’ll make sure it’s in stock. And the
shouldering of that one task can snowball into responsibility for the whole assembly line of child-
minding. She who buys the bootees will surely buy the bottle washer, just as she’ll probably find the
babysitter and pencil in the class trips. I don’t mean to say that she’ll be the one to do everything, just
that she’ll make sure that almost everything gets done. Sociologists sometimes call the management of 10
familial duties “worry work”, and the person who does it the “designated worrier”, because you need
large reserves of emotional energy to stay on top of it all.
3 I wish I could say that fathers and mothers worry in equal measure. But they don’t. Disregard what your
two-career couple friends say about going 50-50. Sociological studies of couples from all strata of
society confirm that, by and large, mothers draft the to-do lists while fathers pick and choose among the 15
items. And whether a woman loves or hates worry work, it can scatter her focus on what she does for
pay or clean off a career path. This grind of apprehension and organisation may be one of the least
movable obstacles to women’s equality in the workplace.
4 It’s surprising that household supervision resists gender reassignment to the degree that it does. In the
United States today, more than half of all women work, and women are 40 percent of the sole or 20
primary breadwinners in households with children under 18. The apportionment of the acts required to
keep home and family together has also been evening out during the past 40 years (though, for
housework, this is more because women have sloughed it off rather than because men have taken it
on). Nonetheless, “one of the last things to go is women keeping track of the kind of non-routine details
of taking care of children: when they have to go to the doctor, when they need a permission slip for 25
school – paying attention at that level,” says the social psychologist Francine Deutsch, author of
Halving It All: How Equally Shared Parenting Works.
5 The amount of attention that must be paid to such details has also ballooned in the past few decades.
This is because of our commitment to what the sociologist Annette Lareau calls “concerted cultivation”.
We enrol children in dance classes, soccer, tutoring — often three or four extracurricular activities a 30
week. These demand reluctant effort, obviously, but also have less visible time costs: searching the
web for the best programme, ordering equipment, packing snacks and so on. We fret that we’re
overscheduling the children, but don’t seem to realise that we’re also overscheduling ourselves. And
when I say ‘we’, you know who I mean. A 2008 study by Dr. Lareau and the sociologist Elliot B.
Weininger found that while fathers often, say, coach games, it’s mothers who perform the behind-the- 35
scenes labour that makes kids’ sports and other pursuits possible.
6 Of course, sweeping generalisations about who does what always have a near-infinite number of
exceptions. There are many more men in charge of child care than there were 20-odd years ago. How
many more depends on whether you ask men or women: half of the men surveyed in a Families and
Work Institute study from 2008 said they were either the responsible parent or shared the role equally 40
with their spouse, while two-thirds of the women said they were the one in charge.
7 And then there are the stay-at-home dads: two million of them in 2012, up from 1.1 million in 1989,
although only around a fifth of those fathers stay home for the children. The other four-fifths are
unemployed, ill, in school or retired. Some of these fathers serve as primary caregivers. On average,
however, men who are out of work eke out slightly under three hours a day of housework and child care 45
combined — less than working women do (3.4 hours a day).
2
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8 One reason women like me get stuck with the micromanagement is that we don’t see it coming, not at
first. Pamela Smock, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, tells a story about the students in her
“Women and Work” class. Mostly women, they spend a semester reading about the gendered division
of domestic labour. And yet in their presentations, even they slip up and talk about men “helping out”. 50
“As long as the phrase ‘he helped’ is used,” says Dr. Smock, “we know we have not attained gender
equality.”
9 No matter how generous, “helping out” isn’t sharing. I feel pinpricks of rage every time my husband
fishes for praise for something I’ve asked him to do. On the other hand, my friends and I have never
gotten around to drawing up the List of Lists and insisting that we split it. Even though women tell 55
researchers that having to answer for the completion of domestic tasks stresses them out more than
any other aspect of family life, I suspect they’re not always willing to cede control.
10 I’ve definitely been guilty of “maternal gatekeeping” — rolling my eyes or making sardonic asides when
my husband has been in charge but hasn’t pushed hard enough to get teeth brushed or bar mitzvah
practice done. This drives my husband insane, because he’s a really good father and he knows that I 60
know it. But women can’t help themselves. They have standards, helicopter-ish though they may be.
11 Allow me to advance one more, perhaps controversial, theory about why women are on the hook for
what you might call the human-resources side of child care: women simply worry more about their
children. This is largely a social fact. Mothers live in a world of other mothers, not to mention teachers
and principals, who judge us by our children. Or maybe we just think they’re judging us. 65
12 But there is also a biological explanation: we have been conditioned to worry. Evidence from other
animals as well as humans makes the case that the female of the species is programmed to do more
than the male to help their offspring thrive. Neurological and endocrinological changes, the production
of hormones such as oxytocin and estrogen during pregnancy and after birth, exert a profound
influence over mothers’ moods and regulate the depth of their attachment to their children. 70
13 So we worry. When we worry, we coordinate. When we coordinate, we multitask. We text about a play
date while tending to a spreadsheet. And we underestimate how many minutes we rack up on stuff
we’re not being paid to do. Smartphones are particularly dangerous in this regard, because they make
multitasking seem like no work at all.
14 But what is to be done? When Martin Luther King, Jr. had the Dream in inspiring the civil rights 75
movement, we enacted laws that broke the attitudes on segregation, painful as they were in the
beginning. We created avenues that allowed blacks and whites to come together in meaningful ways,
awkward as it was for both groups. Most of all, King created a vision never seen before. I want that —
for mothers!
15 All this may change as men as well as women chafe against the lengthening and increasingly 80
unpredictable workday foisted upon us by globalisation and the Internet, among other forces. It should
be said, however, that planning for equality is not the same as achieving it. The realities of child rearing
— the shortage of time and sleep, the fraying of tempers, the pressure on women to be the right kind of
mother and on men not to let family affect career — tend to define equality down. It’s about time things
get easier when Mom and Dad feel happier looking after junior. Just ask the Finnish mothers. 85
3
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4
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Yr 6 GP Prelim Answer Scheme
1. From paragraph 1, what is the author’s purpose in sharing her personal experience? [1]
From the passage Inferred Mark
There’s a story my daughter loves to hear me tell: Note: Must have both points a and b 1
The day after I came home from the hospital with
her big brother, my first child, I was seized by the Function/Intention
certainty that I was about to die. I sobbed a
To introduce the issue
uncontrollably; I asked my husband: “But who will
keep him in socks? Who’ll make sure he’s To engage/get the reader to think
wearing his little socks?” about the issue of
To connect with the reader/establish a
rapport with the reader
b Context/Explanation
of mothers’ anxiety about child-
minding
2. How do the two questions in line 3 demonstrate the author’s excessive anxiety? [1]
From the passage Inferred Mark
But who will keep him in socks? Who’ll make sure Focus: content of her questions 1
he’s wearing his little socks?
They reveal her anxiety by asking
something trivial.
3. “And the shouldering of that one task can snowball into responsibility for the whole assembly line of
child-minding.” (lines 6-8)
i. What does “snowball” suggest about the nature of child-minding? [2]
ii. Why does the author describe child-minding as an “assembly line”? [1]
5. Why does the author find the situation of gender discrimination towards household supervision
“surprising” (line 19)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
From the passage Re-exp Mark
In the United States today, more than half of Expectation (Work)
all women work, and women are 40 percent
a It is surprising because although a large
of the sole or primary breadwinners in 1
proportion/majority of women are now
households with children under 18.
supporting their families
financially/holding jobs
Note: either one of the above
“It’s surprising that household supervision b Reality (Domestic) 1
resists gender reassignment to the degree
[inf] they still hold the main responsibility
that it does.”
of household /child-minding chores.
6. What does this insertion in parentheses (lines 22-24) reveal about women’s new approach towards
housework? [1]
2
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Yr 6 GP Prelim Answer Scheme
7. From lines 32-33, show how mothers’ concerns about their children reveal a contradiction in their own
situation. Use your own words as much as possible. [2]
From the passage Inferred Mark
We fret that we’re overscheduling the a If mothers worry about planning 1
children, excessively/over-planning their children’s
lives,
but don’t seem to realise that we’re also b they should also see how they shouldn’t do 1
overscheduling ourselves. the same to their own lives but they don’t.
Note: 2m or nothing
8. “And when I say ‘we’, you know who I mean.” (lines 33-34)
i. Identify the tone used by the author when she says “And when I say ‘we’, you know who I mean”.
[1]
9. What do lines 38-41 suggest about how men and women see their contributions to housework? [1]
From the passage Inferred Mark
There are many more men in charge of child This suggests that men and women both 1
care than there were 20-odd years ago. How overestimate their contribution.
many more depends on whether you ask men
or women: half of the men surveyed in a
Families and Work Institute study from 2008
said they were either the responsible parent or
shared the role equally with their spouse, while
two-thirds of the women said they were the one
in charge.
10. Suggest one reason why the author ends the passage with the sentence “Just ask the Finnish
mothers.” (line 85) [1]
3
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Yr 6 GP Prelim Answer Scheme
11. Using materials from paragraphs 8 to 12 only (lines 47-70), summarise what the author has to say
about why mothers get stuck with the micromanagement of child-minding and end up worrying more
than fathers about their children.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed
below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8]
(Mostly women…spend a semester reading c [Inf] and even women who are aware of this
about the gendered division of domestic inequality
labour) … even they (lines 49-50)
slip up and talk about men “helping out”. (line d make the mistake of seeing husbands as
50) providing assistance only when asked/needed
…my friends and I have never gotten around to e Mothers do not spell out responsibilities/tasks
drawing up the List of Lists (lines 54-55)
insisting that we split it (line 55) f and demand that these be divided.
… having to answer for the completion of g Despite the enormous pressure of being
domestic tasks stresses them out more than accountable for domestic tasks,
any other aspect of family life, (lines 56-57)
… I suspect they’re not always willing to cede h mothers fear relinquishing child-minding authority
control (line 57)
… guilty of “maternal gatekeeping” (line 58) i [Inf] and are critical of paternal involvement
But women can’t help themselves (line 61) j However, mothers can do little to change their
anxiety over their children.
They have their standards (line 61) k They have exacting /demanding requirements
that they feel only they can meet
… helicopter-ish though they may be (line 61) l even if these might be excessive/obsessive.
… women simply worry more about their m Mothers just/basically/fundamentally agonise over
children. (lines 63-64) their children more than fathers.
This is largely a social fact (line 64) n This is primarily a social issue/socially true
Mothers live in a world of other mothers, not to o as mothers feel that other mothers and educators/
mention teachers and principals (lines 64-65) women/people
4
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Yr 6 GP Prelim Answer Scheme
who judge us by our children (line 65) p assess them based on the behaviour and actions
of their children
Or maybe we just think they’re judging us. (line q or are paranoid that they do.
65)
… biological explanation: we have been r Women have also biologically evolved to agonise
conditioned to worry (line 66) over their children
… the female of the species is programmed to
do more than the male (lines 67-68)
… to help their offspring thrive (line 68) s and assist in their success / flourishing.
Neurological and endocrinological changes, the t Changes in the brain’s chemistry and the release
production of hormones such as oxytocin and of hormones
estrogen during pregnancy and after birth (lines
68-69)
and regulate the depth of (line 70) w and control the intensity of the feelings
their attachment to their children (line 70) x that bind them to their children
Mark allocation
Points Mark
1-2 1
3-4 2
5-6 3
7-8 4
9-10 5
11-12 6
13-14 7
15 and above 8
5
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Yr 6 GP Prelim Answer Scheme
Application Question
12. Judith Shulevitz argues that mothers play more of an active role in their children’s lives than fathers.
How far would you agree with the author’s views? Relate your views to both you and your society.
[10]
Points to raise:
Women’s role in the public sphere (workforce) vs their role in the private sphere (main care-givers)
Patriarchal society and how this affects parental involvement
o Patriarchy, rather than eradicated, has evolved into a more subtle and nuanced form of
oppression. We should not be fooled into thinking that patriarchy is at its “twilight” in SG just
because there are more women in the workforce, including more women working in “male”
professions.
o In advanced patriarchies, patriarchy does not simply mean that men rule. It is a value system
that is liable to recur because it serves to keep birthrates high among the affluent, while also
maximising parents’ investments in their children.
Gender norms and parenting in SG
o Do cultural definitions of manliness prevent men and fathers from optimising their role as
fathers?
o Or are we seeing changing cultural norms and the rise of new age fathers, especially
amongst the millennial set? Even if this is the case, has this resulted in shifting perceptions
towards parenthood?
o Increasing cognizance of fathers’ role in parenting;
Both mothers and fathers contribute uniquely to their child’s development but there is
a growing realisation that fathers generally remain an under-tapped resource
Platforms such as the Centre for Fathering and Dads for Life Movement’s
Fathers@Schools Programme were conceived to mobilise this resource to ensure
the best outcomes for children.
Attitudes towards motherhood in SG?
Parentocracy and Tiger mums - competitive, anxious parenting of middle- and upper-class SG
mothers?
Is there adequate governmental and policy to support greater paternal involvement?
Role of domestic workers and grandparents in child-minding?
6
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RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
YEAR 6 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION II 2015
CANDIDATE
NAME
INDEX
CLASS NUMBER
Write your class, index number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
[Turn over
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2
Read the passage and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks will For
be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Examiner’s
Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer,
you must still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers
which only copy words and phrases from the passage.
1. Why does the author describe the person as ‘kind, if slightly perverse’ (line 2)?
[2]
2. What does the author mean when he describes reality as ‘binary’ (line 13)? Use your
own words as far as possible.
[2]
3. In paragraph 3, what explanations does the writer give to show that ‘our inability to
accept the possibility of change can make us cruel’ (lines 20–21)? Use your own
words as far as possible.
[3]
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3
4. Explain the irony about how we react to chaos in paragraph 5. Use your own words For
Examiner’s
as far as possible. Use
[2]
5. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘conversely’ in line 42. For
Examiner’s
Use
[2]
[1]
7. What are the similarities between our exploitation by politicians in paragraph 7 and
our reliance on the mystical industries in paragraph 9? Use your own words as far
as possible.
[3]
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4
For
Examiner’s
8. Using material from paragraphs 8 and 9 (lines 61-79), summarise what the author Use
has to say about the consequences of our unwillingness to change and the
characteristics of people who are open to change.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
[8]
9. Identify which of the author’s arguments are supported by the illustration of the boxes
in the first and last paragraph.
[2]
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5
For
10. Al Kennedy writes about how we are reluctant to change and how being open to Examiner’s
Use
change can make us happier and better people. How far do you think you and your
society should embrace change?
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6
For
Examiner’s
Use
[10]
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7
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RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
YEAR 6 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION II 2015
[Turn over]
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2
1 Imagine three identical boxes. Two are empty and one contains your heart's desire,
perhaps love, perhaps a nice cup of tea. A kind, if slightly perverse, person says that
you can pick one box and own its contents. Let's say you select Box A. The person
then shows you Box B is empty. So either Box A — your choice, or Box C — a
mystery, contains your happiness. Now, you can change your choice to Box C, or 5
stick with Box A. But what gives you the better chance? Should you change or not?
2 If you are like me, you will not want to change. Even if things were not wonderful, we
would rather stay with what is familiar. Why meddle with something for which there
is a Latin, and therefore authoritative, term: the “status quo”? I studied dead
languages at school (no chance of sudden changes in grammar or vocabulary 10
there), so I am aware that the term “status quo” has roots in the longer phrase "in
statu quo res erant ante bellum", which means “in the state in which things were
before the war”. Of course, the implication of this phrase is that reality is binary:
without the status quo, there will be chaos and war. Who in his right mind would
choose to change the status quo? 15
3 People like me tend to ignore the possibility of positive change. We are inclined to
think that things will continue the way they are forever and ever, and that whatever
we do will not make much of a difference in the larger scheme of things. The poor
will always be with us, and human suffering in the form of poverty and hunger is
systemic and unchangeable, an aspect of the landscape we live in. In this way, our 20
inability to accept the possibility of change can make us cruel: the homeless man
wandering in the street is inevitable and a fact of life.
4 Even as we dig our heels in against positive change, we are not immune to
inevitable changes in our lives. Things change, whether or not we want it — people
come and go, economies rise and fall, our luck waxes and wanes. But instead of 25
really embracing inevitable change, we change by making only superficial
alterations — we buy the latest iThings and change our bags, shoes, hairstyles, and
the like — seeking what is new and newer. Yet this behaviour is just as rigid as
being opposed to all types of change, as the changes we welcome are not really
changes. 30
6 When change-avoidance forms a prison, walking out of that prison can seem
daunting. We cannot find it in ourselves to accept something new, even when we
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3
are dissatisfied with the current state. Being without love or novel interactions might 40
be awful, but we fear doing anything about it because we do not know what to
expect should it come our way. Conversely, when we are stuck in an unfavourable
situation, an unhappy marriage for example, we cannot summon the courage to rid
ourselves of the thorn, choosing instead to suffer many years in silence (or not). For
many of us, this saying holds true: better the devil you know than the devil you do 45
not.
7 Our reluctance to change is exploited by politicians, and they play to our fears and
offer us stasis. They build us shark cages for our time in the ever-changing water —
consoling little pens which cannot protect us when something huge and horrible
arrives and we end up like Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws — all at sea. They offer 50
“eternal” values — eternity being unchanging and therefore reliable — the
brotherhood of men, the wisdom of the free market, the evil of outsiders, and the
rewards of obedience. During an election, an incumbent government will warn
against "changing horses in midstream", and we may accept a dire status quo
because of how much worse we think the alternative might be. When we are told 55
that something threatens "our way of life", it can make us fearful and encourage us
to tolerate all manner of prohibitions, oppressions and compulsions. Populations
encouraged to fear change may only pursue it when their situation is already
savage, perhaps reassured by some of those “eternal” values. The more savage the
situation, the easier it is to offer equally savage solutions. 60
9 Every analysis of what makes happy people happy demonstrates their ability to
adapt fast and well to new situations and people. They are able to roll with the
punches and deal with seismic changes in their lives and their surroundings. They
do not try to impose stillness on a universe which is in motion, and they know that
real security involves a degree of exposure. They are not so frightened as to indulge 75
in the mystical industries — good luck charms and tarot readings — which only give
a false sense of security and lock us in with their predictions. To be free and happy
is to realise that it is impossible to guarantee anything in this life. We must be able
to cope with risk.
10 So what is the best solution to that three-box problem? Remember we picked Box A 80
of the three. Box B was empty. Now we can stick with A, or change to C. But should
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4
we? Yes, we should. Switching from Box A to Box C will not guarantee success, but
will massively improve its odds even though it is counter-intuitive. Our intuition does
not like change either, but we can overcome it. Approaching changing reality with
sensible flexibility is the best strategy for happiness. I may not want to believe it, but 85
it is true. If I can change my mind, I can change anything else I need to.
Adapted from “A Point of View: Why Embracing Change is the Key to Happiness”,
BBC (September 2013)
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2015
RVHS
Y6
Prelim
II
Answer
Scheme
for
Paper
2
1. Why does the author describe the person as ‘kind, if slightly perverse’ (line 2)? [2]
2. What
does
the
author
mean
when
he
describes
reality
as
‘binary’
(line
13)?
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[2]
OR:
He
means
that
if
things
do
not
remain
the
same,
there
will
necessarily
be
discord/disarray/
conflict.
(2
marks)
(‘Necessarily’
explains
‘binary’.
Do
not
accept
‘automatically’.)
3. In
paragraph
3,
what
explanations
does
the
writer
give
to
show
that
‘our
inability
to
accept
the
possibility
of
change
can
make
us
cruel’?
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[3]
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7. What
are
the
similarities
between
our
exploitation
by
politicians
in
paragraph
7
and
our
reliance
on
the
mystical
industries
in
paragraph
9?
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[3]
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
Our
reluctance
to
change
is
exploited
by
politicians,
Both
politicians
and
the
and
[A]
they
play
to
our
fears
and
offer
us
stasis.
mystical
industries
They
build
us
[C]
shark
cages
for
our
time
in
the
A. manipulate
our
ever-‐changing
water—[B]
consoling
little
pens
insecurities/
anxieties.
which
cannot
protect
us
when
something
huge
and
(not
‘make
us
fearful’)
horrible
arrives
and
we
end
up
like
Richard
Dreyfuss
B. They
cannot
deliver
in
Jaws—[D]
all
at
sea.
what
they
promise/
cannot
keep
us
safe.
They
are
[A]
not
so
frightened
as
to
indulge
in
the
C. They
make
us
less
mystical
industries—good
luck
charms
and
tarot
free/
restrict
our
readings—which
only
give
[B]
a
false
sense
of
actions,
security
and
[C]
lock
us
in
with
their
predictions.
[D]
D. making
us
miserable.
To
be
free
and
happy
is
to
realise
that
it
is
impossible
to
guarantee
anything
in
this
life.
We
must
be
able
to
cope
with
risk.
1
point
for
1
mark
8. Using
material
from
paragraphs
8
and
9
(lines
61-‐79),
summarise
what
the
author
has
to
say
about
the
consequences
of
our
unwillingness
to
change
and
the
characteristics
of
people
who
are
open
to
change.
Write
your
summary
in
no
more
than
120
words,
not
counting
the
opening
words
which
are
printed
below.
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[8]
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Lifted
Suggested
response
As
individuals
and
nations,
our
unwillingness
to
be
Our
reluctance
to
be
receptive
to
change
stops
us
open
to
change
can
prevent
us
from
being
[A]
from
being
compassionate
(not
‘gracious’)
merciful
and
[B]
finding
good
solutions.
and
coming
up
with
effective
answers
If
we
cannot
[C]
have
the
humility
to
If
we
are
prideful
[D]
imagine
that
we
could
become
like
the
homeless
and
refuse
to
believe
that
our
circumstances
could
man
in
the
street
(or
to
imagine
that
he
could
worsen/
or
that
his
can
become
better
become
like
us),
OR
are
not
empathetic
towards
the
less
privileged
we
need
[E]
not
try
to
make
the
world
safer
we
will
not
bother
bettering/improving
our
society/
helping
others
Even
when
we
convince
ourselves
to
help,
[F]
we
In
our
attempts
to
help,
we
will
stick
to
the
usually
cling
to
familiar,
usual/what
we
are
used
to/
what
we
are
comfortable
with/
what
we
know
(not
‘comfortable
proposals’)
[G]
failed
templates.
and
this
may
be
ineffective/unsuccessful
/lacking
models.
Nations
are
as
[H]
inflexible
as
possible
in
Countries
will
remain
rigid
in
a
volatile
world
worryingly
fluid
situations.
How
easy
it
is
for
governments
and
personnel-‐in-‐ They
will
rely
on
obvious/unrefined
combat
to
[I]
avoid
subtleties
and
[J]
imaginative
solutions,
and
choose
to
rely
on
old,
and
uncreative
answers/measures
failed
strategies.
If
the
international
community
can
offer
something
The
international
community
will
be
selfish/self-‐
better—
something
truly
[K]
beyond
self-‐interest— centric.
that
would
be
a
beautiful
change.
Every
analysis
of
what
makes
happy
people
[L]
People
who
are
open
to
change
are
joyful
happy
demonstrates
their
[M]
ability
to
adapt
fast
and
well
They
react/adjust
quickly
and
effectively
to
the
to
new
situations
and
people.
They
are
able
to
roll
foreign
with
the
punches
and
[N]
deal
with
seismic
changes
in
their
lives
and
and
can
cope
with
major
changes
their
surroundings.
They
[O]
do
not
try
to
impose
stillness
on
a
They
do
not
resist
changes
universe
which
is
in
motion,
and
they
know
that
real
security
involves
a
degree
of
exposure.
They
are
[P]
not
so
frightened
are
brave
as
to
[Q]
indulge
in
the
mystical
industries—good
and
do
not
rely
on
fortune
luck
charms
and
tarot
readings—which
only
give
[R]
a
false
sense
of
security
as
these
only
lull
them
into
believing
they
are
safe
[S]and
lock
us
in
with
their
predictions.
OR
To
be
They
are
not
entrapped/confined
free
is
to
[T]
realise
that
it
is
impossible
to
guarantee
They
acknowledge
that
there
are
no
promises
in
anything
in
this
life.
life
We
must
be
able
to
[U]
cope
with
risk.
Happy
people
must
be
able
to
handle
/deal
with
uncertainty/failure
[21
points]
Points
1-‐2
3-‐4
5-‐6
7-‐8
9-‐10
11-‐13
14-‐16
17
+
Marks
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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9. Identify
which
of
the
author’s
arguments
are
supported
by
the
illustration
of
the
boxes
in
the
first
and
last
paragraph.
[2]
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
even
though
it
is
counter-‐intuitive
We
do
not
like
to
change.
(line
82)
If
you
are
like
me,
you
will
not
want
to
change.
(line
7)
massively
improve
its
odds
(line
7)
If
we
can
bring
ourselves
to
change,
it
can
bring
about
positive
effects.
Approaching
changing
reality
with
sensible
flexibility
is
the
best
strategy
for
happiness.
(lines
83-‐84)
1
mark
for
each
point
-‐
Answer
cannot
simply
explain
the
illustration
of
the
boxes.
-‐
Argument
must
be
stated
clearly,
not
just
“He
is
arguing
whether
or
not
changing
can
bring
positive
effects.”
(0
marks)
10. Application
Question:
[10]
Al
Kennedy
writes
about
how
we
are
reluctant
to
change
and
how
being
open
to
change
can
make
us
happier
and
better
people.
How
far
do
you
think
you
and
your
society
should
embrace
change?
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ST ANDREW’S JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Name: ____________________________ ( )
1 hour 30 minutes
ANSWER BOOKLET
Write your name, Civics Group and register number on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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Read the passages in the insert and then answer all the questions which follow. Note that up For
Examiner’s
to fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Use
paper.
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passages for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passages.
From Passage 1
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2. How does the dolphin-safe logo illustrate the importance of individual choice in paragraph
3?
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3. Why does the author use the word ‘but’ in paragraph 5? Use your own words as far as
possible.
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4. ‘…we of course have more power than just our purchasing power.’ (lines 33-34). What is the
alternative power suggested by the author?
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5. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the paradox in lines 35-36.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
6. Using material from paragraphs 8 to 9 only, summarise what the author has to say about the
differences between guilt and shame, and how shame can be used to bring about positive
change.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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7. In paragraph 10, why does the author believe that shame is seemingly less effective than
guilt? Use your own words as far as possible.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
From Passage 2
8. Identify two words in paragraph 2 which resonate with the idea that we are ‘perfectly poised
between condemnation and celebration’ (line 9).
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
9. How do the examples in paragraph 3 show that we are better off without shame? Use your
own words as far as possible.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
10. In paragraph 5, explain how guilt and shame maintain morality respectively.
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………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]
11. According to the author in paragraph 6, why might Christians feel more guilt than others?
Use your own words as far as possible.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
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12. In paragraph 8, how may shaming be used negatively? Use your own words as far as
possible.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]
13. Jennifer Jacquet argues that shaming can lead to positive social action while Julian Baggini
believes that acts of shaming need to be used with caution. To what extent are the authors’
views convincing and which view is more applicable to you and your society?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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ST ANDREW’S JUNIOR COLLEGE
JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2 27 AUGUST 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
INSERT
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PASSAGE 1 Jennifer Jacquet argues that shaming can lead to positive social action
1 Guilt-free shopping will not solve the world’s problems. It is time for more shame. 1
2 Guilt may be an understandable response to environmental destruction, poor labour standards, animal
cruelty or carbon emissions from budget holiday flights. “It’s up to me to change,” we have been
encouraged to think. I can vividly remember the first time I felt this kind of guilt: I was nine years old and
saw a haunting black-and-white photo of a dead dolphin that had been hoisted on to a tuna boat. Fishing 5
for tuna was killing dolphins, which would get caught in the nets and drown. I ate tuna, so apparently I,
too, was to blame.
3 I insisted that my family boycott tuna, and we were not alone. After a large-scale boycott, tuna certified as
“dolphin-safe” or “dolphin-friendly” was introduced and we started buying tuna again. My guilt was
assuaged and I did not think about it again for more than a decade. When I revisited it as a graduate 10
researching overfishing, I realised the problem was more complicated. I could see that the tuna boycott
had been powerful, but the dolphin-safe logo of 1990, which eased my conscience, arose during the anti-
regulatory Reagan-Thatcher era, which underlined the importance of individual consumer choice, rather
than government oversight over large scale producers. If demand changed, the argument went, supply
would respond. 15
4 Those who felt concerned about the state of the planet, or guilty about sweatshops overseas or factory
farming, were reminded that they are not innocent bystanders: they were part of the problem as a result
of their own patterns of consumption. This was, of course, true. We were encouraged to engage with our
guilt primarily as consumers; with ethical shopping, or taking fewer flights, we could feel better and be
part of the solution through the power of our pockets. The rise of dolphin-safe, cage-free, organic, fair- 20
trade, shade-grown, sustainable, cruelty-free, carbon-neutral products suggested that responsibility for a
wide array of problems was in the hands of individuals, rather than being something that society, or the
political system, needed to address.
5 But here is the thing: most consumers continue to buy the same old stuff. Only the portion of the industry
that wants to cater to consumers with consciences has changed; the rest of the industry continues to use 25
pesticides, or unfair trade, or destructive fishing gear – and can sell those products at lower prices to
people who do not feel bad about buying them. This is how entire industries shirk reform, while niche
products ease the consciences of the few.
6 Collective problems such as the use of pesticides and excessive levels of carbon emissions cannot be
solved through individual choice. If I buy organic foods, but pesticides are in everybody else’s food, those 30
pesticides will still leach into our shared water supply. If I stop flying and everyone else continues, carbon
emissions continue to increase. Although guilt is an appropriate response to social and environmental
problems, the way we have addressed our guilt is not. As individuals, we of course have more power
than just our purchasing power.
7 The guilt that might mobilise a minority to activism has been co-opted and used as a marketing tool to 35
distract that same minority with easy acts of consumption. Over the past quarter-century, the movements
to encourage better environmental protection, labour standards and animal welfare have all, to varying
degrees, used guilt and guilt-alleviation products that engage people primarily as consumers rather than
as citizens. Guilt tactics have eclipsed the older strategy, shame.
8 It is tempting to think about shame as something Western societies have outgrown. Shaming 40
punishments expose a transgressor to public disapproval – dunce caps, whipping poles, or hot-iron
branding come uncomfortably to mind. Most Western countries have abolished such punishments,
especially shaming by the state. There are observable differences between guilt and shame that are
worthy to note. Psychologists suggest that guilt is largely a Western phenomenon (many Eastern cultures
do not even have a word for it). Compared to shame, it is also more recent (Shakespeare used the word 45
“guilt” only 33 times, while he used “shame” 344 times). Guilt requires in the first place a conscience and
makes you feel bad if you transgress your own standards. Because guilt requires a conscience, its use is
limited to individuals, since groups, such as the tuna-fishing industry, lack a conscience and therefore
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cannot feel guilty. Yet, I believe we need shame now more than ever in this self-promoting and self-
indulgent world, and that it is possible to employ shame to serve us in new, larger ways. 50
9 Unlike guilt, which is primarily a private emotion, shame can be used to influence the way groups – even
entire industries – behave. Shame can also be used by the weak against the strong. Environmental
groups traced the responsibility for mountaintop removal in Appalachia to nine banks that financed the
coal companies involved, and singled them out year after year (by 2014, the fifth year of the campaign,
both Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase have pledged to end their financial relationship with mountain- 55
top-removing coal companies). Shaming can also be used against entire countries. Human rights groups
persuaded the US government to stop executing juvenile offenders by pointing out that only seven
countries apart from America (Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen) had
executed juveniles since 1990. In 2005, the US Supreme Court outlawed juvenile executions.
10 Shaming makes a difference, but it is more difficult to make a profit employing shame than it is with guilt. 60
There are no financial returns from singling out bad products, bad banks or the worst air polluters. In
contrast, products or industries marketed as “guilt-free” can be sold at higher prices. It is time to realise,
however, that although guilt-free shopping might be a morally correct thing to do, it is not making enough
of a difference. It does not lead to large-scale reform. We need more shaming.
PASSAGE 2 Julian Baggini believes that acts of shaming need to be used with caution.
1 The act of shaming has in recent years surfaced in unexpected places, such as social media platforms. In 1
California, one form of such shaming is #droughtshaming. People found using excessive amounts of
water when the state is as dry as a bone find themselves facing trial by hashtag. The actor Tom Selleck is
the latest target, accused by online citizens of taking truckloads of water from a fire hydrant for his thirsty
avocado crop. 5
2 Most people seem happy to harness the power of shame when the victims are the rich and powerful. But
our attitudes to shame are actually much more ambivalent and contradictory. That is why it was a stroke
of genius to call Paul Abbott’s BBC series Shameless. We are at a point in our social history where the
word is perfectly poised between condemnation and celebration.
3 Shame, like guilt, is something we often feel we are better off without. The shame culture is strongly 10
associated with oppression. So-called honour killings are inflicted on people who bring shame to their
families, often for nothing more than loving the “wrong” person or, most horrifically, for being the victims
of rape. In the case of gay people, shame has given way to pride. To be shameless is to be who you are,
without apology.
4 And yet in other contexts we are rather conflicted about the cry of shame. You can protest against honour 15
killings one day, then name and shame tax-evading multinationals the next. When politicians are called
shameless, there is no doubt that this is a very bad thing. Shame is like rain: whether it is good or bad
depends on where and how heavily it falls.
5 There should be no question that we need shame. Morality is in essence the means by which we control
the way we treat each other to maintain as much peace, fairness and social harmony as possible. Both 20
guilt and shame are central to this. Guilt works from the inside out, emerging in the privacy of your own
conscience. You can feel guilty about something no one else ever finds out about. Shame works the
other way around. Shame is all about how you are perceived in the eyes of others. This is why the
innocent can be made to feel shame, and why the guilty who evade detection can evade shame.
6 Anthropologists distinguish between guilt and shame cultures, depending on which is more important. 25
The broad, simplistic generalisation is that guilt is more prevalent in Western, Christian cultures, whereas
shame is more potent in Asia insofar as societies in the latter are more collectivistic and what is ‘right’ is
often enshrined in the community. The link between guilt and certain religions such as Christianity is not
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accidental. Guilt has most power when you have a sense of a divine eye who sees what your peers might
not – a soul that can be stained without any physical sign of defilement. In that sense, guilt is a kind of 30
internalisation of shame.
7 As Christianity loses its power, we might then expect guilt also to loosen its grip. And if conscience
provides a weaker motivation to behave morally, we might need to rely more on the overtly social
mechanism of shame. If we want people to pick up litter, pay their employees a fair wage or worry about
whether their noise bothers others, shaming them might be the only way. 35
8 If we are to use shame positively, however, we must be mindful of how easy it is to abuse it. Because
shame is a social mechanism, it can all too easily become a tool of bullying, a psychological form of mob
violence. This is what Jon Ronson warns against in his book So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, in which
he worries about the causal cruelty of social media turning against people often on the basis of flimsy or
no evidence. 40
9 That is why shame is a dish best served cold. But if we are to use it, we ought to stop and think whether it
is really merited. Hot-headed indignation too often leads to hasty judgment and the vile scene of the
masses turning on the vulnerable. Shame is a strong moral medicine – and, as with any pharmaceutical,
applying the wrong dose is worse than not using it at all.
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2015 Prelim Paper 2
From Passage 1
Text Inferred
“It’s up to me to change,” we have been A: We are conditioned to believe that
encouraged to think (lines 3-4) we are responsible for bringing about
change. [1]
I can vividly remember the first time I felt this
kind of guilt: I was nine years old and saw a B: We are guilty of contributing
haunting black-and-white photo of a dead towards the problems by our
dolphin that had been hoisted on to a tuna consumerist behaviour. [1]
boat. Fishing for tuna was killing dolphins,
which would get caught in the nets and
drown. I ate tuna, so apparently I, too, was to
blame. (lines 4-5)
2. How does the dolphin-safe logo illustrate the importance of individual choice in
paragraph 3? [2]
Text Inferred
I insisted that my family boycott tuna, and we were A: The tuna boycott by consumers
not alone. After a large-scale boycott, tuna certified led to the dolphin-safe production
as “dolphin-safe” or “dolphin-friendly” was of tuna [1]
introduced and we started buying tuna again. My
guilt was assuaged and I did not think about it again Key idea: individual choice
for more than a decade…I could see that the tuna influences suppliers’ actions
boycott had been powerful, but the dolphin-safe
logo of 1990, which eased my conscience, arose B: The dolphin-safe logo allows
during the anti-regulatory Reagan-Thatcher era, the consumers to exercise their
which underlined the importance of individual choice to buy only tuna with the
consumer choice, rather than government oversight dolphin-safe logo OR to not buy
over large scale producers. tuna without the logo. [1]
Do not accept:
The dolphin-safe logo allows
consumers to exercise their
choice. [0] – clear context needed
Text Paraphrased
A: (function/author’s
purpose/intention)
Do not accept:
Rebuttal
4. ‘…we of course have more power than purchasing power.’ (lines 33-34). What
is the alternative power suggested by the author? [1]
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5. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the paradox in lines 35-36. [2]
Text Paraphrased
The guilt that might mobilise a minority to A. The few who feel that they should
activism has been co-opted and used as shop ethically [1]
a marketing tool to distract that same
minority with easy acts of consumption. B. Fall prey to the ploy that they
have done their part/enough by
their effortless buying choices. [1]
7. In paragraph 10, why does the author believe that shame is seemingly less effective
than guilt? Use your own words as far as possible. [1]
Text Paraphrased
There are no financial returns from singling out bad Shaming does not lead to
products, bad banks or the worst air polluters. In monetary incentives for
contrast, products or industries marketed as “guilt-free” producers.
can be sold at higher prices. It is time to realise,
however, that although guilt-free shopping might be a
morally correct thing to do, it is not making enough of a
difference. It does not lead to large-scale reform.
From Passage 2
8. Identify two words in paragraph 2 which resonates with the idea that we are
‘perfectly poised between condemnation and celebration’ (line 9). [1]
9. How do the examples in paragraph 3 show that we are better off without shame?
Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Text Paraphrased
Shame, like guilt, is something we often feel we The examples show that
are better off without. The shame culture is
strongly associated with oppression. So-called A: shame has led to cruel and
honour killings are inflicted on people who bring unjust treatment of others [1],
shame to their families, often for nothing more
than loving the “wrong” person or, most B: even causing deaths [1].
horrifically, for being the victims of rape.
C: Also, ostracised groups of
In the case of gay people, shame has given way people can enjoy freedom from
to pride. To be shameless is to be who you are, stigma. [1]
without apology.
Accept any 2 possible points.
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10. In paragraph 5, explain HOW guilt and shame maintain morality respectively. [2]
Text Inferred
Morality is in essence the means by which we A: Guilt makes us change our
control the way we treat each other to maintain behaviour because we know we
as much peace, fairness and social harmony as are wrong/we are pricked by our
is possible. Guilt works from the inside out, conscience.
emerging in the privacy of your own conscience.
You can feel guilty about something no one else B: Shame makes us change our
ever finds out about. Shame works the other behaviour/keeps us on our toes
way around. Shame is all about how you are because we are afraid of how
perceived in the eyes of others. others view us.
11. According to the author in paragraph 6, why might Christians feel more guilt than
others? Use your own words as far as possible. [1]
Text Paraphrased
Guilt has most power when you have a sense of a This is because they are
divine eye who sees what your peers might not – convicted by an omnipresent
a soul that can be stained without any physical sign God who knows when they
of defilement. have done wrong, even if it is
not visible to others. [1]
Key idea:
Accountability to God
God is watching…
12. In paragraph 8, how may shaming be used negatively? Use your own words as far
as possible. [1]
Text Paraphrased
Because shame is a social mechanism, it can all too Shaming can be employed to
easily become a tool of bullying, a psychological intimidate others.
form of mob violence. This is what Jon Ronson
warns against in his book So You’ve Been Publicly
Shamed, in which he worries about the causal
cruelty of social media turning against people often
on the basis of flimsy or no evidence.
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Summary
Using material from paragraphs 8 to 9, summarise the differences between guilt and shame,
and how shame can be used to bring about positive change. Write your summary in no more
than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own
words as far as possible.
C Guilt requires in the first It requires an inner moral voice/a sense Conscience
place a conscience… of right and wrong…
D …and makes you feel bad which chastises you when you fail to live Transgression
if you transgress your up to your own moral principles. of standards
own standards.
F since groups, such as the Hence, groups do not possess a Does not
tuna-fishing industry, lack a collective moral voice and do not have apply to
conscience and therefore the capacity to experience guilt. groups
cannot feel guilty.
H and that it is possible to shame can be put to use in novel and New, larger
employ shame to serve us more wide-reaching/bigger ways. ways
in new, larger ways.
I Unlike guilt, which is Guilt is a feeling known only by the Private
primarily a private individual, emotion
emotion, shame can be…
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Positive Change
J (shame is) used to …and can even be employed to shape Influence
influence the way groups the actions of large corporations how larger
– even entire industries – (business)
behave. groups
behave/act
K Shame can also be used Shame can empower/be employed by Empower the
by the weak against the the vulnerable to take action against the weak
strong. powerful…
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Application Question
Jennifer Jacquet argues that shaming can lead to positive social action while Julian Baggini
believes that acts of shaming need to be used with caution. To what extent are the author’s
views convincing and which view is more applicable to you and your society?
Passage 1
Text Evaluation
Para 3 Not Convincing:
I could see that the tuna This largely did not affect our society and we were not
boycott had been powerful, but large tuna consumers and the boycott of 1990s of tuna
the dolphin-safe logo of 1990, did not really affect Singaporean consumers’ choice as
which eased my conscience, far as tuna was concerned.
arose during the anti-
regulatory Reagan-Thatcher Convincing:
era, which underlined the But there was concern in other areas especially in the
importance of individual consumption of Sharks Fin
consumer choice, rather than
government oversight over
large scale producers. If
demand changed, the
argument went, supply would
respond.
Para 4 Not Convincing:
that responsibility for a wide Singaporeans are rather a passive community and do not
array of problems was in the see themselves as making a difference.
hands of individuals, rather Most, look to the government to lead the way in the
than being something that solving of environmental problems. Singaporeans think
society, or the political system, that without government support and encouragement
needed to address. nothing can be done.
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and environmental problems, become a way of life to be apathetic, that one person
the way we have addressed cannot change society. We look to the government to
our guilt is not. As individuals, bring about changes as the government has always
we of course have more power taken the lead to do the right thing. So the Singaporean
than just our purchasing does not have any guilt, nor can he be shamed into doing
power. the right thing.
Passage 2
Text Evaluation
Para 1 Convincing
“The act of shaming has in A valid observation of recent trends of online behavior as
recent years surfaced in there has been a rise of such acts of online vigilantism
unexpected places, such as across the world e.g. China – ‘human flesh search
social media platforms.” engine’.
“…find themselves facing trial
by hashtag The prevalence of such keyboard warriors show that
people are emboldened by the anonymity afforded by
online platforms and are taking to them to humiliate those
who fall short of societal norms. Such online vigilantism
is problematic because it has the potential of escalating
into an online lynch mob.
Para 3 Convincing
“Shame, like guilt, is Shaming of people who are ‘different’ can lead to social
something we often feel we discrimination and ostracism in society. On a personal
are better off without. The level, the individual is made to be a misfit or an outcast.
shame culture is strongly
associated with
oppression.” Not convincing
There is value to shaming when it is used appropriately:
While it might be linked to oppression, when used in an
appropriate manner, shaming people can be a powerful
approach to induce the kind of behavioral change that
programme designers seek as it is a negative emotion
that people work hard to avoid. In order to avoid being
shamed, people would change their personal behavior.
Para 5 Convincing
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“There should be no question Shame effectively deters people from behaving
that we need shame. Morality inappropriately, which socialises people to conform to
is in essence the means by social values and norms.
which we control the way we
treat each other to maintain Not convincing
as much peace, fairness and Shame can be relentless, much more so in today’s wired
social harmony as is society. Public shaming is corrosive to our social fabric
possible. Both guilt and as netizens grow increasing obsessed with uploading
shame are central to this.” and criticising even the most frivolous wrongdoing. This
is rather cruel and is no different from bullying.
Para 8 Convincing
“…we must be mindful of how
easy it is to abuse it. Because Our reaction to those who have violated social norms
shame is a social mechanism, (spoken or otherwise) reveals much about ourselves, and
it can all too easily become a the kind of society we are. Using shame to expose and
tool of bullying, a punish the follies of others – whether they were intended
psychological form of mob or not – reflects a certain malice and brutality that is
violence.” incongruous to the civilised and humane society that
Singapore is aspiring towards. A hallmark of a civilised
But if we are to use it, we society is one that is gracious in its response to the
ought to stop and think ‘wrongdoer’ and just and even-handed in meting out the
whether it is really merited. ‘punishment,’ especially if the ‘offender’ is from a
Hot-headed indignation too vulnerable group of society (eg. young, poor, mentally
often leads to hasty judgment unsound) and if his or her actions were not intentionally
and the vile scene of the hurtful. This is particularly true if the significance or
masses turning on the impact of the ‘misconduct’ is debatable.
vulnerable.
Unconvincing
Far from being a tool of bullying, shaming is necessary to
enforce certain standards of respect, decency and
morality that are important to a particular society.
Para 9 Convincing
Shame is a strong moral
medicine – and, as with any The use of shame to correct any form of misdemeanour
pharmaceutical, applying the can be seen as a setback to other important values in
wrong dose is worse than not society, such as democracy and freedom of speech etc.
using it at all. It can also lead to societal backlash and undermine a
country’s s global image.
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Name: Civics Group: GP Tutor:
Write in dark blue or black pen in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
Do not use paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid/paper.
DO NOT WRITE IN THE MARGINS.
Content
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
[Turn over
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Read the passage in the insert and then answer all the questions which follow below. Note that up For
to fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Examiner’s
Use
Paper.
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and
you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words
or phrases from the passage.
1. In paragraph 1, what are the ways in which sports ‘has produced something more than just the
usual trappings’ (line 4)? Use your own words as far as possible.
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2. What are the two ways in which the dialogue about sports has evolved (lines 7 – 8)? Use your
own words as far as possible.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..[2]
3. Suggest how the ‘explosion of the blogosphere’ (lines 13 – 14) has led to an intensified
discussion and debate about sports.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….. [1]
4. What does the word ‘so-called’ (line 19) tell you about the experts?
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….. [1]
5. In paragraph 3, what are the functions of sports? Use your own words as far as possible. For
Examiner’s
Use
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7. Using material from paragraphs 4—6 only, summarise what the author has to say about
the value of sports and his criticisms of it.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words,
which are printed. Use your own words as far as possible.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………...……… [8]
8. According to the author, how has sports ‘taken up the slack of religion’s retreat from modern For
society’ (lines 61-62)? Use your own words as far as possible. Examiner’s
Use
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9. What does the phrase ‘oasis of truth’ (lines 66-67) suggest about sports?
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………. [2]
10. Explain the irony in lines 74-75. Use your own words as far as possible.
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…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….[2]
11. In this article, Joshua R. Keefe discusses the functions of sports, its appeal and flaws. For
How far do you agree with his observations? Relate your opinions to your own society. Examiner’s
Use
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For
Examiner’s
Use
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[10]
END OF PAPER
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Name: CG: GP Tutor:
[Turn over
Joshua R. Keefe discusses the functions of sports, its appeal and flaws.
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1 Sports has become far more than contests with rules played on fields, pools, or courts. Our
current conception of sports is more than just a ball moving between groups of athletes, or a
struggle for a finish line, or an effort to impress judges, as various critical studies will attest.
Sports has produced something more than just the usual trappings of sports that bleed into
other aspects of society: the refereeing and record keeping, the public accounts of events, 5
the hero worship of the victors, and the training of youth.
2 Sports has produced, especially in the information age, a remarkable evolution in the
dialogue about sports. What was fifty years ago a sports section of a local newspaper and
perhaps a radio hour, and later, a local news update, has become an entire wing in the
marketplace of ideas. There are now twenty-four hour sports networks on radio and 10
television, periodicals and books of every kind, and endless websites devoted to sports in all
of its forms. Very few of these outlets are actually concerned with reporting about sporting
events, at least in an objective sense. Especially with the sudden explosion of the
blogosphere, the recent trend in sports is not simple enjoyment of the contests on some
aesthetic level, but a constant need to debate and argue over the underlying meaning of the 15
games. The forms these arguments take are as diverse as the games themselves. There
are radio talk shows, devoted mostly to second guessing coaches and allowing fans to vent
their frustrations on an emotional level.
3 There are TV shows where panels of socalled experts debate increasingly hypothetical
situations. There are those who seek meaning in numbers, pouring over and creating new 20
stats, and arguing which translate into indicators of real world success. Then there are those
who seek to disengage from the subjective experience of sports and seek to understand the
field in an academic way that appreciates sports’ place within society. All of these
perspectives penetrate to different levels of sport, and all have their own functions, from the
angry fan driving to work who needs a morning distraction and outlet, to the intellectual who 25
uses sports to explore man’s social needs. What is interesting is that such a wide and
diverse strata of society use sports, and the dialogue about sports, for so many different
ends, and that they all presumably continue to find something of worth in those pursuits.
4 Today, sports teaches that effort leads to victory, a useful lesson in a work-oriented society.
Sports also helps people navigate the tension between team loyalty and individual glory. 30
Sports culture has influenced students: it discourages whining, and rewards self-discipline. It
teaches self-control and its own form of justice, which has a more powerful effect than
anything taught in the classroom.
5 Sports is also most certainly an industry. Wherever large amounts of capital are created and
concentrated, both in the hands of the owners and the hands of athletes themselves, there 35
is going to be society wide interest. Sports has become a mostly corporate entity, and
athletes are essentially bought and sold on an open market. The intrinsic character building
lessons that have long been held up as sports’ shining virtue have been replaced by
corporate interests. Dr. Stanley Eitzen, a professor of sociology at the Colorado State
University, notes that sports has been “transformed from an activity for individuals involved 40
in sports for its own sake, to one where they do it for work, and where loyalty to players,
coaches, and owners is a quaint notion that is now rarely held.”
6 Sports is increasingly becoming a product to be bought and sold, and the huge increase in
sports dialogue can be seen as a testament to that. “It has come to the point,”
Jay J. Coakley, author of Sports in Society, observes, “where participants can prove 45
themselves in sports through their ability to consume as well as their ability to master
physical skills.” Seasons in sports have become too long and the arenas too gargantuan.
Athletes have become a separate gladiator class, and the recruitment process gives them
an undue sense of their own worth. Spectators have been reduced to an anonymous mass
of passive consumers of other people’s excellence. Coaches have a greater incentive to 50
satisfy the braying crowd with victories than to teach good habits. Yet, while it is useful to
look at modern sports as a commodity, it is not an all-inclusive perspective. Many do still
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play sports for the sake of playing, and it would seem that judging sports as just another part
of the entertainment industry misses much of the emotional connections, cultural bridges
and cultural walls that sports creates and reinforces. 55
7 To explain the depth of devotion to sports and various teams, sports is often analogously
compared to organised religion, and the comparison is an apt one: sports has its saints and
its devils, its shrines and its customs, its prayers (the concept of rooting), and like religion,
sports both informs the culture at large and is moulded by it. While it is easy to compare
sports to religion, it is another thing to call sports a religion. But sports may very well be a 60
kind of progeny of religion, as a social function that has taken up the slack of religion’s
retreat from modern society. In industrial society, sports has overtaken many of the previous
functions of an organised religion. In a segmented society, big-time sports is one of the few
avenues for large-scale communal participation, often crossing class lines. Such an avenue
induces large numbers of people in a region to share common emotional experiences. 65
8 Another perspective on the place of sports in a modern society is that of a kind of oasis of
truth. Sports has clear winners and losers, clear rules that give an opportunity for us to view
objective truth forged somewhere between brute physical force and aesthetic beauty
captured by human form. The popular public conception is that sports create an equal
playing field that strips away social and political advantages. Modern sports assume 70
equality. In a society like ours that prides itself on egalitarian values but is often forced to
painfully confront its own inequalities and injustices, the allure of the sports as centre of truth
is particularly compelling. Mass sporting sports are the emotional hubs at the centre of vast
networks of analysis, criticism and conversation. They generate loyalties and emotional
debates that are at once completely meaningless and totally consuming. 75
9 Many scholars argue that sports reflects and informs society. This, I believe, is true. But to
then assume that sports accomplishes nothing but the reduction of the population to a
position of complete passivity is to assume that the same is true of society itself. There are
moments of transcendence in sports, just as there are in society, and there are revolutions
in sports, just as there are in society. Sports, like any large and important social institution, is 80
a complex weaving of forces and concerns just as the culture itself is. Sports allows us to
view the very best, and the very worst, of ourselves.
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Suggested Answers for 2015 JC2 Prelims Paper 2
1. In paragraph 1, what are the ways in which sports ‘has produced something more than just the usual trappings' (line
4)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
Lifted Paraphrased
Sports has produced something more than just the usual The ways are
trappings of sports that bleed into other aspects of society: (a) (1) Judging
(a1) the refereeing and (a2) record keeping, (b) the (2) count/ score tracking / keeping track
public accounts of events, (c) the hero worship of the (b) Provision of public/official records/ media reports of
victors, and (d) the training of youth activities
(c) the idolisation of successful people,
(d) and the drilling / disciplining of the young people in
society / coaching / nurturing / conditioning of the
young
Range marking
2 points – 1 m
3 points – 2 m
4/5 points – 3 m
Accept
a1) the job of those making sure players are adhering to
the rules and regulations, practice of being the judge, being
an umpire, regulating and enforcing rules, ensuring fair play,
regulating/umpiring/officiating the game
a2) those taking note of the time and score, taking down the
score, noting of one's achievements
Do not accept
a1) managing the game, having judges
2. What are the two ways in which the dialogue about sports has evolved (lines 7 – 8)? Use your own words as far as
possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
Any 2 ways
3. Suggest how the ‘explosion of the blogosphere’ (lines 13 – 14) has led to an intensified discussion and debate about
sports. [1]
Lifted Paraphrased
Especially with the sudden explosion of the blogosphere, the The explosion of the blogosphere has enabled
recent trend in sports is not simple enjoyment of the
contests on some aesthetic level, but a constant need to greater reach to sports news and information,
debate and argue over the underlying meaning of the
games.
OR
OR
Accept:
Any suitable and logical inferences but must reflect the large
increase in the reach / increase in number of people, as
implied by the word “explosion”
Do not accept
Increased efficiency/coverage/variety, much easier
4. What does the word “so-called” (line 19) tell you about the experts? [1]
Lifted Paraphrased
There are TV shows where panels of socalled experts These experts are not widely recognized / not
debate increasingly hypothetical situations. professionals who are familiar with the analysis of
sports / not fully qualified to provide their views on sports.
OR
Do not accept
mere negation without any context of sports
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not professional sports players incorrect context
5. In paragraph 3, what are the functions of sports? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
Lifted Paraphrased
All of these perspectives penetrate to different levels of The two functions are
sport, and all have their own functions, from the (a) angry for angry fan/frustrated fanatic:
fan driving to work who needs a morning distraction and (a) to have an avenue to escape / to be entertained [1]
(b) outlet, to the (c) intellectual who uses sports to explore
man’s social needs. (b) Vent/catharsis [1]
for intellectuals/sociologist/social
scientist/researcher:
(c) to uncover the social/interpersonal desires/wants of
man through the understanding of how sports
works/to interact/to bond [1]
NO CONTEXT = NO MARKS
Do not accept
a) divert attention
6. Explain the author's use of the word 'presumably'. (line 28) [1]?
Lifted Paraphrased
What is interesting is that such a wide and diverse strata of The author highlights the
society use sports, and the dialogue about sports, for so
many different ends, and that they all presumably find likelihood / possibility / uncertainty
something of worth in those pursuits.
OR
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7. Using material from paragraphs 4 – 6 only, summarise what the author has to say about the value of sports and his
criticisms of it.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words, which are printed. Use your own
words as far as possible.
Lifted Paraphrased
(a) Today, sports teaches that effort leads to victory, Imparts / demonstrates/ propagates that hard work
brings success,
(c) (1) Sports also helps people navigate the tension (1) aids/enables/allows people in mediating the conflict
(2) between team loyalty and individual glory. (2) between group solidarity and personal success /
achievement OR promotion
(f) …teaches self-control… …coaches one to have mastery over himself / self-
restraint /manage one’s temper
(g) …its own form of justice… Gives people their just deserts / what they deserve /
doing what is right/just/fair
(h) which has a more powerful effect than anything with greater efficacy / more compelling than formal
taught in the classroom instruction / conventional education in schools
OR
(k) intrinsic character building lessons that have The inherent teaching of values Sport’s fundamental /
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long been held up as sports shining virtue inherent moral influence
(l) have been replaced by corporate interests substituted / supplanted by profit-centred motivations /
profit-driven agendas.
* Award POINT L only if POINT K is present / attempted
(m) transformed from an activity for individuals Sports has changed / evolved from being an activity for
involved in sports for its own sake people to engage in for enjoyment / its intrinsic value…
(n) to one where they do it for work …and treated as a job / career / profession
(o) and where loyalty to players, coaches, and Having an allegiance / Displaying faithfulness to a team,
owners is quaint notion that is now rarely held a coach and to the sponsors is an antiquated concept / no
longer a practice / seldom practised today.
(p) Seasons in sports have become too long There is an excessive number of rounds of play / are
competition periods are exceedingly lengthy
* Degree is compulsory
(q) and the arenas too gargantuan. And the stadiums are unnecessarily large today
* Degree is compulsory
(r) Athletes have become a separate gladiator Athletes are now elites / distinct group
class,
(s) and the recruitment process gives them an The selection criteria disproportionately boost their own
undue sense of their own worth egos / prides.
(t) Spectators have been reduced to an anonymous The audience / fans are now treated merely as a nameless
mass / unidentifiable group of people
OR
(u) of passive consumers of other people’s that blindly support / simply buy into the athletes’
excellence. outstanding performance
[INFERRED POINT]
(v) Coaches have a greater incentive to satisfy the Coaches now have more motivation to simply pander to
braying crowd the preferences of the audience / fans
OR
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(w) with victories than to teach good habits. with success / admirable / commendable results rather
than to impart desirable practices / manners /
sportsmanship in their players.
Marking range:
1 – 2 points 1 mark
3 – 4 points 2 marks
5 – 6 points 3 marks
7 – 8 points 4 marks
9 points 5 marks
10 – 11points 6 marks
12 – 13 points 7 marks
14 points or more 8 marks
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8. According to the author, how has sports 'taken up the slack of religion's retreat from modern society' (lines 62 – 63)?
Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
But sports may very well be a kind of progeny of religion, as Sports has managed to
social function that has taken up the slack of religion’s in a society that is segmented [context is not necessary],
retreat from modern society. In industrial society, sports has
overtaken many of the previous functions of an organised (a) LARGE QUANTITY OF PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION
religion. In a segmented society, big-time sports
is one of the few avenues for Sports that allow mass gathering / community to come
(a) large-scale communal participation, together
(b) often crossing class lines. Such an avenue induces
(a) large numbers of people in a region to (b) ACROSS CLASS
(c) share common emotional experiences.
Frequently joins people of different walks of life / social
strata together
emotional encounters
OR
feelings
1 pt = 0m
2 pts = 1m
3pts = 2m
9. What does the phrase 'oasis of truth' (line 68 – 69) suggest about sports? [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
Another perspective on the place of sports in a modern Sports (necessary context) offers / allows us
society is that of a kind of oasis of truth.
(a) OASIS
a safe haven / respite
OR
positively attracts / draws us [1]
(b) TRUTH
where clarity / unbiased / objective information is
assured [1]
10. Use your own words as far as possible, explain the irony in lines 77-78. [2]
Lifted Paraphrased
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ALL OR NOTHING
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TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2015
CANDIDATE’S NAME
1 hour 30 minutes
Write your name, class and GP tutor’s name on all the work that you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue, correction fluid or correction tape.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
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Read the passage in the insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen For
marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Examiner’s
Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passage.
1 Why is the promise of continual human progress and improvement ‘alluring’ (line 8)? Use
your own words as far as possible.
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3 Why are the words ‘failures’, ‘errors’, ‘fallacies’ and ‘naiveties’ (line 15) in inverted
commas?
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4 What is the author suggesting about the nature of philosophy in the last sentence of
paragraph 2?
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5 Explain what the author means by saying that ‘failure reveals just how close our existence
is to its opposite’ (lines 24–25). Use your own words as far as possible.
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For
6 Why does the author use the phrase ‘the most self-aware or enlightened excepted’ (lines Examiner’s
40–41)? Use
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8 Why does the author argue that ‘we will be virtually perfect and essentially dead’ (lines 71–
72) if science solves all our problems? Use your own words as far as possible.
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9 What does ‘biological failure’ (line 81) refer to and why have we ‘pretended not to see it’
(line 83)? Use your own words as far as possible.
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10 What is the author’s intention in comparing Tolstoy’s Ivan in paragraph 9 with Bergman’s
Block in paragraph 10?
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11 Using material from paragraphs 4 to 6 (lines 34 to 57), summarise why the author believes
that failure is important. For
Examiner’s
Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
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For
12 Costica Bradatan argues strongly in favour of failure. How applicable are the author’s Examiner’s
observations to you and your society? Illustrate your answer by referring to the ways in Use
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For
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TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2015
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Costica Bradatan writes about the importance of failure.
2 Certainly the promise of continual human progress and improvement is alluring. But there
is a danger there, too – that in this more perfect future, failure will become obsolete. Why
should we care? And more specifically, why should philosophy care about failure? 10
Doesn’t it have better things to do? The answer is simple: Philosophy is in the best
position to address failure because it knows it intimately. The history of Western
philosophy at least is nothing but a long succession of failures, if productive and
fascinating ones. Any major philosopher typically asserts herself by addressing the
‘failures’, ‘errors’, ‘fallacies’ or ‘naiveties’ of other philosophers, only to be, in turn, 15
dismissed by others as yet another failure. Every new philosophical generation takes it as
its duty to point out the failures of the previous one. It is as though, no matter what it
does, philosophy is doomed to fail. Yet from failure to failure, it has thrived over the
centuries. As Emmanuel Levinas memorably put it in an interview with Irish philosopher
Richard Kearney, “the best thing about philosophy is that it fails.” Failure, it seems, is 20
what philosophy feeds on, what keeps it alive. As it were, philosophy succeeds only
insofar as it fails.
3 So, allow me to make a case for the importance of failure. Failure allows us to see our
existence in its naked condition. Whenever it occurs, failure reveals just how close our
existence is to its opposite. Out of our survival instinct, or plain sightlessness, we tend to 25
see the world as a solid, reliable, even indestructible place. And we find it extremely
difficult to conceive of that world existing without us. “It is entirely impossible for a thinking
being to think of its own non-existence, of the termination of its thinking and life,”
observed German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Self-deceived as we are, we
forget how close to not being we always are. The failure of a plane engine could be more 30
than enough to put an end to everything. Even a falling rock or a car’s faulty brakes can
do the job. And while it may not always be fatal, failure does carry a certain degree of
existential threat.
4 Failure is the sudden explosion of nothingness into the midst of existence. To experience
failure is to start seeing the cracks in the fabric of being, and that is precisely the moment 35
when, properly digested, failure turns out to be a blessing in disguise. For it is this lurking,
constant threat that should make us aware of the extraordinariness of our being: the
miracle that we exist at all when there is no reason that we should. Knowing that gives us
some dignity.
5 In this role, failure also possesses a distinct therapeutic function. Most of us (the most 40
self-aware or enlightened excepted) suffer chronically from a poor adjustment to
existence. We compulsively fancy ourselves much more important than we are and
behave as though the world exists only for our sake. In our worst moments, we place
ourselves as being like infants at the centre of everything and expect the rest of the
universe to be always at our service. We insatiably devour other species, denude the 45
planet of life and fill it with trash. Failure could be a panacea against such arrogance and
hubris, as it often brings humility.
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6 Our capacity to fail is essential to what we are. We need to preserve, cultivate, even
treasure this capacity. It is crucial that we remain fundamentally imperfect, incomplete,
erring creatures. In other words, that there is always a gap left between what we are and 50
what we can be. Whatever human accomplishments there have been in history, they
have been possible precisely because of this empty space. It is within this interval that
people and individuals, as well as communities, can accomplish anything. Not that we
have turned suddenly into something better; we remain the same weak, faulty material.
But the spectacle of our shortcomings can be so unbearable that sometimes it shames us 55
into doing a little good. Ironically, it is the struggle with our own failings that may bring out
the best in us.
7 The gap between what we are and what we can be is also the space in which utopias are
conceived. Utopian literature, at its best, may document in detail our struggle with
personal and societal failure. While often constructed in worlds of excess and abundance, 60
utopias are a reaction to the deficits and precariousness of existence. They are the best
expression of what we lack most. Sir Thomas More’s book ‘Utopia’ is not so much about
some imaginary island, but about the England of his time. Utopias may look like
celebrations of human perfection, but they are just spectacular admissions of failure,
imperfection and embarrassment. 65
8 And yet, it is crucial that we keep dreaming and weaving utopias. If it were not for some
dreamers, we would live in a much uglier world today. But above all, without dreams and
utopias we would dry out as a species. Suppose one day, science solves all our
problems: We will be perfectly healthy, live indefinitely, and our brains, thanks to some
enhancement, will work like computers. On that day, we may be something very 70
interesting, but I am not sure we will have what to live for. We will be virtually perfect and
essentially dead. Ultimately, our capacity to fail makes us what we are. Our being
essentially failing creatures lies at the root of any aspiration. Failure, fear of it and learning
how to avoid it in the future are all part of a process through which the shape and destiny
of humanity are decided. That is why, as I had hinted earlier, the capacity to fail is 75
something that we should absolutely preserve, no matter what the professional optimists
may say. Such a thing is worth treasuring, even more so than artistic masterpieces,
monuments or other accomplishments. For, in a sense, the capacity to fail is much more
important than any individual human achievement: It is that which makes them possible.
9 We are designed to fail. No matter how successful our lives turn out to be, how smart, 80
industrious or diligent we are, the same end awaits us all: ‘biological failure’. The
‘existential threat’ of that failure has been with us all along, though in order to survive in a
state of relative contentment, most of us have pretended not to see it. Our pretence,
however, has never stopped us from moving toward our destination; faster and faster, “in
inverse ratio to the square of the distance from death”, as Tolstoy’s Ivan Ilyich expertly 85
describes the process. Yet Tolstoy’s character is not of much help here. The more
essential question is rather how to approach the grand failure, how to face it and embrace
it and own it – something poor Ivan fails to do.
10 A better model may be Ingmar Bergman’s Antonius Block, from the film ‘The Seventh
Seal’. A knight returning from the Crusades and plunged into a crisis of faith, Block is 90
faced with grand failure in the form of a man. He does not hesitate to engage Death head-
on. He does not flee, does not beg for mercy – he just challenges him to a game of chess.
Needless to say, he cannot succeed in such a game – no one can – but victory is not the
point. You play against the grand, final failure not to win, but to learn how to fail.
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11 Bergman the philosopher teaches us a great lesson here. We will all end in failure, but 95
that is not the most important thing. What really matters is how we fail and what we gain
in the process. During the brief time of his game with Death, Antonius Block must have
experienced more than he had done all his life. Without that game he would have lived
for nothing. In the end, of course, he loses, but accomplishes something rare. He not only
turns failure into an art, but manages to make the art of failing an intimate part of the art of 100
living.
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2015 Preliminary Examination
GENERAL PAPER
Paper 2 Suggested Answers
1. Why is the promise of continual human progress and improvement ‘alluring’
(line 8)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
2. What is the author’s intention in asking a series of questions in lines 9–11? [1]
3. Why are the words ‘failures’, ‘errors’, ‘fallacies’ and ‘naiveties’ (line 15) in
inverted commas? [1]
4. What is the author suggesting about the nature of philosophy in the last
sentence of paragraph 2? [1]
5. Explain what the author means by saying that ‘failure reveals just how close our
existence is to its opposite’ (lines 24–25). Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
• Failure allows us to see our existence • However, failure enables us to view the
in its naked condition. world/ reality in its undisguised/ true
(l.23–24) state/ situation. [1]
• The failure … could be more than • and failure can result in danger/ risk to
enough to put an end to everything our lives// the elimination of/ wipe out/
(l.30–31). …while it may not always be humans. [1]
fatal, failure does carry a certain
degree of existential threat (l. 32–33) **Note: Award 1 mark for each of the above
points. The points are independent of each
other
6. Why does the author use the phrase ‘the most self-aware or enlightened
excepted’ (lines 40–41)? [1]
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• so as not to offend readers who regard
themselves as among the most self-
aware or enlightened/who believe that
they do not need the therapeutic
function of failure. [1] OR
• to show that there are people who do
not think they ‘suffer chronically from a
poor adjustment to existence’. [1] OR
• to avoid making an absolute statement/
qualify his claim about people’s ‘poor
adjustment to existence’. [1]
7. Explain the author’s use of the word ‘may’ in line 63–64). [2]
8. Why does the author argue that ‘we will be virtually perfect and essentially
dead’ (lines 71–72) if science solves all our problems? Use your own words as
far as possible. [2]
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9. What does ‘biological failure’ (line 81) refer to and why have we ‘pretended not to
see it’ (line 83)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
11. Using material from paragraphs 4 to 6 (lines 34 to 57), summarise why the
author believes that failure is important.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening
words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8]
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From the passage Suggested rephrase
• failure turns out to be a blessing in A4 • the misfortune of failure becomes
disguise (l. 36–37) something good/beneficial
• For it is this lurking, constant threat A5 • The persistent/ continual danger of
(l. 37) failure
• that should make us aware of the A6 • makes us appreciate/treasure our
extraordinariness of our being (l. existence/ realise how remarkable/
37–38) unusual our existence is
• the miracle that we exist at all A7 • and that we are alive despite the
when there is no reason that we circumstances/ adverse
should (l. 38–39) circumstances/ circumstances
indicating that it should have been
otherwise.
• Knowing that gives us some A8 • This knowledge/ understanding gives
dignity (l. 39) us self-worth/ self-esteem/ self-
respect/pride.
• failure also possesses a distinct B1 • Failure has clear/ evident healing/
therapeutic function (l. 40) curative properties,
• Most of us … suffer chronically B2 • (inferred) enabling us to come to
from a poor adjustment to terms with reality/ life and
existence (l. 41–42)
• we compulsively fancy ourselves B3 • (inferred) stop having a false
much more important than we are perception of self-worth/ an inflated
(l. 42) ego// we realise that we are not as
great as we think.
• behave as though the world exists B4 • (inferred) Failure also makes us less
only for our sake (l. 43) self-centred/ selfish/ egocentric/more
• in our worst moments, we place considerate to others/ learn to co-
ourselves as being like infants at the exist with others
centre of everything (l. 43–44)
• expect rest of the universe to be
always at our service (l. 44–45)
• We insatiably devour other B5 • (inferred) and care more about our
species, denude the planet of life environment/ be more
and fill it with trash (l. 45–46) environmentally conscious/ be less
environmentally destructive.
• Failure could be a panacea against B6 • Failure makes us less prideful/
such arrogance and hubris (l. 46– conceited// reduces our sense of self-
47) importance.
• as it often brings humility (l. 47) [Note: humble = LIFT]
• Our capacity to fail is essential to C1 • Our ability to fail is vital/ important/
what we are (l. 48) indispensable to our existence/ lives/
makes us human.
• It is crucial that we remain C2 • (inferred) and for us to constantly
fundamentally imperfect, strive for improvement/ to do better.
incomplete, erring creatures that
there is always a gap left between
what we are and what we can be (l.
49–51)
• Whatever human accomplishments C3 • Human achievements/ successes
there have been in history, they have were due to our quest to overcome
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From the passage Suggested rephrase
been possible precisely because of failure/ better our performance.
this empty space (l. 51–52)
• It is within this interval that people [Note: focus must be on ‘closing the
and individuals, as well as gap’ and this point is about society or
communities, can accomplish humanity in general]
anything (l. 53–54)
• the spectacle of our shortcomings C4 • The display/ manifestation/
can be so unbearable that … (l. 55) demonstration of our faults/
deficiencies/ weaknesses can be so
intolerable/ agonising
• it shames us into doing a little C5 • that it makes us embarrassed enough
good (l. 55–56) to do something useful
• it is the struggle with our own C6 • and this enables us to show/ exhibit
failings that may bring out the best our finest/ greatest qualities.
in us (l. 56–57) ** Note: C4-C5-C6 build on one another
and apply more to individuals
Total = 20 points
Mark scheme
1–2 points 1 mark 6 points 4 marks 10–11 points 7 marks
3 points 2 marks 7–8 points 5 marks ≥ 12 points 8 marks
4–5 points 3 marks 9 points 6 marks
12. Costica Bradatan argues strongly in favour of failure. How applicable are the
author’s observations to you and your society? Illustrate your answer by
referring to the ways in which you and your society regard failure. [10]
OBSERVATION 1
The observation that ‘Failure allows us to see our existence in its naked condition.
Whenever it occurs, failure reveals just how close our existence is to its opposite.’
(lines 23-25) OR ‘… failure does carry a certain degree of existential threat.’ (line 33)
is very applicable to the Singaporean society. Past failures to keep our society safe
forced us confront the precariousness of our lives. When we fail to defend our country, our
survival as a people comes under threat. Even when facing various crises and
emergencies and in times of disaster, we realize our vulnerability and the fragility of our
lives.
• Singapore’s vulnerability during WW2 was due to failure of security/military defense
resulted in the Japanese Occupation. In addition, the MacDonald House bombing
from the Konfrontasi era further reinforces the author’s observation.
• Such costly lessons are not easily forgotten and post independent Singapore has
implemented various policies to better safeguard ourselves against such failures.
→ NS and SAF(3G SAF) - Singapore’s defense budget will increase by 5.7% in
nominal terms to $9.5b for fiscal year (FY) 2015 ... IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly
reports that defense expenditure will increase as a proportion of GDP for the first
time since 2009, rising from 3.2% of GDP in 2014 to 3.3% for 2015
→ Importance of National Education and Total Defence – Military, Civil, Economic,
Social & Psychological
→ Singapore is now better prepared and reacts quickly to terrorist threats (e.g.
prevention of JI threat of bombing after 9/11; two youths arrested for links to ISIS)
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• Singaporeans’ vulnerability to threats and dangers. These accidents and disasters
show just how close our existence is hanging by a thread at times.
→ Eg. MI185 crash in Palembang, Indonesia in 1997 (human error/failure)
→ Eg. SQ006 accident in Taipei, Taiwan in 2000 (human error/failure)
→ Eg. hijacking of SQ117 in 1991(failure/security lapse at point of embarkation –
Kuala Lumpur – by 4 Pakistan People’s Party members. But Singapore’s
Commandos mounted a successful rescue operation and killed all terrorists)
→ Eg. SARS (initial failure/difficulties in managing the spread but quick action by govt
and healthcare sector contained the epidemic) and dengue epidemics (failure of
people in keeping a clean environment)
→ Eg. sudden deaths of avid athletes/marathoners eg. Thaddeus Cheong (‘failure’ in
providing immediate aid in some cases has pushed organizers to step up on-site
first aid care and to require participants to declare health status pre-event)
OBSERVATION 2
The author argues that ‘To experience failure is to start seeing cracks in the fabric of
being, and that is… the moment when, properly digested, failure turns out to be a
blessing in disguise.’ OR The possibility of failure ‘should make us aware of the
extraordinariness of our being: the miracle that we exist at all when there is no
reason that we should. Knowing that gives us some dignity.’ (lines 34-39).
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than stellar results, led her to find a permanent way out of living instead of deriving
greater appreciation of life, developing and growing from failure.
Nevertheless, there are positive signs that at least some Singaporeans are starting
recognize our lack of resilience in coping with failure, and our unhealthy and
extreme definition of failure, and are trying to be more change this. More and more
we see greater emphasis on multiple pathways and a more varied definition of what
it means to succeed. We can see this observation is at least becoming applicable, if
only for small groups of individuals.
• E.g. The Yellow Ribbon Project success stories: There are many ex-convicts whom by
society’s definition have ‘failed in life’, who have nevertheless managed to learn from
their past mistakes, mend their ways, and in their own way assimilate back into society
and become successes. Society has come to celebrate their success stories, which
are made all the more significant because of them having ‘failed’ before.
• Eighteen Chefs’ Benny Se Teo is an ex-convict, who struggled with drug addiction
(and failed) many times in his youth. His first few business ventures after his
rehabilitation and freedom also failed, but he kept going. He now owns a franchise and
is committed to hiring ex-offenders and youths-at-risk. http://goo.gl/3G9lpu
• Glenn Lim, former drug addict and wayward youth, now successful motivational
speaker, youth counselor, organizational consultant and curriculum developer. A
champion of social enterprises
• Adam Khoo did poorly at PSLE and ended up in neighbourhood school where he
continued to fail by society’s standards. He was infamous for misbehavior, poor results
and addiction to arcade games. However, he reflected on his life and managed to
change its progression. He topped NUS and became self-made millionaire at 26, a
best-selling author (“I Am Gifted, So Are You”) and corporate trainer.
• Other ‘failures’ who bounced back from setbacks to inspire others: eg. Aishah Samad
(2003 SEA Games bronze medallist had all 4 limbs amputated due to severe bacterial
infection); Dr William Tan (contracted polio at 2, paralyzed from waist down, survived
Stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia); Jason Chee (navy serviceman who lost both
legs and left arm after a ship accident)
• These individuals accepted the “failure of their bodies” and managed to succeed in
carving out a definition of success for themselves.
Comments
Scope for personal anecdote about overcoming failure and lessons learnt
• GCE 2012 Paper 2 Report
→ Many dismissed the author’s views as unscientific and certainly not to be found in
Singapore, whilst others offered powerful personal testament to its effectiveness,
such as the candidate who recounted how favourite music was played continually
to his grandmother who was suffering with Alzheimer’s and she eventually
remembered her grandchildren’s names. This illustrates another fruitful
approach to the application question – an apt personal anecdote can add a
different dimension to what can so often be an impersonal, unengaged
response.
OBSERVATION 3
The author’s observation that ‘Failure could be a panacea against … arrogance and
hubris, as it often brings humility.’ (lines 46-47) may not be entirely applicable to the
Singaporean context. Failure only brings about humility if people are willing to admit
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mistakes and change for the better. If people are obstinate, they may dig in their heels and
refuse to acknowledge mistakes, or try to shift the blame to others.
• Examples - Singapore companies or government bodies refusing to acknowledge the
severity of problems/issues/mistakes through the use of euphemisms:
→ 2011 Flooding -> Initially described by PUB as “ponding”
→ Current train repair works -> “urgent / unscheduled maintenance”
→ Problems in the new DBSS projects, new condominium projects – Failure to deliver
quality products and no one is taking responsibility
→ 2012 SMRT Bus Driver strike -> on the first day of strike, initially described by all
major local newspapers as “wage dispute”, “protest”, “action”, and (the icing on the
cake) “episode”.
→ 2014 Workplace Happiness Survey -> “under happy” (in between “happy” and
“unhappy”)
→ Gushcloud Singtel fiasco – failure to adhere to ethical standards during the
promotion of one of Singtel’s services. Gushcloud had its influencers launch a
smear campaign against their competitors StarHub and M1. When found out, both
parties tried to shift the blame to each other in the beginning before proof came out
that a Singtel employee had told Gushcloud to badmouth its competitors in the
advertising for the service.
→ WP’s failure in the management of Aljunied Town Council’s funds/lapses in
financial protocols – no humility was shown when the issue came to light. Instead,
the WP was very defensive, trying to minimize blame, and circumventing issue in
parliament.
• The use of euphemisms may suggest that instead of admitting failure or
acknowledging the severity of situations, there is a tendency to downplay them in order
to minimise backlash and criticism, which in no way serves as “a panacea against…
arrogance and hubris” or “brings humility”.
• While some higher-ups have acknowledged the inappropriate use of some of these
terms (e.g. Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan
criticised PUB’s use of the term “ponding” to describe the 2011 flooding), the fact that
the euphemism was even used in the first place already suggests a particular
unremorseful, defensive attitude.
• While the train operators always do apologise for the inconvenience to commuters
whenever the trains break down, the continued use of “urgent maintenance /
unscheduled maintenance” may suggest the admission of failure is mere lip service;
more a move to placate Singaporeans’ ire, rather than a genuine expression of
remorse.
• Also, the consequences of such failures are usually too light a slap on the wrist to
motivate the companies involved to improve. Thus, there is no humility, and
arrogance/hubris is allowed to continue existing. E.g. Telco outages and blame on
technical failure, no compensation for consumers. The fine they have to pay is small
change. MRT breakdowns the same as well as well – penalties are usually peanuts.
After failures, no clear mending of ways is seen.
• Examples
→ BreadTalk’s soya bean fiasco. Failure of the company to be honest. Videos and
complaints went viral and company had to apologize and tell the truth.
→ Escape of Mas Selamat. Failure of the security forces to keep watch. Failure of
persons-in-charge to take responsibility. Failure of the govt to provide explanation.
→ Increase in foreign worker deaths and exploitation of foreign workers. Failure of
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companies/employers to look after the welfare of employees. Some employers
have been named and shamed for ignoring the sick, abandoning the ill and
providing poor living conditions. Govt has stepped up efforts to ensure that
employers provide a safe working environment and clean living quarters for their
workers.
OBSERVATION 4
The author argues ‘that there is always a gap left between what we are and what we
can be. … It is within this interval that people and individuals, as well as
communities, can accomplish anything.’ (lines 50-53) OR ‘The capacity to fail… is
what makes [achievement] possible.’ (lines 78-79). This may be applicable to only
some aspects Singapore, as seen from the huge contrast between what the country was
like at independence in 1965 and our varied achievements now, half a century later. We
were spurred on to work even harder to achieve success after our failed merger, growing
from strength to strength.
• The lyrics to this year’s national day song-writing competition winning entry ‘These are
the Days’ aptly reflect the sentiments of this observation: there was a time “When all
we could believe was all we had to give”, but “Now what we only dreamed is what we
live” – it draws attention to the stark difference between all we did not have in the past,
and how we have closed the gap between our aspirations and our desired reality.
• This is also evident in the great progress the Malay community in Singapore has made
in terms of achieving an equal standard of living. Historically, there has been a gap
between livings standards of Malays and other races, indicating a failure to provide
equal standards of living for all citizens. The government has worked hard to close the
gap by implementing various policies e.g. free education for Malays as well as self help
groups like MENDAKE and MUIS.
• This year, in Straits Times, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim says
that Malays “have done well for themselves” http://goo.gl/Sijzel
• Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, on being promoted from Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs
and Foreign Affairs to full Minister, said:
→ “It is good to see more and more Malays doing very well in education, doing very
well in all fields of their professions and even in Government” http://goo.gl/R8VoZP
• The Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) commissioned a perception study in
2011 on the Malay/Muslim community.
→ “The survey found that the community was satisfied with the direction that the
country is taking and was optimistic of the progress made by local Malay/Muslims
over the last five years.” 76% indicated confidence in the community’s prospects
over the next decade (2011 – 2021)
→ There were also indications that there were some areas to work on (e.g. many
Malays felt there was still a gap when it came to cost of living, competition for
employment against foreigners, compared to other
Singaporeans) http://goo.gl/hqyqhL
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In fact, a favourite descriptor of Singaporeans is the Hokkien/Singlish word ‘kiasu’,
which literally translates as ‘scared to lose out (to others)’ (i.e. fail).
• Our fear of failure and our unwillingness to appear to have failed can be seen in
various aspects of our life
→ E.g. The pursuit of the 5Cs (Cash, Car, Condo, Credit Card, Country Club) to signal
wealth and power, and to appear successful.
→ The growing number of young couples (with little spending power) splurging on
weddings and incurring debt, which can sometimes amount to hundreds of
thousands of dollars in order to appear successful.
• Education
→ All schools chasing awards/achievements in order to appear to be good schools
→ SYF – distinction so common it is now the norm, the desire to succeed and the fear
of failing to achieve have driven performing arts groups to put in ever more effort to
achieve distinction.
→ Billion dollar tuition industry that support the education system thrives on parents’
willingness to invest/spend in/on their children in order to avert failure in schools,
and to get into ‘branded’ schools.
→ The 2014 Household Expenditure Survey found that families spent $1.1 billion a
year on tuition - almost double the $650 million spent a decade ago and a third
more than the $820 million spent just five years ago.
→ The Department of Statistics, which polled more than 11,000 households between
October 2012 and September last year, released the latest survey in September.
→ The average household spending on tuition rose from $54.70 a month 10 years ago,
to $79.90 in the latest survey.
• Our Singapore Success Story, while born of failure, may also ironically have
contributed to low tolerance of failure in our paternalistic government, who feels the
pressure of maintaining its enviable track records. Thus, failure for Singapore is
largely perceived to be not an option (siege mentality), and the government stresses
this fact.
• The price of failure may be too high to accept. We are constantly reminded that
Singapore is vulnerable and cannot afford to make a wrong move.
• Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore’s ambassador-at-large:
→ “… clear common understandings of our circumstances, chief of which is the
inherent irrelevance of small states in the international system and hence the
constant imperative of creating relevance for ourselves by pursuing extraordinary
excellence” http://goo.gl/3G9lpu
• Other than our national reserves, Singapore has no hinterland or other assets to fall
back on if we fall behind economically.
→ As of 31 March 2014, the Official Foreign Reserves managed by MAS was S$343
billion and the size of Temasek’s portfolio was S$223 billion.
It is the size of the Government’s funds managed by GIC that are not published.
What has been revealed is that GIC manages well over US$100 billion.
Further, our reserves are a strategic asset, and especially for a small country with
no natural resources or other assets. They are a key defence for Singapore in
times of crisis, and it will be unwise to reveal the full and exact resources at our
disposal.
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change Singaporeans’ perceptions of failure, to accept it and to be resilient enough
to get back up and close the gap between failure and aspiration after a fall.
• This year, the government has released many YouTube videos featuring Singaporeans
who demonstrate resilience, getting back up after a fall – so the gap between failure
and success is demonstrated, and it documents how some Singaporeans have
succeeded in closing that gap.
• E.g. “Eddie’s Singapore Spirit”… “Jun Yuan’s Singapore Spirit” YouTube videos used
during the Lego lesson guidance period. Jun Yuan opened a Bak Kut Teh stall, but had
to close down due to manpower issues. Instead of giving up after the failure of his
business, he bounced back and became an app developer, developing an app (11th
Hour) to reduce inefficiency and food wastage in the F&B industry.
OBSERVATION 5
The author is advocating that we ought to face ‘biological failure’ (line 88), that is
death, head-on, so that we can accept this inevitable end and as a result, take better
ownership of our lives and learn to lead our lives in a happier and more blissful
manner, instead of being bitter and resigned to our fate. The author believes that it is
only when we can accept this inevitable ‘failure’ that we can better cherish our lives and
live more meaningfully. This observation is not so applicable to the Singaporean
society.
• Singapore is a conservative society and death has always been a taboo subject. The
issue of death often brings about much doom and gloom, and thus most people avoid
discussing it so that they do not need to face their ultimate fear: the fear of dying … the
finality of their existence.
• Eg. Hungry Ghost Festival – much superstition about death, life after death and ghouls
become even more apparent during the Lunar 7th month when people believe the
spirits from the underworld roam. The superstitious avoid swimming and other more
‘risky’ activities for fear of allowing the spirits to claim one’s life/soul
• Eg. due to discomfort with confronting death and the dying, many people protest
against hospices built near their homes
• Eg. prospective residents of an upcoming Build-To-Order residential project in
Sengkang were up in arms regarding the building of a Chinese temple with a
columbarium next to their estate
• Eg. Exit International, the pro-euthanasia group from Australia, has tried and failed on
several occasions to seek permission from the government to engage Singaporeans
on issues of dying with dignity. It seems that our society is not ready to openly discuss
such issues.
However, with the rapidly ageing population, more people are now more willing to
talk about death and how to face it / prepare for it and being aware of the choices
they can make. While the stigma surrounding death still remains in Singapore, this
observation is SLOWLY becoming more applicable to our society. Even the
government has recognized the need for more open discussions on end-of-life
matters. People are gradually more open to talk about such issues and to dispel the
stigma surrounding the subject matter of death.
• More publicity and awareness of the Advance Medical Directive Act (passed in 1996)
in Singapore. More and more people are now making an informed decision to sign up,
being aware of the document and the conditions, and thinking about ethical and legal
issues surrounding end-of-life care for terminal illnesses.
• More people are also aware of other legalities with regards to appointing a Lasting
Power of Attorney (LPA).
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• The scandal involving Mdm Chung Khin Chun who was cheated of her money by
former Chinese tour guide Yang Yin, whom she appointed her legal guardian and gave
LPA, has created awareness of the danger of not being adequately protected and
prepared for old age when one’s physical and mental faculties are failing.
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TAMPINES JUNIOR COLLEGE
CANDIDATE’S
NAME
Qn 1 Qn 7 MARKER 1
Qn 2 Qn 8 MARKER 2
Qn 3 Qn 9 MARKER 3
Qn 4 Qn 10 MARKER 4
Qn 5 Qn 11 MARKER 5
Qn 6
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Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions which follow. Note that For
up to 15 marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout Examiner’s
this paper. Use
NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE, and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer you
must still use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only
copy words and phrases from the passage.
1 Give two reasons from paragraph 1 why the author says that Gorlitzer Park “has a
seedy air” (line 1). Use your own words as far as possible.
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2 What are the author’s purposes in beginning his opening paragraph with the example of
Gorlitzer Park? Use your own words as far as possible.
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3 Explain the author’s use of the word “flock” in line 10. Use your own words as far as
possible.
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For
Examiner’s
4 In lines 16-17, what claims about British youth are exaggerated and explain how these Use
are now “ludicrous” (line 18). Use your own words as far as possible.
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5 In paragraph 4, what contrasts does the author make between the youthful “excesses”
(line 28) of the past and the “temperance” (line 30) of youth today? Use your own
words as far as possible.
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For
6 Using material from paragraphs 5 - 7 only, summarise the reasons for the change in the Examiner’s
behaviour of today’s youth. Use
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
There are many reasons for the change in youth behaviour. Firstly…………………..
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For
Examiner’s
7 In paragraph 8, what explanations does the author offer for why better behaviour of the Use
young has not “translated into greater happiness” (lines 73-74)? Use your own words
as far as possible.
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8 What is the author implying by the phrase “carefully crafted profiles” in line 80?
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9 Explain the author’s attitude towards the change in youthful tendencies and behaviour
from the phrase “Perhaps there has been progress…” (line 82).
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10 Which phrase in the first paragraph echoes the author’s point in the last paragraph
about Berliners not wanting to “bring back the decadent past” (line 84).
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For
Examiner’s
11 In this article, Michael Butler makes a number of observations about how youth in Use
today’s Western world are no longer indulgent, aimless and rebellious. How far is this
true of you and the youth in your society?
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GENERAL PAPER 8807/02
TPJC Preliminary Examination 28 August 2015
Paper 2 INSERT 1 hour 30 minutes
Michael Butler writes that today’s young people are not the unhappy, alienated, violent
failures they are often made out to be...
1 Görlitzer Park has a seedy air. Its tall walls are covered in graffiti. Near the entrances,
young African men stand around hassling bystanders, asking if they want to buy some
“kiffen”. Yet in many respects, the “drug park” does not live up to its ugly reputation. On
a Saturday afternoon, it is mostly full of 20-somethings sitting around on the grass in
groups sipping coffee. Young parents pass by with pushchairs. University students on 5
picnic blankets peer into their textbooks. Over the course of an hour or so, not a single
one of the drug dealers in view seems to make a deal. For most of the locals, they are a
hassle — not a service.
2 Few European cities do youth culture and hedonism better than Berlin. Young people
flock here from all over the world. The nightlife runs until dawn, techno beats flood its 10
streets. Yet as with Görlitzer Park, the wild appearance belies reality. The impression of
Berlin is that it is a city of youthful partying, exciting nightlife and heroin addicts. But that
city has disappeared. In its place is a city where the young come to study, work and
boost their creative careers, not just party.
3 Similar trends are seen across the Western world. In 2008, Time magazine described 15
Britain’s youth as “unhappy, unloved and out of control”; a nation gripped by an
“epidemic of violence, crime and drunkenness” was scared of its wayward youth. This
claim of British youth, hyperbolic then, has since become ludicrous. In the last ten years,
the teenage murder rate quietly plunged. Perhaps most remarkably, Britain’s notoriously
surly youths are getting more polite. According to one government survey, those born in 20
the early 1990s are less rude and noisy in public places than previous cohorts were at
the same age. In America, the proportion of high-school students reporting binge-
drinking has fallen. Cigarette smoking among the young has become uncommon. The
use of other recreational drugs has fallen sharply. Teenage kicks of other sorts also
appear to be on the decline. Teens are waiting longer to have sex than they did and 25
America’s teenage pregnancy rate is half what it was two decades ago.
4 This sudden outbreak of restraint is doing havoc to businesses which thrive off youthful
excess. “Kids these days just want to live in their own little worlds in their bedrooms
watching Youtube videos and becoming obese,” fumes a barman in Leeds. The media,
too, are struggling to cope with the rising temperance of youth. Television stations aimed 30
at young people have dropped programmes that glamourise rebellion and high-living,
according to a media company which owns MTV. “Kids seem to want to grow up to
make money”, one father suggests, looking slightly unnerved.
5 What is behind this generation of hard-working, strait-laced kids? It is hard to pin down
any single explanation. Lots of interlinking factors contribute to this social trend. In many 35
countries, shock at the earlier extent of youthful hedonism and disorder has led to
dramatic attempts to curb it. In Britain, anti-social behaviour orders were widely used
against the rowdy. In Spain and Italy, drinking in the streets has been met with ferocious
policing in recent years. Australia has put heavy taxes on teen-friendly alcoholic
beverages. But such policies are hardly the whole story; there are much bigger trends. 40
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6 The generations known for rebellion and rule-breaking were large in comparison to the
populations of the time, thanks to the post-war baby boom and its “echo” boom in the
1970s and 1980s. They grew up in young societies. Today’s youth by contrast are few in
number and are growing up in ever older societies. In addition, rising fair treatment of the
sexes is also a factor. Women no longer feel discriminated against and therefore it is no 45
longer necessary to prove their mettle by rebelling through being more addicted than
men in terms of drinking and drugs. As well as being more supportive of young women,
most Western societies are also less white than before. Although prejudice, and patterns
of policing, might lead people to think otherwise, surveys show that in most Western
countries people from minorities are less likely to drink or use hard drugs. 50
7 Added to these social trends are economic ones. The transfer of unskilled jobs to
developing countries and of menial jobs to immigrants has put a new premium on
education: today’s rich-world youth has far more schooling than previous generations.
Young people who are studying rather than in paid employment have less money for
hedonism. That has not always, in the past, made universities particularly clean and 55
sober places. But today’s students have more at stake than previous college kids.
American tuition fees have increased and now average $30,000 at a private university.
In many countries, an increasing number of these students—and of young people in
general—still live with their parents, who tend to keep careful watch on their spending
and living habits. Clubbing is now more of a luxury good than a way of life for British 60
teenagers. And it surely helps that there is plenty else to do: video games and social
networking indulged in bedrooms are far better entertainment than cheap cider and
cigarettes consumed at public places. Yet perhaps the best explanation for this youthful
self-control is the way parents bring these young adults up. A combination of
government initiatives, technology, social pressure and reaction against the follies of the 65
past has improved parenting dramatically. The amount of time parents devote to child
care has increased significantly. According to various studies of the “millennial”
generation, children born in the 1970s and 1980s were mostly raised by baby-boomer
parents who married young, had children quickly and were often rather blasé about the
consequences. By the late 1980s that generation was giving way to a new group of 70
parents who waited longer to have children and paid more attention when they did.
8 What this adds up to is a generation that is more closely watched and less free to mess
up. Ironically however, better behaviour has not, as yet, translated into greater
happiness. For all their disavowal of inebriation and criminality, young people are still
proving more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety. They are often 75
obsessed with their careers — and rarely satisfied. In addition, several studies show that
people who use the internet more tend to be less happy. In helping people to stay
connected to their peers, social media sites such as Facebook let them compare
themselves to people who are doing better than they feel they are (or at least appear to
be, in their carefully crafted profiles). In addition, the young do not trust the institutions or 80
people they live with.
9 Perhaps there has been progress in the temperament of the youth. But does that make
them boring? For all that young Berliners joke about their city becoming sanitised and
lacking in character, they do not want to bring back the decadent past. They want to
build something better. 85
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2015 GENERAL PAPER TPJC JC2 Paper 2 (Answers)
1. Give one reason from paragraph 1 why the author says that Gorlitzer Park “has a seedy
air” (Line 1). Use your own words as far as possible. ( 1m)
2. What are the author’s purposes in beginning his opening paragraph with the example of
Gorlitzer Park? Use your own words as far as possible. (2m)
Yet in many aspects, the “drug He wanted to show that the perception of the
park” does not live up to its
ugly reputation. park as a place of drug culture / youthful
Young parents pass by with so/ the reality is that of respectable young
pushchairs, University students
on picnic blankets peer into people in the park doing very respectable
their textbooks
activities in contrast to the drug dealers
Young people flock here from all Literal meaning : to gather in large numbers at a
over the world particular location ( 1m)
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4. In Lines 16-17,what claims about British youth are exaggerated and explain how these
are now “ludicrous” (line 18).Use your own words as far as possible (3m)
Exaggerated claims are
OR
OR
…are less rude and noisy in public Any 1 reason to prove the claims are ludicrous
places.
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5. In paragraph 4, what contrasts does the author make between the youthful “excesses”
(Line 28) of the past and the “temperance” (Line 30) of youth today? Use your own words
as far as possible. (2m)
“ Kids these days just want to live Public drinking and drunkenness is less
in their own little common/ problematic/worrying/ of concern
worlds…watching Netflix ..” today as youths today instead enjoy stay-at-
fumes a barman in Leeds. home hobbles/recreation (1m)
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Summary
5. Using materials from Paragraphs 5-7 only, summarise the reasons for the change in the
behaviour of today’s youths. Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not
counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as
possible. [8m]
There are many reasons for the change in youth behaviour. Firstly
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6 in most Western countries More minorities now in Western societies who are less
people from minorities are less
likely to drink or use hard inclined to alcoholism and substance abuses
drugs. ( line 49-50)
7 The transfer of unskilled jobs Economic restructuring led to job losses to cheap
to developing countries and of
menial jobs to immigrants(Line labour/out-sourcing
51-52)
8 has put a new premium on Resulting in much focus and investment in education
education( Line 52-53)
9 Young people who are Thus youths have less money to indulge in excesses
studying rather than in paid
employment have less money /vices
for hedonism( line 54-55)
10 an increasing number of these Many undergraduates still depend on their parents for
students—and of young
people in general—still live shelter /livelihood/support
with their parents ( line 58-59)
11 who tend to keep careful Their lifestyles are monitored by their parents /being
watch on their spending and
living habits( Line 59-60) watched/supervised by their parents
12 Clubbing is now more of a Clubbing is more expensive/ less attractive than social
luxury good than a way of life
for British teenagers (line 60- networking/video-watching
61)
13 video games and social Such leisure activities done at home are far more
networking indulged in
bedrooms are far better enjoyable/relaxing/casual/comfortable
entertainment ( Line 61-62)
14 perhaps the best explanation Parenting has become an art/ smarter /better skilled
for this youthful self-control is than the old days
the way parents bring these
young adults up(Line 63-64)
15 The amount of time parents More time spent bonding/educating the young at home
devote to child care has
increased significantly(line 66-
67)
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16 to a new group of parents who Modern/older parents are opposed to the practices of
waited longer to have children
and paid more attention when easy go-lucky irresponsible parenting
they did. (line 70-71)
Marking guidelines:
Mark allocation:
Marks 1m 2m 3m 4m 5m 6m 7m 8m
Public campaigns to control delinquency have resulted in stricter laws against public
disturbance and tough policing against teenage drinking. An ageing society has reduced
delinquency. Gender equality has enabled girls to succeed on merit rather than challenging the
boys in vices. The presence of more minorities has reduced alcoholism and substance abuses.
Furthermore, economic restructuring has led to job losses, which has resulted in more focus on
education. Hence youths have less money to indulge in excesses. Additionally, many
undergraduates depend on their parents’ support and their lifestyles are monitored. Clubbing is
less attractive than social networking at home in comfort. Indeed, modern parenting has made
more time for bonding with the young as opposed to past practices of irresponsible parenting.
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(121 words)
7. In paragraph 8, what explanations does the author offer for why better behaviour of the
young has not “translated into greater happiness”? (Line 73-74)? Use your own words
as far as possible.
…young people are still proving more More young people today have mental stress of
likely to be diagnosed with depression varying seriousness/ sense of psychological
and anxiety wellness absent. (1m)
They are often obsessed with their More and more preoccupation with work and its
careers –and rarely satisfied. achievement but little happiness/contentment/
fulfilment in return for success (1m) (must capture
both parts)
.. social media sites ..let them compare
themselves to people who are doing Social media users subject themselves to
better than they feel they are comparison of status with peers, real or
otherwise, and find dissatisfaction
/discontent/disappointment with their own
The young do not trust the institutions achievement/attainment/accomplishment s(1m)
or people they live with
The young have misgivings/lost faith in public
establishments/bodies/state organisations and
relationships with other members of society like
the authority, peers, family, etc. (1m) (must capture
both “institutions” and the “people they live with”)
Any 3 pts - 3m
1 pt - 1m
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8. What is the author implying by the phrase “carefully crafted profiles” in Line 80?(1m)
(or at least appear to be, in their It suggests either that the profiles were fake
carefully crafted profiles) /dreamed up/ artificially created/just a facade (1m)
OR
9. Explain the author’s attitude towards the change in youthful tendencies and behaviour
from the phrase “Perhaps there has been progress…” (Line 82) (1m)
Perhaps there has been progress He is accepting but hesitatingly so/ partly
in the temperament of the youth agreeable/ not completely convinced/ has some
reservations /unsure/doubtful if the change is fully
positive/good (1m)
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10. Which phrase in the first paragraph echoes the author’s point in the last paragraph about
Berliners not wanting to “bring back the decadent past” (Line 84).(1m)
Or
Application Question
11. In this article, Michael Butler makes a number of observations about how youths in
today’s Western world are no longer indulgent, aimless and rebellious. How far is this true of
you and the youth in your society?
[10m]
Coherence
Candidates should:
- include a sense of a start / beginning (do not begin with a conclusion)
- adopt a consistent viewpoint
- argue logically
- organise their answers into cohesive, themed paragraphs
- link paragraphs to show continuity and direction of argument à use of discourse markers
- maintain relevance to the task in everything they write
- end with summative or clearly concluding paragraph / sentence
1) Para 7 Line 16 – 17: Youth as “unhappy, unloved and out of control” resulting in an
“epidemic of violence, crime and drunkenness”
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Applicable Not applicable
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So, more social issues rather than criminal
acts by the troubled young.
2) Line 27 -28: The sudden outbreak of restraint is doing havoc to businesses which thrive
off youthful excesses
Businesses like clubbing in Clarke Youths are not going to be easily controlled
Quay areas have gone bust as they as many believe they are only young once.
depend on young crowd of range Alcohol and tobacco curb only statutory
like college teenagers and young control as teenagers can still obtain these
working adults, NS boys, etc . resources if they want to ,
Nightlife scene in SG very volatile
to depend on youthful Other new vices like online gambling( until
patronage/excesses recently not enforceable but now new law
WHY sudden restraint? Youths are will come in effect ) have thrived along with
becoming more educated, growing new media,
up in Asian conservative society
with stricter governance and Addiction to gaming is real among hordes of
penalties for breaking alcohol teenagers ( with money thrown in) as school
curfew, fear of losing out to peers counsellors report more cases
and wasting time, lure of new
media esp rise of online gaming Online businesses promoting excesses
and gambling to replace clubbing such as targeting youth spending are
and pubbing thriving, e.g. branded bags for girls, K-POP
products, regular expensive concert tickets
Even relatively less –harmful vices amounting to a few hundred dollars
like smoking curbed by yearly
increase in taxes and strict
enforcement plus compulsory
counselling etc, have made the
young think twice about such social
vices.
3) Line 43- 44: Today’s youths by contrast are few in number and are growing up in ever
older societies: the implications
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Applicable Not applicable
By 2050, there will be only 2.5 :1 The term “Strawberry generation” was
ratio if present unfavourable coined by our political leaders to bring
procreation rates is not reversed attention to the lack of
resourcefulness/direction/helplessness /
Implications on youthful conduct individualism BECAUSE our youths now
- Stress on young workers to be more enjoy far greater degree of freedom and
productive for labour returns ( longer resources to indulge themselves , knowing
working hours, upgrading of education parents will “bail them” out of trouble, or
and skills, higher taxation) Such
overlook their excesses.
demands mean little time to fool around
while the rest of society speeds ahead
Increasing evidence many youths live off
- Resources for the young like education their parents rather than look for gainful
expenditure increasingly reduced ( e.g.
recently, the quota for hiring new employment or meaningful preoccupation
teachers has been reduced) and for self and societal progress ( e.g. rise in
facilities/services for ageing population credit card debts among the young as a
takes higher profile, SO the young result of parental indulgence)
should worry about the future even if
they are blasé now
- Ageing society means shift in
government and corporate attention to
cater to older mature citizens SO the
young are socially/politically aware
through dialogues, forums, seminars at
official level to move ahead in the same
direction as the rest of society towards
SG100
4) Line 45-47: Women are no longer discriminated against and therefore it is no longer
necessary to prove their mettle by rebelling through being more addicted than men in terms of
drinking and drugs.
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Girls now have equal access to educational Girls in schools/Women at work face the
opportunities and jobs based on fair same kinds of stress their male counterparts
competition and merit due to gender equality in are going through, so no reason WHY they
SG society are exempt from hard drinking at pubs/
excessive social problems like smoking to
Women can rise to very high posts in “let off steam’ and chill.
government service( large number of women
principals, SAF ‘s first Woman Brigadier- NOT A QUESTION OF DISCRIMINATION
General, Ho Ching, Halimah Yacob ,Chua Sok but SOCIAL VICES do not recognise
Hoon ,etc) gender. Increasing trend of young girl
under-age drinking due to possible
So girls spend time on educational/career explanations like” in-thing” or peer identity,
pursuits and get rewarded for hard work and or even school pressures or failures. Also
merit. increasing trend of young girls rebelling by
becoming prostitutes, including a few high
Just like the guys, they don’t have time to fool profile cases.
around as the new “battleground of the sexes”
is in equal and fair competition in schools and
at work.
5) Line 70-71: a new group of parents who waited longer to have children and paid more
attention when they did “
New generation of Young Singaporean Dual Income families are tied down with
parents are highly educated, professional work demands and stress, hardly left time
class, focus on Quality of life for self-relaxation since Singaporeans
work the longest hours in the week ( 60
Most married later ( medium age of males hours ) Unenviable tag of “the hardest
is 32, females is 28 & above ) which working nation”
means more financial stability ( also with
dual income family) as well as small
nuclear family with one or two offspring Most working mothers make use of
foreign domestic maids to take care of
Implications : Dual income family provide household chores, and child-raising; even
greater financial security and head-start sending 3-month olds to infant care
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for child with resources for enrichment centres with strangers, the consequences
and development are mixed at best
BUT also mean greater expectations and Nevertheless, Cannes Award Winning
hope and much closer attention to child’s ground-breaking local film “Iloilo Iloilo”
needs and development tells of one such social change in our
societal landscape.
Especially with a single-child nuclear
family with all of both parents’ attention Perhaps only well-to-do families are at
and nurturing liberty to give the demanding attention to
monitor their children’s progress and
Parents take leave during PSLE, some development as the mother need not
mothers even resign from jobs to work for a living to cope with high costs of
focus/monitor closely the child’s affluent society in Singapore-
educational progress parentocracy
Males are also sensitive New-age types Irreversible trends of Falling nation-wide
who share in household chores , and birth-rates below replacement levels are
more importantly, want to be involved in harbingers of the future, and might well
nappy-changing and child upbringing show up the reluctance /fear of young
Singaporeans towards parenting /
Centre like “Fathers for Life” aim as their unwillingness to make compromises to
mission to promote the best parenting lifestyle and aspirations/ realistic
practices among new and young appraisal of our society ,etc.
Singaporean fathers
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VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Monday
31 August 2015 1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your Name and Civics Class in the spaces provided in the answer paper.
If you need to use extra sheets of writing paper for a question, fasten all your work
securely together with the answer sheets.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.
Note that 15 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.
___________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday Martin writes about the state of marriage today …
1 Just in time for Valentine's Day, some recent, highly-publicized non-fiction debuts are sure
to get you in the mood for romance. Staying True by Jenny Sanford, chronicles the very
public breakdown of her marriage to South Carolina governor Mark Sanford who was not
hiking on the Appalachian Trail after all. Marry Him by Lori Gottlieb, the subtitle of which -
the case for Settling for Mr Good Enough - says it all. It accuses you of being too picky and 5
urges you to snap up that guy who is an 8 rather than waiting for the 10. And The
Politician, Andrew Young's new, explosive tell-all about John Edwards, details his infidelity
and exposes, for our lurid delectation, the operatic fights and the second family he started.
2 But in their own dramatic and overblown ways, these books speak a quieter, less dramatic
truth: marriage is not what we think it is, and it is not easy. Plenty of marriages are not 10
doing well. Why? Much ink has been spilled and much breath has been spent analysing the
problem. In addition, many workshop fees have been forked over in the interest of
understanding what has gone wrong with marriages and how to improve them to make
them more satisfying, equitable, sexually exciting, emotionally healthy, nurturing and
harmonious. Saving marriages is a multi-million dollar industry and many of us know from 15
first-hand experience, that it can work. Marriages - some of them - can be saved.
3 But Marriage probably cannot. While marriage therapists tell us how to save our
marriages, sociology, anthropology, and human behavioural ecology suggest that it is not
so much married couples as Marriage itself, that is in trouble. The problem with marriages
is really the fundamental problem with Marriage: marriages are falling apart in large part 20
because Marriage is no longer necessary in the way it once was.
4 Sociologists and historians of marriage tell us that marriage was originally a business
transaction of sorts, rather than an undertaking hinging on the attraction and love
between individuals. Historically in western culture, people from wealthy families were
directed to marry in order to create bonds, alliances and mutual obligation with other 25
powerful families. Marriages even created bonds between nations in the case of royals.
For the lower classes, marriage was a question of creating a labour force to run a farm or
small business. Households were production-centred economies in which men's labour
and women's labour were complementary, and the children they had together or brought
together from previous unions pitched in. Maternal mortality rates were high until the late 30
19th century and remarriage with children after the death of a spouse - a common
occurrence until relatively recently - was considered the most civic-minded thing a man or
woman could do. Marriage was necessary. The household and by extension, all of society
depended on it, after all.
5 But by the early 20th century, as marriage historian Stephanie Coontz points out, with the 35
notions of the individual, liberty, and equality well-established by the Enlightenment and
the French and American revolutions, and the subsequent rise of the love match, marriage
had become a different animal entirely. Marriage morphed from institutional, in the
famous formulation of sociologist Ernest Burgess, to companionate and now, something
more individualistic. Marriage is now expected to nurture, satisfy and support the 40
members of the couple in a dizzyingly comprehensive variety of ways - emotionally,
sexually, psychologically.
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6 At the same time, as sociologist Andrew Cherlin notes, as women came to participate
more in the workforce, household micro-economies changed as well, from production to
consumption-centred. Gender roles become more flexible. Women now have the 45
economic freedom to walk away from unhappy unions. Not to mention the opportunity to
find friendship, empowerment and other potential partners in the workplace.
7 Times continue to change, and marriage, whether we like it or not, is tethered to our times
and the forces of historical change. For example, marriage is no longer the only acceptable
context for childbearing. Increasingly, couples in the US elect to cohabit rather than marry. 50
In Scandinavian countries like Sweden, these couples are less likely to break up than are
married couples in the US. Many of these cohabiting couples are also having children
outside marriage. And owing to women's increased economic power and the rise of
reproductive technologies, more women can and do elect to have children outside of
marriage and even outside of the structure of coupledom entirely. 55
8 As for those who suggest that the heterosexual pair bond is part of our evolutionary
history and so "right" and "forever", there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. In many
contemporary foraging cultures, for example, people live much as evolutionary biologists
believe we did in the Pleistocene era: men and women "marry" nine or ten times and
children are much more likely to live in stepfamilies or with single parents than with two 60
parents. The notion that the permanent couple dyad as we now know it is timeless, is one
human behavioural ecologists now regard with scepticism if not outright disbelief.
9 Many argue that we must be married to be emotionally and physically healthy, and recent
studies claim to prove as much but, there is evidence that marriage is detrimental. The
National Marriage Project found that the percentage of upper middle class white women 65
who described their marriages as happy dropped from 74% to 68% over the last decade.
Other studies find that married women are more likely to be depressed than unmarried
women, and that women with stepchildren are far more likely to be clinically depressed
than those without.
10 Regardless of our moral and ideological convictions and our public policy about what it 70
should be and how we ought to value it, the fact is that marriage is not what it once was
because the world is no longer what it once was: largely agrarian, with a neatly gendered
division of labour within households whose production-centred economies also centred on
the production and contributions of children therein. Those who propose a return to
'traditional' marriages had better also provide time machines, for marriage is married to its 75
historical moment and we have entered a new one.
11 Many of us are familiar with the argument that marriages are not feasible in the way they
used to be because now we live much longer and “till death do us part” is likely to be five
or six decades rather than one or two. We are also more mobile as a society and so the
forces that historically helped married people stay together, forces like the church and the 80
extended family, have less influence over us. It is simply unreasonable to expect one
relationship to satisfy us in so many ways because, as some argue, we are not “wired” for
monogamy.
12 Yet people stay in marriage every day and make it work. We are not all Mark Sanford or
John Edwards, and Gottlieb's anti-romantic vision will leave many of us cold or even 85
outraged. But with Marriage less necessary than ever before, the challenge becomes how
do we make our own marriages necessary and relevant? How do we keep Marriage - not
to mention - marriages alive? And should we even try?
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Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
Read the passages in the insert and then answer all the questions which follow. Note that up
to fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this
Paper.
Note: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passages for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passages.
1. Explain what Lori Gottlieb means by “snap up that guy who is an 8 rather than waiting
for the 10” (line 6). Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
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2. In paragraph 1, what is ironic about the author’s claim that the recent books Staying
True, Marry Him and The Politician “are sure to get you in the mood for romance”?
[2m]
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3. Explain what the author means by “much ink has been spilled and much breath has
been spent” (line 11). Use your own words as far as possible. [1m]
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5. What do you understand by the author’s claim that “marriage was originally a business
transaction” (lines 22-23)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
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6. What is implied by the author’s claim that remarriage “was the most civic-minded thing
a man or woman could do” (lines 32-33)? [2m]
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7. Explain the author’s use of quotation marks for the words “right” and “forever” in line 57.
[1m]
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8. What is suggested by the author’s statement that “marriage is married to its historical
moment” (lines 75-76)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
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9. Why does the author say that marriages are “not feasible in the way they used to be”
(line 77-78)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2m]
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10. What does the author imply by the remark “We are not all Mark Sanford or John
Edwards” (lines 84-85)? [1m]
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11. Using only material from paragraphs 5-7 only, summarise what the author has to say
about the changes in marriage and the reasons for these changes. Write your
summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are
printed below. Use your own words as far as possible. [8m]
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12. Wednesday Martin argues that notions of marriage are changing. How far would you
agree with her observations, relating your arguments to your own society? [10m]
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End of Paper
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VJC 2015 Prelim Paper 2 Answer Scheme
1. Explain what Lori Gottlieb means by “snap up that guy who is an 8 rather than waiting for the 10”
(line 6)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
2. In paragraph 1, what is ironic about the author’s claim that the recent books Staying True, Marry
Him and The Politician “are sure to get you in the mood for romance?” [2]
3. Explain what the author means by “much ink has been spilled and much breath has been spent”
(line 11). Use your own words as far as possible [1]
Note: Candidates must give both portions in order to get 1 mark. Students
should also mention the context of marriage/marriage problems.
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5. What do you understand by the author’s claim that “marriage was originally a business transaction”
(lines 22-23)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
6. What is implied by the author’s claim that remarriage is “the most civic-minded thing a man or
woman could do” (lines 32-33)? [2]
7. Explain the author’s use of quotation marks for the words “right” and “forever” in line 57? [1]
...heterosexual pair bond is part of our He does not think that heterosexual unions are
evolutionary history and so "right" and unquestionably moral/ethical and that such unions should
"forever", there is plenty of evidence to never change as time passes.
the contrary...
Note: Candidates must give both portions in order to get 1
mark.
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8. What is suggested by the author’s statement that “marriage is married to its historical moment”
(lines 75-76)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
9. Why does the author say that marriages are “not feasible in the way they used to be” (line 77-78)?
Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
10. What does the author imply by the remark “We are not all Mark Sanford or John Edwards” (lines
84-85)? [1]
OR
We should not use the actions of a few to generalise about the behaviour/the
faithfulness of everyone else.
Note: If adultery or infidelity is not mentioned or implied, the student will not get the
mark.
11. Using only material from paragraphs 5 -7 only, summarise what the author has to say about the
changes in marriage and the reasons for these changes. Write your summary in no more than 120
words, not counting the opening words which are printed below. Use your own words as far as
possible. [8m]
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From the Text Possible Paraphrase
a the notions of the individual (36) ideas about/belief in the significance/identity of a
person
d and the subsequent rise of the love the growing trend of marrying for love
match (37)
e marriage morphed from institutional changed/transformed from a legitimate social
(38) practice/custom/expectation
h marriage is now expected to nurture, must nourish/build up, fulfil desires and
satisfy and support the members of enable/help
the couple (40)
Note: Students only need to identify any 2 of the 3
above for the point
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o to walk away from unhappy unions to end/exit bad/dysfunctional marriages
(46)
p the opportunity to find friendship The chance/means to meet new people/widen their
(46,47) social circle
q … empowerment (47) to be equipped with/to have the autonomy/agency
to determine their own lives/make own choices
rand other potential partners in the and to find prospective spouses at work
workplace (47)
s marriage is tethered to our times (48) (the institution of marriage) is highly dependent
on/affected by/tied to existing customs/culture
OR OR
t no longer the only acceptable context one need not be married to be a parent/marriage is
for childbearing (49-50) not a prerequisite for parenthood
x more women can and do elect (54) more women are able and choose,
y to have children outside marriage to become mothers without getting married first/to
(54,55) become single mothers
Mark conversion:
1-2 = 1
3-4 = 2
5-6 = 3
7-8 = 4
9-10 = 5
11-12 = 6
13-14 = 7
≥15 = 8
12. Wednesday Martin argues that the notions of marriage are changing. How far would you agree
with her observations, relating your arguments to your own society? [10]
Band REQUIREMENTS: systematic reference to the requirements of the question with evidence of a
1 balanced treatment.
8–10 There must be explicit reference to ideas made by the author Martin.
marks These references must be relevant to the changing notions of marriage.
Students must make the evaluation of the observation of the role reversal as the focus of
their discussion.
Students must refer to experiences and observations relevant to their own
society/country.
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Explanation of students’ evaluation must be clear and relevant to references chosen.
Examples/support must be explained clearly to illustrate/justify their points.
*These ideas for discussion and evaluation in the AQ are distilled from the passage, with the line
references provided for your benefit.
Development of Point #1
These days, Singaporeans are less willing to get hitched or are marrying later or they are simply
unable to find a spouse. The high education levels of Singaporean women may be a contributing
factor. The largest proportion of unmarried women in Singapore are university graduates,
according to the 2014 Department of Statistics Population Trends paper (16 per cent of university
graduates aged 40-44 years were single in 2013, compared to 8.3 per cent among females with
below secondary qualifications). This might mean that successful/well-educated Singaporean
women have high expectations of potential marriage partners and would rather remain unmarried
than marry someone they deem as unworthy.
Development of Point #2
Our government has set a very high standard regarding the moral integrity of our leaders and
infidelity is not tolerated at all. Those who contravene these standards are made to step down or
removed from office. For example, the former Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer issued a
public apology and stepped down from his post when news of his extramarital affair came to light,
and opposition politician Yaw Shin Leong was summarily dismissed by the Worker’s Party when
he refused to refute rumours of his affair with another WP executive committee member.
Development of Point #3
Counsellors also point to a diminishing social stigma attached to divorce and some couples are
more willing to give up on a marriage in trouble. Growing acceptance of divorce in Singapore. For
example, the 2014 median age is 33.4 , the total number of marital dissolutions (comprising
divorces and annulments) rose four per cent from 7,237 in 2012 to 7,525 in 2013.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/fewer-marriages-registered-more-dissolutions-2013.
Development of Point #4
Marriage is no longer necessary in the way it once was. The rising trend of single men and
women in their 30s and 40s in Singapore is evidence of this. Single men and women do not need
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to get married and can support themselves. HDB policies have changed, allowing singles to
purchase 2-room BTOs and the income ceiling for singles buying BTOs has been raised. This can
be seen as evidence that the government is acknowledging the rising trend of rising singlehood
and the idea that marriage is no longer necessary to complete our lives.
EVALUATION: makes very convincing evaluation by making judgements and decisions and by
developing arguments to logical conclusions, and includes elaboration and support through
personal insight and apt illustration.
1. Students’ evaluation should be clear, consistent and relevant to the question.
2. There should be balance and examples/evidence to support students’ claims.
3. Examples/evidence should be contextualised and concrete.
4. Examples/evidence should cover both men and women.
COHERENCE: very clear shape and paragraph organisation and cogent argument.
5. There should be a proper introduction and conclusion.
6. Students’ evaluation should be clear and should not contradict.
7. The discussion points should be distinct yet connected by a common purpose of writing.
Band REQUIREMENTS: covers requirements of the question adequately but not necessarily a
2 balanced treatment.
4–7 EXPLANATION: shows an adequate level of understanding of terms and issues (which may
marks include minor distortion).
EVALUATION: evaluation is attempted but is not always convincing, and tends to be superficial
with limited development of ideas, and is not as thorough in support.
COHERENCE: paragraphing is sometimes helpful and there is a recognisable over-all shape to
the answer; arguments are generally cogent.
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COHERENCE: paragraphing and organisation are haphazard; arguments
inconsistent or illogical.
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Candidate’s Name CTG
Write your name and CTG in the spaces at the top of this page.
Answer all the questions.
At the end of the examination, fasten the cover page, passages and all your work securely
together.
Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
1m 2m 2m 2m 3m 1m 2m 2m 2m 8m 10m
Marks
FOR EXAMINER’S
USE
Content /35
Language /15
Total /50
This question paper consists of 9 printed pages including this page. [Turn over]
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David Robson examines the issue of boredom and its effects.
1 Sandi Mann is one of the few psychologists to have forayed into the mind-numbing
territory—of boredom. Mann wants to understand the profound effect that boredom may
have on our lives. “It’s the Cinderella of psychology,” she says. After all, admitting that you
study boredom might itself sound a bit, well, boring – but that is far from the truth. Boredom,
it turns out, can be a dangerous and disruptive state of mind that damages your health – 5
and even cuts years off your lifespan. If that sounds negative, Mann’s research would also
suggest that without boredom we couldn’t achieve our creative feats.
2 Boredom is such a large part of day-to-day existence that it is somewhat surprising the word
only entered the language with Charles Dickens’s Bleak House in 1852. Dickens’s study of
Lady Deadlock’s suffering – she is “bored to death” by her marriage – would end up pre- 10
empting many of the latest findings. Perhaps because of its prevalence in our lives,
scientists had been slow to explore the sensation. “When you are swimming in something,
maybe you don’t think of it as being noteworthy,” says John Eastwood at York University in
Canada, who was one of the first scholars to take an interest.
3 One of the most common misconceptions is that “only boring people get bored”. Yet as 15
Eastwood set about exploring the reasons for boredom, he found that there are two distinct
types of personality that tend to suffer from ennui, and neither are particularly dull
themselves. Boredom often goes with a naturally impulsive mindset among people who are
constantly looking for new experiences. For these people, the steady path of life just isn’t
enough of a rollercoaster to hold their attention. “The world is chronically under-stimulating,” 20
says Eastwood. The second kind of bored people have almost exactly the opposite
problem; the world is a fearful place, and so they shut themselves away and try not to step
outside their comfort zone. “Out of their high-sensitivity to pain, they withdraw.” While this
retreat might offer some comfort, they are not always satisfied with the safety it offers – and
chronic boredom results. 25
4 Almost from the very beginning, it became clear that either of these states could push
people to harm themselves; a proneness to boredom was linked to a tendency to smoke,
drink too much, and take drugs. Indeed, in one study boredom was the single biggest
predictor of alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use among a group of South African teenagers.
5 Boredom is also linked to more mundane but equally unhealthy behaviours, such as 30
comfort-eating your way through tedium. “Boredom at work is propping up the confectionary
industry,” says Mann, who is based at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. The overall
effect of boredom on your life expectancy could be drastic, too. When researchers in the
famous Whitehall study followed the lives of middle-aged civil servants in the UK, they
found that the people who are most likely to get bored were 30% more likely to have died 35
over the next three years.
6 That is something of a puzzle for evolutionary psychologists. Emotions should evolve for our
benefit – not to push us to self-destruction. “The very fact that boredom is a daily
experience suggests it should be doing something useful,” says Heather Lench at Texas
A&M University. Feelings like fear help us avoid danger, after all, while sadness might help 40
prevent future mistakes. So, if true, what does boredom achieve?
7 Reviewing the evidence so far, Lench suspects that it lies behind one of our most important
traits – curiosity. Boredom, she says, stops us ploughing the same old furrow, and pushes
us to try to seek new goals or explore new territories or ideas. That search for an escape
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could sometimes push us to take risks that eventually hurt us. One research team simply 45
left subjects by themselves in a room for 15 minutes with a button that allowed them to give
themselves an electric shock on the ankle; many did indeed elect to give themselves the
brief buzz of pain, seemingly because it was the only way to break up the tedium. Perhaps
the same search for an escape explains why bored people turn to unhealthy behaviours –
but the upside is that it can also increase innovation. 50
8 Mann has found that the ennui people feel when performing mindless tasks boosts their
creativity – such as finding innovative uses for everyday objects. She suspects the tedium
encouraged their minds to wander, which leads to more associative and creative ways of
thinking. “If we don’t find stimulation externally, we look internally – going to different places
in our minds,” she says. “It allows us to make leaps of imagination. We can get out of the 55
box and think in different ways.” Without the capacity for boredom, then, we humans may
have never achieved our artistic and technological heights.
9 Given this benefit, Mann thinks we should try not to fear boredom when it hits us. “We
should embrace it,” she says – a philosophy that she has now taken into her own life.
“Instead of saying I’m bored when I’m stuck in traffic, I’ll put music on and allow my mind to 60
wander – knowing that it’s good for me. And I let my kids be bored too – because it’s good
for their creativity.”
10 Eastwood is less enthusiastic about boredom’s benefits, but admits we should be cautious
about looking for an immediate escape. “The feeling is so aversive that people rush to
eliminate it,” he says. “I’m not going to join that war on boredom and come up with a cure, 65
because we need to listen to the emotion and ask what it is trying to tell us to do.” For
instance, simply looking for instant gratification on a smartphone or tablet may be counter-
productive, he thinks. “We live in a tech-driven society where we are overly stimulated – we
are constantly yanked around by interruptions,” says Eastwood. That puts us on a kind of
treadmill, he says – we keep on expecting quicker and easier ways to revive our curiosity. 70
“One possibility is that this actually makes people more bored.”
11 Instead, he suggests that it would be wiser to question whether there are more serious,
long-term issues that are causing us to feel disengaged. His work, for instance, has shown
that priming people to feel their lives have a greater purpose and meaning tends to make
them less bored during subsequent tests. Although our feelings of tedium during a work 75
meeting or family gathering might seem like superficial annoyances, they could be a
symptom of a deeper existential crisis and need for fulfilment that extends far beyond
immediate circumstances.
12 “To feel you can have an effect on the world and that things in life make sense, these are
inherently important things for human beings – just like sunlight, fresh air and food,” says 80
Eastwood. As we enter the New Year, that could be as good a reason as any to re-evaluate
your life, what you are trying to achieve with it, and to rethink what you actually mean when
you say you are bored.
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For
Examiner’s
For
Read the passage and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks will be Use
Examiner’s
given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper. Use
Note: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still use
your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or
phrases from the passage.
1. What does the word “forayed” (line 1) imply about the research on boredom? Use your
own words as far as possible.
[1]
2. Why does Sandi Mann call boredom “the Cinderella of psychology” in line 3?
[2]
3. Explain what the author means by ‘Dickens’s study of Lady Deadlock’s suffering – she
is “bored to death” by her marriage – would end up pre-empting many of the latest
findings’ (lines 9-11). Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
4. According to Eastwood, why had scientists “been slow to explore the sensation” (line
12)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
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For
Examiner’s
Use
5. How do the two types of personality in paragraph 3 illustrate the misconception that
“only boring people get bored” (line 15)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
6. What does Mann think about how we should respond to boredom when it hits us (line
58)?
[1]
7. In paragraph 10, Eastwood claims that “we should be cautious about looking for an
immediate escape”. How does the remainder of the paragraph illustrate his concern?
[2]
8. Explain the author’s use of ‘superficial’ (line 76) and ‘deeper’ (line 77) in paragraph 11.
Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
9. What, according to the author, is “as good a reason as any to re-evaluate your life”
(lines 81-82)?
[2]
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For
Examiner’s
10. Using material from paragraphs 4—8 only (lines 26—57), summarise the drawbacks Use
and benefits of boredom.
Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words
which are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
[8]
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11. David Robson highlights a number of research findings on the effects of boredom and For
responses to it. How far would you agree with the findings, relating your arguments to Examiner’s
Use
your own society?
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For
Examiner’s
Use
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For
Examiner’s
Use
[10]
END OF PAPER
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Comprehension: Boredom
1. What does the word “forayed” (line 1) imply about the research on boredom? Use
your own words as far as possible. [1]
2. Why does Sandi Mann call boredom “the Cinderella of psychology” in line 3? [2]
From the Passage Answer
“It’s the Cinderella of psychology,” she a. (i)Just like Cinderella was a character
says. After all, admitting that you study who was neglected but (ii)eventually
boredom might itself sound a bit, well, boring received the due recognition for her
– but that is far from the truth. (lines 3-4) contribution/ enjoyed a happy ending,
[1]
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“When you are swimming in something, b. scientists did not see the value of
maybe you don’t think of it as being researching boredom/believed it was
noteworthy,” says John Eastwood at York unimportant /insignificant. [1]
University in Canada, who was one of the
first scholars to take an interest. (lines 11-
14)
5. How do the two types of personality in paragraph 3 illustrate the misconception that
“only boring people get bored” (line 15)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
From the Passage Answer
One of the most common misconceptions is a. People with the two types of
that “only boring people get bored”. Yet as personality experience boredom
Eastwood set about exploring the reasons easily even though they are not
for boredom, he found that there are two themselves boring. [1]
distinct types of personality that tend to
suffer from ennui, and neither are
particularly dull themselves. (lines 15-18)
Boredom often goes with a naturally b. (i)Those with the first personality type
impulsive mindset among people who are are adventure-seeking individuals
constantly looking for new experiences. (ii)who fail to get sufficient/perpetual
For these people, the steady path of life just exposure to excitement. [1]
isn’t enough of a rollercoaster to hold their
attention. “The world is chronically under-
stimulating,” says Eastwood. (lines 18-21)
The second kind of bored people have c. The second type of personality is
almost exactly the opposite problem; the (i)frightened of/averse to risky
world is a fearful place, and so they shut experiences yet (ii)eventually
themselves away and try not to step becomes discontented with the
outside their comfort zone. “Out of their security/lack of challenge in their
high-sensitivity to pain, they withdraw.” lives. [1]
While this retreat might offer some comfort,
they are not always satisfied with the
safety it offers – and chronic boredom
results. (lines 21-25)
6. What does Mann think about how we should respond to boredom when it hits us (line
58)? [1]
From the Passage Answer
Given this benefit, Mann thinks we should We should welcome it and believe that
try not to fear boredom when it hits us. we can benefit from it/ need not react
“We should embrace it,” she says – a negatively. [1]
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philosophy that she has now taken into her (Answer should include either a positive
own life. “Instead of saying I’m bored when or at least neutral response.)
I’m stuck in traffic, I’ll put music on and allow
my mind to wander – knowing that it’s good
for me. And I let my kids be bored too –
because it’s good for their creativity.”
7. In paragraph 10, Eastwood claims that “we should be cautious about looking for an
immediate escape”. How does the remainder of the paragraph illustrate his concern?
[2]
From the Passage Answer
For instance, simply looking for instant a. Seeking immediate satisfaction via
gratification on a smartphone or tablet electronic gadgets could distract us
may be counter-productive, he thinks. “We and work against our original
live in tech-driven society where we are intention.[1]
overly stimulated – we are constantly
yanked around by interruptions,” says
Eastwood. b. The metaphor of the treadmill gives
That puts us on a kind of treadmill, he says the impression that our continued
– we keep on expecting quicker and efforts to find faster fixes aggravate
easier ways to revive our curiosity. “One the situation/ get us nowhere/ are
possibility is that this actually makes futile.[1]
people more bored.” (lines 66-71)
8. Explain the author’s use of ‘superficial’ (line 76) and ‘deeper’ (line 77) in paragraph
11. Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
From the Passage Answer
The author aims to highlight the contrast
between
Although our feelings of tedium during a a. what might appear to be insignificant
work meeting or family gathering might irritants [1]
seem superficial annoyances,
9. What, according to the author, is “as good a reason as any to re-evaluate your life”
(lines 81-82)? [2]
From the Passage Answer
“To feel you can have an effect on the a. It is fundamentally crucial for us to
world and that things in life make sense, believe that [1]
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these are inherently important things for b. we are able to make a difference
human beings – just like sunlight, fresh air in society
and food,” says Eastwood. AND
As we enter the New Year, that could be as c. and have an understanding of the
good a reason as any to re-evaluate your life world. [1 mark for BOTH (b) and
(lines 79-82) (c)]
10. Using material from paragraphs 4—8 only (lines 26—57), summarise the drawbacks
and benefits of boredom. [8]
Write your summary in no more than 120 words not counting the opening words which
are printed below. Use your own words as far as possible.
DRAWBACKS
BENEFITS
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S/ Points/Ideas from the Paraphrased equivalent
No passage (Essence of the
point/idea in bold)
7 pushes us to try to seek g. and challenges us to look for the novel in things
new goals or explore or discover/ venture into unknown places and
new territories or ideas. question views and understandings / beliefs.
(lines 43-44)
8 That search for an escape Our attempt to overcome boredom could occasionally
[from boredom] could
sometimes push us to h. drive us to take chances that are ultimately
harmful (drawback)
take risks that eventually
hurt us. (lines 44-45)
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S/ Points/Ideas from the Paraphrased equivalent
No passage (Essence of the
point/idea in bold)
11 7
10 6
9 5
7-8 4
5-6 3
3-4 2
1-2 1
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Our attempt to overcome boredom could occasionally j) help develop novel applications
and k) encourage new applications for commonly used items. Boredom actually I)
invigorates the brain to explore deeper connections and inventiveness in thoughts; and
m) to unbridle the mind to n) accomplish aesthetic beauty and scientific breakthroughs.
(115 words)
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11. David Robson highlights a number of research findings on the effects of boredom and responses to it. How far would you agree with
the findings, relating your arguments to your own society? [10]
Boredom can be beneficial…but we need to understand the reason for feeling bored so that we are not too quick to seek an
escape from boredom as it could also lead to undesirable side effects.
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
backgrounds and through their interaction with each other, gain new insights and experiences.
This is beneficial as it not only makes life less boring, it makes them step out of their comfort zone
and make new friends.
Evidence 2
Another category of bored people are those who are bored with doing the same job year in and
year out. They pick up their courage to leave their first jobs in search of ‘new territories or ideas’
and the more fortunate ones do find a second career for themselves, especially if they also end up
in jobs for which they have a passion. Examples of mid-life career transitions include switch from
desk jobs to housing agent jobs or becoming entrepreneurs. However, not all these mid-life career
switches end up happily but they do open up a new experience and new world to the people who
make the switch. In that sense it can be regarded as a benefit.
Evaluation:
Singaporeans are quite averse to risks because we leave in a highly competitive society with many
foreign workers queueing to snap up our jobs and there is also the fear of not being able to adapt
to the new job and having to start all over again at a lower income. This is a risk that not all
Singaporeans are prepared to take, however bored they are, either because they are afraid to
move or because of objections from their spouses or responsibilities to their families. Hence,
though some dream of getting out of the rut, many would be hesitant to do so, unless the pull
factors are strong enough to push them to take the risk. However, it could be considered as a
bane too because in trying to escape boredom and seeking a new job, some end up disillusioned.
In a career website, a mid-thirties man who made a switch to a banking job because he was bored
with the routine of his first job, confessed that the change went ‘horribly wrong’ as he recounted
how he could not catch up with his much younger colleagues in the field. This could hardly be
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
regarded as a benefit. If he had stuck to his routine job, all he had to face was boredom. Now in a
new territory, he faces threats from his younger colleagues and feels insecure, even though he
might be picking up new ideas.
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/sg-en/122411/my-mid-career-change-into-banking-went-
horribly-wrong-dont-make-the-same-mistakes/
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
71) arts skills because he was bored.
Evaluation:
If people do not understand the reasons for their boredom and just think of all ways to escape this
feeling, they could only end up hurting themselves as seen in the case of people who choose to
experiment with drugs and smoke since they are risking their health. In the case of the aggressive
teen, he ended up hurting himself too, besides hurting the foreign workers, as he was detained
and ordered to report to a supervision officer every day and remain indoors from 10pm to 6am for
a year and to perform 150 hours of community service. Moreover, he would now have a criminal
record for life. What these examples prove is exactly what Robinson also tries to highlight that
people need to know the reason for their boredom and ‘be cautious about looking for an immediate
escape’.
Evidence 4
The same can be observed among Singapore kids. Parents eager to keep their children occupied
during the holidays so they do not become bored send them for all kinds of coaching classes to
prepare them for the next level of education. In the end, after knowing all the content they need to
learn, they become bored when the teachers teach them the same content in class.
Evaluation:
In Singapore schools, a strict curriculum is followed and students who have already learnt the
content to be taught in class, will still need to sit through them, especially with a class size of 40,
teachers cannot afford to customize lessons for individuals. Hence those who have already learnt
the content in the holidays because they were bored end up being bored in class.
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
Boredom ‘allows Meaning Response
us to make boredom makes
leaps of us think beyond This could be true if the energy is directed to the right purposes.
imagination’ , what we would Evidence 1
‘get out of the normally do and
box and think in stretches our Derrick Koh’s own boredom as a child when learning Math through the electronic learning systems
different ways’ imagination to in the late 90s and early 2000s pushed him to think of how to do things differently. Now the owner
conceive of an education chain in Singapore, he conceived his interactive Math learning portal out of
creative ideas. adapting the Neopets, the virtual pets website and the elements of electronic learning systems.
This innovative learning portal has been able to attract many students to enrol at his centre to
learn Math in a fun way. His boredom made his mind wander to more fun things like Neopets and
eventually led him to integrate it into the conventional learning portals to add fun to learning,
resulting in an unconventional approach and platform to learn Math
Evaluation:
Sadly, in the context of Singapore, young people especially, turn to social media to relieve their
boredom and whatever creativity that could have been expanded on thinking of innovations are
often not tapped on. In fact, the social media and the internet has somewhat killed the creativity in
people, not just because they resort to it when bored but also because they do not bother with
thinking out of the box since the internet can provide instant answers to many of their queries and
being such a highly-connected society only makes it worse. Usually when students come up with
innovative ideas, they are not conceived from boredom but a need to do a project.
He also Response
highlights how a
psychologist It would have to depend on the circumstances and setting/support provided
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
argues that Evidence 1
boredom is
good for the Many students who are bored in class distract others.
creativity of kids. Evaluation:
(paragraph 9)
Whether boredom can bring out creativity in a child will have to depend on other factors like
environment and support as well. In the case of students feeling bored in class, with class sizes of
up to 40 in Singapore, it is hard to imagine how a bored child can be helped to develop his
creativity. More likely, without attention, he will end up being a nuisance as he distracts others and
disrupts the lesson. However, if parents on their own can afford the time to allow their bored
children to discover new things, like providing a scribbling wall for self-expression, then perhaps
boredom will work to bring out the creativity in them. However, in land scarce Singapore, this is
quite out of the question. Creativity is also stifled by the lack of space to run around and also
because many children in Singapore have easy access to the TV, internet and smart phones and
often than not, when bored will play electronic games, than think of ways to do things differently or
think up new ideas. To bring out creativity in bored kids, there must also be the support of adults in
creating the environment and fostering that culture of creativity. Sadly, many Singaporeans used
to a very structured way of life, do not think of it this way and they think that by sending their
children to art classes and more enrichment classes, their children would become more creative,
which is really not the case.
Evidence 2
A research done by NIE and Straits Times report revealed that one of the causes of aggressive
behaviour among teens in Singapore is boredom. (The Straits Times, August 3, 1998) (Problem
behaviours of Singapore youth, https://repository.nie.edu.sg/bitstream/10497/15521/1/ERA-AME-
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Points Elaboration/ Evidence based on your society
mentioned by Explanation
the author
AMIC-2000-461_a.pdf
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