Name: _________________________ ( ) Class: _____________

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION ORDINARY LEVEL

HUMANITIES 2272/01, 2273/01, 2274/01

SOCIAL STUDIES
Tuesday 25 August 2020
1 hour 45 minutes
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READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your name, register number, and class on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use highlighters, glue, correction fluid or correction tape.

Answer all questions.

Write all answers on writing paper.
You are reminded of the need for clear presentation in your answers.

At the end of the test, fasten all your work securely together.
Keep your question paper.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
The total number of marks for this paper is 50.

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This document consists of 6 printed pages and 2 blank pages.

[Turn over
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Section A (Source-Based Case Study)

Exploring Citizenship and Governance

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions.
You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources
which you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the
topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

(1) Study Source A.

What is the cartoonist’s attitude towards the government’s approach to increase birth [5]
rates in Singapore? Explain your answer.

(2) Study Sources B and C.

[6]
How far does Source B agree with Source C? Explain your answer.

(3) Study Sources D and E.

[7]
Does Source D prove Source E to be wrong? Explain your answer.

(4) Study Source F.

[7]
Are you surprised by Source F? Explain your answer.

(5) “The solution to increase low birth rates lies in the individual.” Using sources in this case
[10]
study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. 
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Why do developed countries struggle to raise low birth rates?

There is a concern about declining birth rates in the developed world. Developed countries tend
to have a lower fertility rate due to lifestyle choices associated with economic affluence. Birth
control is also easily accessible and children often can become an economic drain caused by
housing, education cost and other cost involved in bringing up children. Higher education and
professional careers often mean that women have children later in life.
Some argue that it is necessary for governments to provide adequate publicly funded
reproductive health and social care in order to achieve required birth rates and have a younger
population to contribute to the nation’s and global progress. They also assert that governments
need to pay closer attention to specific needs of the local population. Others argue that there
are societies that need to move away from traditional gender stereotypes so that countries can
look towards higher birth rates.

Read the following sources to find out why developed countries struggle to raise low birth rates.

Source A From an online Singaporean blog commenting on local national policies.

Czar: A person exercising great authority or power

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Source B From Member of Parliament Louis Ng at the Parliament of Singapore.

Young couples are rightly concerned about whether they have the means to bring up a child.
It is now not just "money not enough", but also "time and leave not enough". The current six
days of childcare leave and unpaid infant care leave is insufficient. It does not make sense
that the amount of leave does not increase as well when you have more kids. Parents with
four kids clearly need more leave than parents with one child.

It would be valuable for the Ministry of Manpower to give childcare leave on a per child basis.
For parents with two or more kids, we could consider allowing parents to use their sick leave
entitlements also when their child is sick. This will boost prospective and existing families’
confidence in being able to adequately care for their families.

Source C From Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo at the Parliament of Singapore.

The Government will continue to work with employers to better support parents in managing
their work and family responsibilities. However, there are couples who seem to be able to
manage family and work fairly well. If you are really going to expand the leave provisions for
people who are parents, we have to ask ourselves, what the employers will think of it and
their obligations to the individual as an employee, now he has obligations to the entire family.
I think that may be a bit too extensive. I will be very careful about this. We don’t want a
situation where employers have to second-guess when they take on an employee whether
there are these other hidden obligations that they have to fulfill.

Source D From a New York Times, an American newspaper.

In the face of a struggling economy, Americans are realising that there are other ways to live
meaningful lives. We’re experiencing a fundamental shift in how individuals view their place in
the world. A poll found that around 90 percent of participants believe that they don’t need a
child in order to be truly happy. Motherhood is no longer the only option for women. We now
have the choice to dedicate more energy to our careers or other interests, and young adults
are making informed decisions based on what’s best for their particular situations.
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Source E From a report on South Korea’s population issues in a newspaper.

South Korea which has the world’s lowest birth rate has patriarchal values that remain deeply
ingrained in society. Nearly 85 per cent of South Korean men back the idea of women
working, according to a state survey, but that plummets to 47 per cent when asked whether
they would support their own wives having a job.

Demographic experts say gender equality plays a crucial role. Reversing the decline in fertility
will require wider reforms consisting of initiatives to empower women, as well as the greater
involvement and support of men. “The government policies are based on this simplistic
assumption that ‘if we give more money, people would have more children’,” the Korea
Women Workers Association said. The South Korean government should first address
“relentless sexual discrimination at work and the double burden of work and house chores” for
women, it added.

Source F From an online blog where an American writer contributes his views on the
modern American society.

Financial and economic considerations of course play an important role in the choices people
make as to when to have children and how many children to have. However,
cultural assumptions are driving down fertility rates in the Western world even more than the
economic considerations. The first assumption to consider is what we mean in the West by
"the good life." Today, we're sold experiences, self-fulfillment, novelty, and most of
all, freedom from any restraint and consequences. For many Americans having kids is an
optional activity, like collecting classic cars or visiting every parrot sanctuary in the world.
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SECTION B (Structured-Response Question)

Being Part of a Globalised World

Study the extract carefully, and then answer the question.

Extract 1

MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, Flickr – the list of social media
sites people use is vast. The scale of these organisations is impressive. As of December 31
2017, for example, Facebook had 2.13 billion monthly active users and employed 25,105
people.

 Extract 2

For a small country with few natural resources, Singapore’s economic ascension from an
undeveloped country in the 1960s to one of the strongest economies in the world today is
remarkable. By embracing globalisation, the country has been able to overcome its geographic
disadvantages and is today, a thriving metropolis. 

Extract 3

Trade tensions between the United States and China have led to supply chains being disrupted,
and investments and research and development restricted. Singapore firms that export
extensively to China are hit, alongside those that have factories in China and export to the US.

(6)   Extract 1 shows how the Internet has transformed our lives.
      In your opinion, explain how the Internet has changed teenagers’ lives in Singapore. Explain
      your answer with reference to two consequences. [7]

(7) Extracts 2 and 3 reflect on the economic impacts of globalisation on countries.  

     How far do you agree that the positive impact is more significant than the negative impact for
     countries? Explain your answer.  [8]

END OF PAPER

Copyright Acknowledgements
Source A: https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/2011/03/01/making-babies-statistically-flawed-thinking/
Source B: https://www.facebook.com/LouisNgKokKwang/posts/-no-to-more-childcare-leave-spoke-up-in-parliament-
yesterday-calling-for-more-ch/2651487321545061/
Source C: https://www.facebook.com/LouisNgKokKwang/posts/-no-to-more-childcare-leave-spoke-up-in-parliament-
yesterday-calling-for-more-ch/2651487321545061/
Source D: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/upshot/americans-are-having-fewer-babies-they-told-us-why.html
Source E: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-women/south-korean-birth-rate-worlds-lowest-in-struggle-for-balance-
report-idUSKBN2410YR
Source F: https://www.cpvoice/why-children-arent-optional-self-sacrifice-vs-self-fulfillment.html
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