Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2015 JC2 GP H1 Prelim Papers
2015 JC2 GP H1 Prelim Papers
2015
General Paper
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10
RAFFLES INSTITUTION
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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
1 hour 30 minutes
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
[Turn over]
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For
Examiners
Use
Read the passage in the insert 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 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 authors 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
Examiners
Use
Why has the author placed brackets around the comment in lines 16-18?
[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.
Nostalgia benefits us because
[8]
[Number of words: .. ]
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For
Examiners
Use
What is the authors 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.
[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
[1]
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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.
Justify your answer with ideas from the passage and your knowledge of your own society.
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For
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
Use
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For
Examiners
Use
[10]
REEC
Band
Mark
End of Paper
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Inferred
Nostalgia was deemed as completely negative,
with no redeeming features at all.
NB: must emphasise that there is nothing good
about it
Many students merely wrote negative, which did not show that nostalgia was completely negative.
2. Explain the authors use of the phrase rose-tinted to describe peace in line 6.
From Passage
Nostalgia was the soldiers malady a state of
mind that made life in the here and now a
debilitating process of yearning for that which had
been lost: rose-tinted peace, happiness, loved
ones. (lines 4-6)
[1m]
Inferred
It suggests that the soldiers perceptions of peace
are idealised/ overly positive.
OR
The soldiers only see the positive aspects of peace.
Many students wrongly interpreted rose-tinted as a metaphor for beauty or romance and therefore provided wrong
contextualisation of the phrase.
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]
From Passage
Some of the research has proved the universality
of the feeling itself - new study shows the
commonality of nostalgia effects (lines 12-14)
Paraphrased
The impact of nostalgia/ feeling nostalgic is shared/
similar/ experienced by many
Inferred
4. Explain the two positive effects of nostalgia highlighted in paragraph 2. Use your own words as far
as possible.
[2m]
From Passage
nostalgia is shown to be both a driver of
empathy and social connectedness, (line 15)
Paraphrased
Nostalgia motivates/ encourages/ spurs/ inspires
people to understand/ relate to/ identify with each
other at a deeper level and promote community
cohesion/ bonds/ ties/ relationships
NB: driver is the main idea and MUST be paired
with either empathy or social connectedness (or
both) for 1m.
as well as function as a solution/ answer/ cure for
solitude/ isolation and marginalisation/ detachment.
NB: antidote is the main idea and MUST be
paired with either loneliness or alienation (or
both) for 1m.
Many students either missed out on the main idea of driver or explained it inaccurately. Words like enables and allows
do not capture the meaning of pushing for something to happen.
5. Why has the author placed brackets around the comment in lines 16-18?
From Passage
Among the measurable effects, nostalgia is shown
to be both a driver of empathy and social
connectedness, and a 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 Alzheimers). (lines 14-18)
[2m]
Inferred
[Function] The comment in brackets is additional
information [1m]
[Context]
to illustrate how nostalgia can be used for medical
treatment/ to show that the benefits of nostalgia
have been extended to medical treatments [1m]
Most students handled this question well, but some simply regurgitated the function of brackets from the skills package/past
year A Level exam answer schemes without explaining the context of nostalgia being used for medical treatment.
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From Paragraph 6
7. What is the authors 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]
From the passage
Nostalgia in this sense is like
Inferred
Purpose:
The author wants to create an analogy/a comparison
for the reader to recognise/understand that nostalgia
functions like choosing a pathway and creating a bank
account,
NB: We accept answers that say the author wants the
reader to better understand the concept of nostalgia.
Paraphrased
where nostalgia is a process of picking/deciding on
specific memories that we want to revisit,
Most students did not explain the authors purpose of using the metaphor.
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From Paragraph 7
8. Why does the author describe storytellers as professional nostalgics (line 78)?
From Passage
The essays written in a nostalgic state were judged
more imaginative and creative (storytellers,
professional nostalgics, have long intuited this, not
to mention poets). (lines 77-78)
[2m]
Inferred
As the livelihood/ work/ job of storytellers depends
on their imagination and creativity,
they are proficient/ skilled/ experts at using feelings
of nostalgia.
Many students did not capture both characteristics of what it means to be professional.
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 Passage
Nostalgic memory is a bittersweet combination of
rumination, counterfactual thinking and nostalgia.
(lines 79-80)
Rumination and counterfactual thinking are related
to despair and perhaps to depression (lines
80-81)
People want to remind themselves of the people
who are no longer here and what they meant.
(lines 84-85)
OR
It serves to remind them of what intimacy they
have achieved and therefore what they are
capable of. (lines 85-86)
Paraphrased
He describes nostalgic memory as both painful and
pleasurable.
While nostalgic memory is associated with grief/
affliction/ dejection/ melancholy,
it also reminds us of the significance/ importance/
value of loved ones whom we have lost.
OR
the affection/ close relationships/ love they once
had/enjoyed (and may enjoy again).
Many students did not explain the term bittersweet fully and accurately, and gave a vague explanation of the term
bittersweet (e.g. good and bad, positive and negative).
From Paragraph 9
10. What danger is the author referring to in line 90? Use your own words as far as possible. [1m]
From Passage
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? (lines 87-89)
Paraphrased
Collective nostalgia can be exploited/ made used
of by others to make people act in a way that they
would usually/ normally not.
NB: Holistic understanding must be shown.
Some students did not capture the irrationality of the behavior as a consequence of exploitation by advertisers and
politicians.
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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]
No.
1
No.
1
Possible Paraphrase
Nostalgia benefits us because it is an innate/ inherent/
inborn/ natural/ instinctive response/ tool that
3
4
9
10
11
Possible Points
Nostalgia seems to be a kind of inbuilt (line 19)
OR
Nostalgia spontaneously rushes in (and counteracts
those things) (lines 22 - 23)
neurological defence mechanism (line 19)
OR
which can be marshalled to protect us (lines 19-20)
OR
as a defence against the present (for children) (line
46)
against negative thoughts (line 21)
nostalgia compensates for (line 21)
OR
counteracts those things (line 23)
OR
posed in a redemption sequence (line 42)
(negative) situations. (line 20)
OR
Particularly in times of hardship and difficulty (lines
20-21)
OR
uncomfortable states (line 21)
OR
(helps children) through difficult periods (line 45)
can temporarily affect your perceived body state
(lines 26 - 27)
OR
to temporarily alter their perception of the state they
were in (line 30)
OR
the temporary change in perception (line 31)
allowed them to crucially persevere just a bit
longer. (lines 31-32)
OR
which are correlated with mental fortitude (line 34)
OR
and in doing so it perhaps builds resilience (line 36)
nostalgia helps build resources like optimism (line
34)
OR
and a hope for the future. (line 46)
or inspiration (line 34)
or creativity (line 34)
nostalgia grounds us
9
10
11
12
12
13
13
15
16
17
17
3
4
14
15
No. of
Points
Marks
14
16
1-2
3-4
5-6
8-9
10-11
12-13
14 & more
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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 authors 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
Examinersnotes:
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 nostalgias 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 authors points too loosely and hence distorted the authors 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
1. Nostalgia fosters
social cohesion
Claims:
nostalgia is known to
be both a driver of
empathy and social
connectedness, and a
potent internal antidote
for loneliness and
alienation (lines 1416)
In group situations those
with induced nostalgia
not only 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.
(lines 66-67)
The ability and
encouragement to
access nostalgia also
builds gratitude and
connectedness towards
others. (lines 48-50)
Guiding
Questions /
Discussion
Issues
Does nostalgia
create closer
bonds amongst
Singaporeans?
Does nostalgia
build gratitude and
connectedness
towards others?
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2. Nostalgia provides
us with a sense of
optimism and hope for
the future.
Claims:
Nostalgia seems to be a
kind of in built
neurological defence
mechanism, which can
be marshalled to protect
us against negative
thoughts and situations.
(lines 18-20)
nostalgia
compensates for
uncomfortable states
such as feelings of
meaninglessness or a
discontinuity between
past and present. (lines
20-21)
nostalgia helps build
resources like
optimism (lines 31-32)
reminding them to
think of happier moments
as a defence against the
present and a hope for
the future.(lines 42-43)
Do Singaporeans
use nostalgic
thoughts as a form
of defence against
pessimism?
Does nostalgia
provide
Singaporeans with
a sense of hope for
the future?
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Does thinking
about the past help
Singaporeans build
resilience?
Does nostalgia
help Singaporeans
ride out tough
times?
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4. Nostalgia drives
creativity and
imagination.
Claim:
inspiration or
creativity, which are
correlated with mental
fortitude. (line 32)
Does nostalgia
drive creativity and
innovation in
Singapore?
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5. Nostalgia has
longevity in its use and
can be easily adapted
across various forms
and over time.
Is it always true
that nostalgia
entails positive
memories or
experiences?
Claim:
most people have at
least one nostalgic
memory that they cherish
and that they can use
repeatedly. (lines 57-58)
How might a
persons inherent
temperament
colour or
undermine the use
of nostalgia for
more beneficial
purposes?
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Is nostalgia a
compelling reason
or motivation for
acts of grace,
charity or
compassion?
7. Collective nostalgia
can be manipulated.
Claim:
...the power of collective
nostalgia. Is it not the
fact that such feelings
Is collective
nostalgia similarly
manipulated in our
context?
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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
1 hour 30 minutes
INSERT
[Turn over]
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2
Tim Adams writes about nostalgia.
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.
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
Alzheimers).
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 lifes major transitions, nostalgia grounds us and gives us a base on which
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
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.
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
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
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35
40
45
50
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
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
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 ones 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
withdraw from it.
55
60
65
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).
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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Candidates Name
PDG
GP Tutors Name
/14
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
31 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
Insert
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.
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.
For
Examiners
Use
What does the title First Lady of Food (lines 8-9) suggest about the perception
Americans had of Betty Crocker?
...[1]
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]
Explain the paradox in this illusion becomes their reality (lines 27-28).
[2]
Why does the author describe peoples attempts to take an immaculate Instagramworthy selfie as hopeless (line 42)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
What do you understand by won the gene pool lottery in line 45?
[1]
[1]
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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
Examiners
Use
[3]
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]
Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony in lines 77 to 79.
[2]
10 Suggest why the evolution of Betty Crockers image over the years has helped the brand
to stay relevant (line 88).
.......[1]
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11 Using material from paragraphs 24 only (lines 1253), summarise what the author has
to say about the benefits that branding and image have for companies, and the harms
they may cause to individuals.
For
Examiners
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.
Branding and image are of benefit to companies because ...............................................
[8]
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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
observations? Relate your opinions to your own society.
For
Examiners
Use
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For
Examiners
Use
.[10]
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GENERAL PAPER
PAPER 2
8807/02
31 August 2015
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
This document consists of 3 printed pages and 1 blank page.
[Turn over
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INSERT
Lee Anderson considers the effects of branding and image on society.
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
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
made possible with clever marketing and effective branding.
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
peoples 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
India, China and Brazil into buying premium brands at premium prices, arguably to a
point of obsession.
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
up to their name. The appeal of brands is often built around peoples 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
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.
Brand is perception and perception is reality.
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
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
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
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,
bruised, battered and bloodied. When peoples 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,
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
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.
A well-crafted positive image weathers negative comments on controversial business
practices. Nikes Swoosh remains popular even if it has been linked to sweatshops.
Clever advertising allows companies to distract consumers from their immoral deeds.
Unilever, which owns Dove, has been accused of deforestation of the Sumatran
Rainforest to grow oil palms used in its products. Yet, Dove has grown from a $200
million soap brand in the early 1990s into a brand that is estimated to be worth nearly
$4 billion today, all thanks to the impressive cultivation of a socially responsible
image. In addition, some of these companies success can also be attributed to them
consciously associating the brand with a higher purpose and making consumers
identify with them. Hence, despite some companies less than scrupulous practices,
their profits are unscathed.
Branding can have unintended effects too. Companies can be so fixated on projecting
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. Victorias Secrets tagline The Perfect
Body and its stereotyping of feminine beauty unwittingly communicated an offensive
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.
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 Bettys 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
today. A powerful brand dwells and grows in the mind of the consumer.
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
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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Text
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.
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]
Answer
Text
Indeed, companies that
can withstand economic
recessions are those that
manage to seduce the
growing middle class in
countries like India,
China and Brazil, into
buying premium brands
at premium prices,
arguably to a point of
obsession.
Companies
Idea of companies drawing consumers (force of attraction):
1. lure consumers into [1m]
To purchase products against their logic (Negative connotation):
2. making ill-advised purchases. [1m]
Answer
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Answer
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
entirely random.
lottery and are deemed to be the
epitome of beauty, and on the other, the
lesser mortals.
6. Why is the word lesser (line 46) in inverted commas? [1]
Text
On one end of the spectrum are those
believed to have won the gene pool
lottery and are deemed to be the
epitome of beauty, and on the other,
the lesser mortals.
Answer
Those who are more plain-looking may be perceived by some to
have less worth than those who are blessed with good looks but
do not truly have less worth.
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
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, chic or
dated image has a stranglehold on
society. No one understands this
Answer
The author gives the example of:
1. Politicians who are able to package themselves very well (to
appear confident),
2. and the voters/people are subconsciously impressed by their
image
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3. These politicians who may not have very strong policies often
win the vote
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
A well-crafted positive image weathers negative
comments on controversial business practices. Nikes
Swoosh remains popular even if it has been linked to
sweatshops. Clever advertising allows companies
to distract consumers from their immoral deeds.
Unilever, which owns Dove, has been accused of
deforestation of the Sumatran Rainforest to grow oil
palms used in its products. Yet, Dove has grown from
a $200 million soap brand in the early 1990s into a
brand that is estimated to be worth nearly $4 billion
today, all thanks to the impressive cultivation of a
socially responsible image. In addition, some of these
companies success can also be attributed to them
consciously associating the brand with a higher
purpose and making consumers identify with them.
Hence, despite some companies less than scrupulous
practices, their profits are unscathed.
Answer
1.
2.
9. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony in lines 77 to 79. [2]
Text
Sometimes, the image which was carefully
cultivated can be perceived by consumers
in markedly different ways and ironically
end up reducing sales.
Answer
1. One would expect that the image that is nurtured would
help appeal to customers
2. yet the image backfired and resulted in decreased profits
10. Suggest why the evolution of Betty Crockers image over the years has helped the brand to stay
relevant (line 88). [1]
Text
Answer
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11. Using material from paragraphs 24 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.
Branding and image are of benefit to companies because [8]
No.
Lifted
Banned Words
Paraphrased
Prominence
Capture
Market(s)
Penetrate
Wall of indifference
Brand heat
Create hype
*Do not accept trendy
Product lust
Do better
Tough times
Withstand
Economic
recessions
Seduce
premium
Obsession
Worth
Match up
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10
Evolve
Plans
11
Established
Branding allows companies to build a
Perception
lasting reputation
of strength, quality,
or leadership
Devalue
13
Devalue
14
15
Resort
16
Destructive
behaviour
17
18
19
Bank account
Harms wealth
OR
wastes their money
(negative shade must be in the answer)
20
Needs inference,
plain lifting or literal
paraphrasing will
not get the mark
21
Blow
Esteem
22
Isolate
Peers
23
Isolate
World
world
*Do not accept general terms like the
earth, the universe, the planet
No of Pts correctly
identified
15 +
13-14
11-12
10
8-9
6-7
4-5
1-3
Marks
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
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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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
21 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
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Read the passage 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
Examiners
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.
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.
[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.
.......
[2]
From paragraph 2, Wwhat does the word infected (line 16) suggest about the authors attitude
towards budget travel (line 16)? Using your own words as far as possible.
.
[21]
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According to the author in paragraph 2, how are travellers different from tourists in paragraph 2?
Use your own words as far as possible.
For
Examiners
Use
.
.
.
.
[2]
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.
..
..
..
.... [2]
From paragraph 6, explainExplain what the author means by there is no magic wand or silver
bullet as used in line 589.? Use your own words as far as possible.
Formatted: No Spacing
......
..
.... [1]
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Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5, summarize what the author has to say about the current
harms posed by mass tourism.
For
Examiners
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.
The current harms of tourism are
..........
..........
..........
..........
..........
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..
..
..
..
..
.. [8]
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From paragraph 1, Wwhy does the author insert the phrase still exclusive in parentheses (line
6)? Use your own words as far as possible.
For
Examiners
Use
..
..
.... [1]
98
From Wparagraph 2, why is ecotourisms claim to be sustainable considered circular logic (line
11)? Use your own words as far as possible.
For
Examiners
Use
.
.....
.
.
.... [2]
10
9a
a.
..........
..
.... [1]
10
9b
b.
Explain why the author uses the word nevertheless (line 13).
...
. [1]
11
What explanations does the author offer for the growth of dark tourism in paragraph 3? Use
your own words as far as possible.
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...
...
..... [2]
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12
Anna Pollock argues that mass tourism has reduced the value of travel, while Jim Butcher
argues that some types of mass tourism are beneficial. Which of the two authors are you more
inclined to agree with? Explain the reasons for your choice with reference to you, and your
society.
For
Examiners
Use
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Examiners
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[10]
END OF PAPER
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11
Using material from Passage 1, Paragraphs 3 to 5, summarize what the author has to say about
the current harms and future challenges posed by mass tourism.
For
Examiners
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]
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12
Anna Pollock argues that mass tourism has reduced the value of travel, while Jim Butcher argues that
some types of mass tourism are beneficial. Which of the two authors are you most inclined to agree
with? Explain the reasons for your choice with reference to you, and your society.
..........
For
Examiners
Use
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[10]
END OF PAPER
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For
Examiners
Use
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BLANK PAGE
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BLANK PAGE
Formatted: Centered, Space After: 0 pt
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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
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
low-paid, seasonal shift work.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
clich 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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10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
the mischief of tourists. A Chinese student sparked an outcry in Egypt after scratching his
name on the wall of an ancient temple in Luxor. Thai authorities issued thousands of Chineselanguage 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.
50
Regrettably, more tourism often means less benefit to the host communities. Technological
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
differently - not as a resource to be exploited, but as a sacred place to be protected and
celebrated for its uniqueness.
55
Adapted from Six Reasons Why Mass Tourism in Unsustainable by Anna Pollock
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60
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
enable many Spanish people to join the (still exclusive) club of leisure travellers.
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
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
housing and landscaping, in a sustainable manner.
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
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
happened. The resulting empathy would spur them to be bastions of morality in this sea of
uncertainty.
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.
Adapted from Good Tourist, Bad Tourist by Jim Butcher
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10
15
20
25
30
Paraphrase
A) Authors Intention:
To emphasise that the mass tourism industry
is
developing
at
too
fast
a
rate
/
quickly/exponentially
B) Context
that it is almost impossible to be maintained /
supported without any implications /
2. What is the author implying when he uses the word illusive (line 9)? UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted
Paraphrase
illusive statistics
Context:
Undoubtedly, tourism continues to be a stimulant
of economic recovery, generating more than
$2.1trillion in annual revenues... 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, which are often low-paid,
seasonal shift work.
A) Definition of Illusive:
The authors intent is to suggest that the statistics
presented
in
support
of
tourism
is deceptive/misleading
B) Context:
As the kinds of employment/jobs created to benefit
the community is of inferior standard
*B - Context should be specific to the job standard,
and not low wages / seasonal work
*Benefits must be tied to quality (substandard,
inferior)
3. What does the word infected (line 16) suggest about the authors 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,
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4.
[2]
According to the author in para 2, how are travellers different from tourists? UYOWAFAP.
Lifted
Paraphrase
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Paraphrase
6. Explain what the author means by there is no magic wand or silver bullet as used in line 59?
UYOWAFAP [1]
Lifted
Paraphrase
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Lifted
Paraphrase
revenue
through
ecotourism
means
that
conservation
is
incentivised,
and conservation ensures that the ecotourist
revenue will keep on coming.
Paraphrase
(a) Money earned / financial gains made from
ecotourism
would
encourage
the
protection/preservation of the environment,
(b) hence this will in turn/lead to attract more
money from ecotourists which will in turn
encourage ecotourism.
NB: the sense of a circular logic must be present
to award for (b)
Must have (a) + (b) for the full mark. Students can
only obtain 0m or 2m.(No 1m)
10a. In paragraph 3, why is the word ethical in inverted commas (line 8)? [1]
Lifted
Paraphrase
10b. Explain the authors use of the word nevertheless in line 13. [1]
Lifted
Paraphrase
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11. What explanations does the author offer for the growth of dark tourism? UYOWAFAP [2]
Lifted
Paraphrase
A. We are increasingly connected/interconnected
B. people yearn/long to learn the issues that are
taking place
C. to watch the event unfold personally / to have a
real /genuine experience / first hand experience
1-2 points = 1m
3 points = 2m
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
Misguided focus on growing the tourism
industry
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The environmental
damage distances tourists from the
environment
Para 4
inevitably dilute the wondrous experience
of travel
through sterile
M1
commodification
M2
Commercialization
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unruly behaviour
Their inconsiderate acts
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Marks
Points
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14+
Suggested Analysis
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Analysis
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major industries.
EV (Agree): Singapore has certainly used the
gains from its tourism industry to cement the
decades-long process of modernization. The
constant upgrading and revamping of Singapores
major tourist landmarks such as the Merlion, along
with the addition of new landmarks such as the
IRs, Gardens by the Bay, ArtScience Museum,
indicate a desire purposefully taken by the
Government to constantly promote Singapore as a
hyper-modern nation to overseas tourists.
EV (Disagree): With the influx of many foreigners,
compounded by the effects of the Population
White Paper, Singaporeans have become
generally more xenophobic, or are expressing an
increasing number of xenophobic perspectives.
Singaporeans perceive these tourists negatively as people coming in to enjoy the fruits of their
labour and then leaving only after a short stint of
time, often enjoying the benefits that the country
has to offer, at the expense of the average
Singaporean.
As a model of development, ecotourism's claim to
be "sustainable" and "ethical" resides in its ability
to link conservation and development
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CANDIDATE NAME
CLASS
6C __ __
INDEX NUMBER
0 0 __ __
8807/02
31 August 2015
Paper 2
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
[Turn over
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM/INSERT
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2
Justin Thyme considers the value of time in the modern world.
1
DHS 2015
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
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
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.
As much as time is a natural phenomenon, we have slowly come to realise that it is of
equal part a man-made concept as well. We gradually learn to mitigate its damaging
effects while at the same time harnessing its potential. Whether to strike while the iron is
hot or to bide ones time, we are constantly on the lookout for opportune moments to turn
the tides of war to our advantage: Richard the Lionheart led a sudden shock attack after
suffering many hours of arrow rain to decimate the Saracens in the Battle of Arsuf during
the Third Crusade; the destruction of three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest by
Arminius and a troop of Germans remains one of the most successful and consequential
ambushes in history. Taking a moment to observe and reflect also proves useful kinks in
opponents defence become obvious and our own flaws can be ironed out. The ones in
control of the larger situation take things one step further. Relying on Mans penchant for
forgetting details over time, unscrupulous politicians embellish stories from their countries
past to persuade the masses to support them. Although time makes fools of the majority of
us, it bestows some with unparalleled power.
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
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
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).
For that reason, we buy cars so that we might reach our destination faster, and invest in
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
(presumably loving ones 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
particularly patronised by young people who are mesmerised by the time-is-money notion.
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM/INSERT
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10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
3
Indeed, service providers have embarked on an insidious conspiracy to convince us that
our time is worth the exorbitant prices, but only if we can afford them.
5
DHS 2015
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
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,
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 peoples 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
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 ones desk, with an eye on the screen and its
multiple windows. When we finally dare to leave the office, the constant beeping of our
smartphones reminds us that our work never gets done.
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
when it promises no returns at the end of lengthy reflection? And so, a generation of us
continue to run lifes 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.
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM/INSERT
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55
60
65
70
75
BLANK PAGE
Acknowledgements:
Justin Thyme 2015.
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM/INSERT
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INDEX
NUMBER
0 0
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
31 August 2015
Paper 2
1 hour 30 minutes
AQ Mark
For Examiners Use
Content
/ 35
Language
/ 15
Total
/ 50
[Turn over
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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2
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
Examiners
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 1521 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 3133.
[2]
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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3
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.
For
Examiners
Use
[3]
6 What is the significance of the word typically in line 56?
[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 lifes 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]
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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4
10 Using material from paragraphs 34 only, summarise the ways in which time is associated with
monetary value.
For
Examiners
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]
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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5
11
In this article, Justin Thyme shares his observations on how the modern world views time. How
valuable is time to you and your society?
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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For
Examiners
Use
6
For
Examiners
Use
[10]
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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INDEX
NUMBER
6 C
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
31 August 2015
Paper 2
1 hour 30 minutes
1 Insert
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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Question 1
Explain the irony in lines 1-3. [1]
Lifted
Inferred
People
do
not
have
a
standardised
understanding of time and we would not have
expected people to be clear about what we are
referring to and yet we use the term time as if
we all know what we all mean.
We expect people to have a clear definition of
time when we always talk about it but the truth is
that we do not even have a standardised
understanding of time.
OR
We have multiple definitions for time but we
have only one name for it.
Key idea: There is shared understanding and yet
we have problems defining it.
Students need to try to close the gap
between the text and understanding of the
word
irony.
Mere
paraphrase
of
fundamental is insufficient.
Question 2
In paragraph 1, explain the effects of time on our survival. Use your own words as far as
possible. [3]
Lifted
Paraphrased
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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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
Question 4
Suggest two reasons why the author compares playing the stock market to playing the game of time
in lines 32 33. [2]
Lifted
Suggested Answer
We follow economic changes across time so as
to make calculated decisions.
In both, actions have consequences. A move at
the wrong time will lead to bad consequences.
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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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
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
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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5
everywhere are afflicted with a perennial timescarcity 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 ones 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 lifes treadmill in line 77 suggest about how we live our life? [1]
Lifted
Suggested Answer
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
Alas, if Time
be our Idol, we
would not idle.
DHS 2015
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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.
Paragraph 3
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
DHS 2015
Lifted
Paraphrased
We place higher monetary value on time because
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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7
Point-Mark Table for Summary Question
Number of Points
12
34
56
78
9
10 11
12 13
> 14
Marks Awarded
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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]
Ideas from Paragraphs
Para 1- introduction
Everyone understands the meaning of time even though there is no common definition.
Keeping track of time is crucial to our survival.
Para 2
We have learnt to effectively use time to our advantage (in times of war and conflict and in politics).
Para 3
Time is scarce and hence we attach a high price tag to it.
Due to globalisation, we need to seize time to make money.
The media exploit our obsession with time; authors exploit our fear of being inefficient.
The belief that time is money is firmly entrenched.
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.
DHS 2015
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8
Ideas from Paragraphs
Para 6 Conclusion
We are trapped in this constant cycle of doing and achieving more when we should be spending time
more meaningfully.
DHS 2015
8807/02/Y6/15/PRELIM
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CT GROUP
14A/S
GP TUTOR
CENTRE
NUMBER
INDEX
NUMBER
General Paper
8807/02
Paper 2
26 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1) Write your name, CT class and GP tutors 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)
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.
For Examiners Use
Content
/ 35
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.
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 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]
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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..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[2]
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]
How did the introduction of a pedestrian district transform Copenhagens city centre? Use your own
words as far as possible.
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........................................................................................................................................................[2]
Explain the authors use of the word trumpet in line 43. Use your own words as far as possible.
..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[1]
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For
Examiners
Use
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.................................................................
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..........................................................................................................................................[8]
What similarity does the author draw between cave paintings and Creative Placemaking? Use
your own words as far as possible.
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[2]
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For
Examiners
Use
Genuinely green citiesprettify shopping malls (lines 68-70). What does this sentence tell us
about the authors opinion of current attempts to make cities look greener? Use your own words
as far as possible.
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................[2]
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]
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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........................................................................................................................................................[3]
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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For
Examiners
Use
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.
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trendyline
For
Examiners
Use
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For
Examiners
Use
CT GROUP
CENTRE
NUMBER
INDEX
NUMBER
General Paper
14A/S
8807/02
Paper 2
26 August 2015
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
This Insert contains the passage for Paper 2.
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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.
Civic spaces are key elements of individual and social well-being, the places of a communitys
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.
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.
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
Rocks River Market has helped bring the citys 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.
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 citys unique historical personality and celebrating its rich cultural identity. But 45
meaningful conservation is not merely about preserving the faade 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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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 citys 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.
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.
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.
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."
Adapted from an article by Alissa Walker
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BLANK PAGE
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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. (1)
Explanation
Lift from Passage
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 Copenhagens city centre? Use your own words as far
as possible. (2)
Paraphrase
Lift from Passage
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
Because:
centre.
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
ReMediterranean, 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:
Get PSJ Private Tutor to Guide you through Exams Now!
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Paraphrase
roads exclusively allocated to moving large amounts
of/droves/hordes of traffic/vehicles (allow cars) essentially
exclude/prohibit pedestrians/stop people walking on the streets
which prevents/bars/stops/obviates the communal/societal
gatherings/events/activities crucial/essential/imperative for a
vigorous/lively/robust community life (allow street life)
10
11
12
13
14
Stimulating/encouraging/propelling/galvanizing/ incentivizing/driving
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16
17
18
20
21
22
15
19
23
24
remain organically connected to city life They should also continue to be natural /living parts of the city/ part
of its life blood
25
Careful resurrection
(repetition of point 18)
judicious repurposing
26
27
28
29
By building/constructing/creating/fashioning close/intimate
attachments
30
31
8
4
15 - 17 points
5 - 6 points
7
3
12 - 14 points
3- 4 points
6
2
9 -11 points
1 - 2 points
5
1
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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.
8. Genuinely green citiesprettify shopping malls (lines 68-70). What does this sentence tell us about the authors
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
perfunctory/cosmetic/paying mere lip-service) - totally different from
shopping malls.
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
EITHER:
requires equal parts sensitivity and
She subsequently uses the adjective arid to reinforce the same image
rigour. Sensitivity, because planners
of cities being
need to realize that every city is not
parched/barren/lifeless deserts
only a unique cultural and historical
product, but also an evolving
organism. Rigour, because drastic
OR: (preferred)
She proceeds to develop this natural image by prescribing remedies
measures need to be applied and
for their revival and eventual blossoming (1)
scrupulous attention paid to enable
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)
She subsequently describes the measures that will guarantee their
eventual blossoming. (1)
NB. If students explain the central metaphor in general without
showing how the image is extended, award no mark.
NB. If students merely describe/paraphrase the extended metaphor
without citing specific images, then award 1 mark only.
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)
the faceless corporations whose
colossal towers smother them, and
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
The title Reclaiming our Cities encapsulates this idea
and urbanist Jane Jacobs so astutely cautioned
reclaiming meaning retrieving or recovering
several decades ago: "Cities have the capability of
providing something for everybody, only because, and something once taken that is rightfully yours and the
plural possessive pronoun our referring to the
only when, they are created by everybody."
people/inhabitants/denizens of cities in general (1/2)
Be generous here not all of the above detail is
required but the connection must be clearly
understood.
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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Higher 1
CANDIDATE
NAME
CLASS
INDEX NUMBER
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
31 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
[Turn over
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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.
Why do the authors begin the passage with the quotation in lines 1-2?
.
.
.
.[2]
Why do the authors place inverted commas around conspiracy (line 12)?
.
.
.
.[2]
According to the authors, how can humour lead to exclusion (line 13)? Use your own words as
far as possible.
.
.
.
.[2]
Explain how humour might be associated with either higher self-esteem (line 39) or intelligence
(line 40).
.
.[1]
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According to the authors, when are comedians considered good comics (line 45)? Use your own
words as far as possible.
.
.
.
.[2]
Explain how using humour to deal with normally unacceptable (lines 52-53) content is like a
sugar coating to bitter medicine (line 54)?
.
.
.
.[2]
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).
.
.
.
.[2]
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]
Explain why the authors use the word old in line 81.
.
.
.
.[2]
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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.
Humour is beneficial to us because .........
......
......
......
..
......
......
......
......
..
......
......
......
......
..
......
..[8]
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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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.[10]
End of Paper
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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
5
coping with extreme circumstances.
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 ip 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
15
targets them, will feel left out, shamed or ridiculed.
For individuals, the direct benefits of humour lie in the bodys 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
25
its doors and windows.
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
patients 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.
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
40
and intelligence, and even the enhancement of enjoyment of positive life events.
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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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
swordit allows you to make a point without drawing blood. Observational comedy, 55
situational comedy, slapstick comedy, comedy that both enlightens and offendsthese 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.
Comedy can also take on a political face. While oftentimes, such political comedy focuses on
more trivial matters such as a politicians 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
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 Philosophers 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 itselfthe old hey, Im just 80
making a joke line of logiccan 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]
Answer
Passage
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
grave/not a trivial subject matter
humour is more than sillinesscoping
OR
with extreme circumstances.
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]
Answer
Passage
a) The word is used in jest/tonguecreates a sense of shared conspiracy in
in-cheek//rather inappropriately/
the context of illicit activities like
not used in the usual sense
gossiping or joking about superiors
(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,
because they do not get the joke, or
even worse, because the joke targets
them, will feel left out, shamed, or
ridiculed.
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 selfGet PSJ Private Tutor to Guide you through Exams Now!
Contact www.privatetutor.com.sg
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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. [2]
Passage
Answer
Comedians are good comics
a) when they perform a significant/
While comedians will make everyone
essential/necessary/valuable role
uncomfortable at some point, good
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
b) so content which may be {socially
and agreement when they are told
significant but} usually hard to take is
on stage. The fact that the content
more easily received/accepted when it
is encrusted in humour is like a
is funny/laced with humour. [1]
sugar coating to bitter medicine.
The laugh takes away the sting.
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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
a) The people listening to political
political humour also has its serious
humour
side that sometimes provides political,
[context of political must be present to
social, or economic commentary. It can
award (a)]
attack the character, policy or even the
b)
may
dismiss it as merely
larger electoral system. Even though
funny/humorous/amusing,
the audience may laugh it off, the
c) but they are already beginning to
cogs will have started spinning in
think about the matter.
their minds. It is this type of political
humour that politicians, institutions, and
1-2p=1m
authority figures over the centuries
3p=2m
have feared the most.
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 higha) 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 authors 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 itselfthe old hey, Im just
(a) the idea/reasoning/thinking that
making a joke line of logiccan 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]
The context what is no longer relevant- must be correct.
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.
Humour is beneficial to us because
Lifted
From Paragraph 2
1
2
3
4
cultural
moral order of a society or a social group
a sign of closeness among friends
5a
it is an effective way of
5b
From Paragraph 3
7
10
11
Paraphrased
Its content is usually essential/very
important/key/fundamental/primal to human
interrelationships
traditions/customs
ethics/conventions/mores of a community
a symbol/an indication/an expression of
intimacy among peers/buddies
it is a powerful/efficient/successful
method/technique for
building/creating/developing/establishing
relationships/connections/people to come
together
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12
From Paragraph 4
13
14
15
to alleviate pain
OR
(from paragraph 5) reduce experiences
of pain
increase the cheerfulness of patients
residing in institutions that are often
much less comfortable for them than
being at home
16
17
From Paragraph 5
19
20
21
a positive self-concept
22
higher self-esteem
23
Intelligence
24
18
greatly/remarkably
rejuvenated/refreshed/engaged
Psychologically/mentally
liberated/freed/illuminated
has/contains the ability to cure/mend/ an
individual
greatly/immensely/exceptionally/remarkably
potent/capable/efficient/successful/strong
/useful method
to lower suffering/discomfort/hurt //
to relieve/lessen agony/suffering /discomfort
heighten/elevate the happiness/joy of patients
who stay in/live in places that are not as
conducive/pleasant/cosy/snug as their own
dwellings
makes a person more
desirable/appreciated/popular/
charming/attractive
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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GP TUTORS NAME
8807/2
27 August 2015
Paper 2
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
1 hour 30 minutes
EXAMINERS USE
Content
35 Comments:
Language
15
Total
50
This document consists of 6 printed pages.
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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.
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.
........
........
... [2]
1b Suggest what is causing languages to become more standardised (lines 5 6).
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2
What is the authors purpose in providing us the series of examples in lines 9 to 10?
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Explain what the words realities and seductive imply about the pressures on minority
language speakers in each case (line 12).
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How does paragraph 3 illustrate the rapid die-off of languages (line 15)?
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For
Examiners
Use
Explain the futurists reaction to the rapid die-off of languages (line 21).
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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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[2]
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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... [2]
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For
Examiners
Use
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.
The extinction of minority languages is not a certainty as .....
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For
Examiners
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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
Garlands observations? Relate your opinions to your society.
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For
Examiners
Use
GP TUTORS NAME
CLASS
8807/2
Paper 2
27 August 2015
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
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2
Eric Garland writes about minority languages.
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.
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...
These pressures are inducing a rapid die-off of languages around the world. Languages 15
have been disappearing steadily, with 3,000 of the worlds 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.
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 peoples 35
determination and the government policies that are put in place.
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
6
Learning or relearning a native language is often a political statement, an act of selfdefinition, one that brings solidarity with our neighbours. It is political power, cultural
reverence, and perhaps a feeling of control in a world where political and cultural borders are
collapsing all around us. Minority languages may also have a place alongside majority forms
of communication. The International Committee for the Defence of the Breton Language 50
suggests that early bilingualism can help prepare young people to master several languages,
which will be an advantage if not a necessity for the future in Europe.
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
65
media in their own language to a global diaspora.
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, todays
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.
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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Paraphrased
to promote commerce
1=1m, 2-3 = 2m
1. (b) Suggest what is causing languages to become more standardised (lines 5 6). [1]
Lifted
Paraphrased
it easier
for
global
Inferred
1 = 1m
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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). [2]
Lifted
Inferred
2 = 2m
4. How does paragraph 3 illustrate the rapid die-off of languages (line 15)? [3]
Lifted
Paraphrased
(a)
(b)
(c)
and many more are losing their link with the natural
world, becoming museum pieces rather than living
languages
(d)
Paraphrased
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,
scientific research,
and commerce.
Paraphrased
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
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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]
The extinction of minority languages is not a certainty as
Possible paraphrase
10
11
13
14
12
16
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17
18
20
21
23
24
22
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Points
Marks
13 and above
12
10 - 11
8-9
6-7
4-5
2-3
Table of Specifications:
No.
Question Types
Question Number
Mark Allocation
Direct Literal
1a, 4, 6
1b, 2, 7, 8
Extended Vocabulary
3, 5
Summary
AQ
10
10
Subtotal
35
Language
Total
15
50
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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 Garlands 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
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Main Ideas
Paragraph
2
Globalisation
pressuring speakers
of
minority
languages to learn
majority languages
or
suffer
the
consequences
Paragraph 3
Significant, culturally
specific information
may disappear along
with a language
General Impacts
Declining language proficiency.
Changing language attitudes.
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
Paragraph 6
There are various
benefits to learning
or
relearning
a
native
language/
several languages.
In Singapore, the force of globalisation has stirred nostalgia and a desire to cement
Singapores heritage cultural identity and to improve inter-generational communication
this has resulted in small-scale ground-up initiatives in reviving minority languages.
A series of books with the back-to-basics approach has been published and sold in
Singapore by Koh Kuan Eng, a creative director in advertising turned social worker.
There are currently 5 books in this series that covers 5 Chinese dialects Hokkien,
Teochew, Hainanese, Cantonese and Hakka (from sibeynostalgic.com).
Along with this series of books, a series of tote bags have also gained popularity. They
feature various objects and items with how they are spoken in various dialects (from
sibeynostalgic.com).
Dialects are also featured in many local Jack Neo films, further cementing the Singapore
identity.
The Peoples Association has rolled out dialect-related activities in several Community
Centres island-wide. There are dialect singing courses and a dialect initiative piloted in
2011 to reach out to young people through courses such as Learn Cantonese Language
through Forgotten Cantonese Cuisine.
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.
Can help young people to master several languages which could be an advantage.
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Due to Singapores unique geographical location, some are stressing on the importance
to learn or be proficient in Malay.
All of Singapores 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 Singapores national language could help us to better
connect with our historical heritage.
Contrary to what Garland asserts, there is no need to resist any onslaught of majority
languages in Singapore and thus reverse language shift any resurgence of minority
language in Singapore mostly comes from the desire to retain Singapores culture and
heritage, in which many minority language played a crucial role in.
It is not very clear or obvious that it is the multimedia that will assure a continuity of
minority languages in Singapore. Rather, it is the very essence of Singapores multiracial and multi-ethnic social fabric that is a larger determinant of the continuity of minority
languages in Singapore as each generation, backed by political and social rhetoric, seeks
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).
The internet and social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook allow the younger
generation to have access to greater variety of programmes and videos that contain
minority languages.
While local broadcasting channels censor dialects from their programmes, one would
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
dialects.
The availability of
cheap,
powerful
multimedia
will
assure a continuity
of
minority
languages.
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There are limited attempts to evaluate and link to the students 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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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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GENERAL PAPER
8807/2
Paper 2:
2 September 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
ANSWER BOOKLET
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name, class and GP tutors 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.
Answer all questions.
The Insert contains the passage for the comprehension.
Note that 15 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.
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
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.
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.
Explain in your own words as far as possible how clothes shopping is much like
social media (line 3).
.
....
. [2]
Explain what the writer means by hedonic treadmill (line 9). Use your own words as
far as possible.
[2]
[1]
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For
Examiners
Use
What is the writer implying about fast fashion brands by the use of the word notorious
(line 26)?
[1]
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]
What are the conditions that make it easy for people to buy things that they dont
need or even really want (lines 38 39)? Use your own words as far as possible.
... [3]
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]
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For
Examiners
Use
In paragraph 7, what conclusions can be easily made and what are not, when studying
the consumption patterns of Americans?
.
[2]
How does the popularity of YouTube haul videos (line 62) demonstrate millennials love
for shopping?
.
.
.[1]
10
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For
Examiners
Use
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.
Compulsive shopping
.
.
.
......
. [8]
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For
Examiners
Use
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?
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For
Examiners
Use
[10]
THE END
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For
Examiners
Use
GENERAL PAPER
PAPER 2:
INSERT
8807/2
2 September 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
________________________________________________________________
This insert consists of 4 printed pages including the cover page.
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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
entertainmentone where the point isnt what you buy so much as it's the act of
shopping itself.
This dynamic has significant consequences. Secondhand stores receive more clothes
than they can manage and landfills are overstuffed with clothing and shoes that dont
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,
breaking the cycle isnt as easy as just vowing to buy nothing. Its no accident that
shopping has become such an absorbing and compulsive activity: The reasons are in
our neurology, economics, culture, and technology.
Shopping is a complex process, neurologically speaking. In 2007 a team of researchers
looked at the brains of test subjects using fMRI technology as they made decisions while
out buying clothes. They found that pleasure kicks in not only from the act of looking, but
also from purchasing, or more specifically, getting a bargain. It's whats called
transactional utility says Tom Meyvis, a professor of marketing at NYUs Stern School
of Business. If seeing items you want and getting a bargain both elicit waves of shopping
joy, you couldnt engineer a more pleasurable consumer culture than the modern,
globalised West.
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
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
theyre 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
offer, several now inflate their initial retail prices. Theyre able to protect their margins
and let customers believe theyre getting a deal, enticing them to buy more.
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.
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 dont need or even really want.
This glut of clothing is having effects beyond stuffing our closets. About 10.5 million tons
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 its either turned into rags or fibers, or, if the quality is high
enough, its exported and cycled through a cutthroat global used-clothing business.
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10
15
20
25
30
35
40
10
11
12
13
Determining exactly how much time people spend shopping for clothing isnt simple. The
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
shopping in particular has exploded.
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
didnt necessarily lead to purchases. Browsing is also about research and entertainment.
It is more than just transactional, he says.
The obsession with looking at products, even if no purchase is intended, is especially
prevalent among Millennials, the generation that grew up in the age of the Internet. A
report by the Urban Land Institute concluded that 45 percent of Millennials (called
Generation Y in the report) spend more than an hour each day looking at retail sites. A
series of separate reports on millennials reached similar conclusions: They love to shop,
even if theyre not buyingalthough plenty are buying, too. YouTube haul videos, which
feature mostly teen girls posting their scores from shopping trips, have become so
popular that the bigger names, such as Bethany Mota, are now bona-fide social media
stars.
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
in compulsive buying. The authors concluded that postmodern consumer societies
create an atmosphere which supports the rise of compensatory and compulsive
buying.
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
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.
Shopping therefore becomes a quick fix, as she puts it, for other problems.
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
Tidying Up, has led to whats been described as a cult of decluttering, with her acolytes
boasting of shedding piles of clothing.
Lets take a breath here. Residents of industrialised societies are not all doomed to
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45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
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
doesnt necessarily mean youre searching for your identity in a pair of pants, or that
youre 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. Its no longer just a transaction, a way to
procure necessities or luxuries, but rather has become an end in itself. Its a leisure
activity, much like watching TV. Its consumerism as entertainment.
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90
95
1. Explain in your own words as far as possible how clothes shopping is much like
social media (line 3). [2] (PARAPHRASING)
Like social media, clothes shopping
is
a widespread pastime,
a. a common/popular
ALSO ACCEPT:
an activity one can engage in at any
time/anywhere
an activity that is always
available/accessible
an activity that many people engage
in
(Clothes shopping is)
everywhere/ever
present/omnipresent/prevalent
(problematic expression, though)
c. absorbing/compelling/compulsive/
habitual leisure activity
ALSO ACCEPT: an activity that we are
hooked on/we find impossible or difficult
to stop engaging in/we cannot do
without/we find irresistible/keeps us
wanting more
DO NOT ACCEPT: develop an attachment
to
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2. Explain in your own words as far as possible what the writer means by hedonic
treadmill (line 9). [2] (EXPLAIN WHAT THE WRITER MEANS/PARAPHRASING)
Consumers run the risk of ending up on a
hedonic treadmill in which
the continuous pursuit of new stuff
leaves them unhappy and unfulfilled.
ANSWER I:
a. The relentless/never-ending
consumption of new stuff [1]
b. leaves
consumers dissatisfied/discontented. [1]
ANSWER II:
a. The relentless/never-ending
consumption of new stuff [1]
b. does not make us happier or more
satisfied/contented [1]
3. Explain the writers use of the word engineer (line 20). [1] (USE OF LANGUAGE)
If seeing items you want and getting a
bargain both elicit waves of shopping joy,
you couldnt engineer a more pleasurable
consumer culture than the modern,
globalized West.
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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)
(b) for their
unethical/despicable/unscrupulous
practice of copying/imitating clothes of
high fashion brands. OR
for their
unethical/despicable/unscrupulous
practices OR
for copying/imitating clothes of high
fashion brands. (CONTEXT)
NOTE: knocking off high-end designers
can be lifted
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
ALSO ACCEPT: sell clothes that are alike
superficially similar to the original
to/are identical to/ are the same
at a small fraction of the cost, and as/imitate/replicate/resemble clothes of
theyre priced lower than the rest of the high-end designer brands
market, making their products feel like a
a(ii) and sell them at an extremely low
bargain.
price, [1]
NOTE: Both (i) and (ii) must be correct to
secure the mark
To facilitate the frequent markdowns
they offer, several now inflate their initial
retail prices. Theyre able to protect their
margins and let customers believe
theyre getting a deal, enticing them to
buy more.
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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
getting cheaper for decades,
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor NOTE: Candidates can lift prices
Statistics Consumer Price Index shows
that
clothing
prices
have
generally decreased.
ever since apparel manufacturing
started moving to developing countries,
where production costs are significantly
lower.
The spread of fast-fashion chains has ii. The presence of fast fashion labels
also helped spur the process.
is growing.
ALSO ACCEPT: the opening of more/new
fast fashion stores
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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8. In paragraph 7, what conclusions can be easily made and what are not, when
studying the consumption patterns of Americans? [2] (IDENTIFICATION)
The conclusions that can be easily made
are
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 isnt 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)
A series of separate reports on
millennials reached similar conclusions:
They love to shop, even if theyre not
buyingalthough plenty are buying, too.
YouTube haul videos, which feature
mostly teen girls posting their scores
from shopping trips, have become so
popular that the bigger names, such as
Bethany Mota, are now bona-fide social
media stars.
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widespread pastime
a
powerfully
pleasurable
sometimes addictive activity
and
powerfully pleasurable
(sometimes) addictive activity
cheap,
endlessly
entertainment
available
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
Material from text
Suggested Answer
is (a) possibly
(b) caused/encouraged by or due
to the Internet
We shop compulsively
DO NOT ACCEPT:
affected by
technology
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It is a
(a) convenient/expedient/temporary/
superficial (b) solution/ remedy/ to our
problems.
escape/distraction
Section 2: the backlash against mindless overconsumption
trendyline
trendyline
just)
19 or a way to procure necessities or
luxuries
(l93-94)
20 but rather has become an end in itself. People shop for the sake of shopping.
(l94)
21 Its a leisure activity, much like
watching TV.
(l94-95)
They find
it relaxing/enjoyable/satisfying.
1m
3m
5m
7m
3-4 pts:
7-8 pts:
11-12pts:
15pts and above:
2m
4m
6m
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]
Point From Passage
The Internet and the
proliferation of inexpensive
clothing have made
shopping a form of cheap,
endlessly available
entertainment (Paragraph 1)
Evaluation
WHY I AGREE
The internet has indeed made clothes shopping
more accessible to consumers. (EVALUATION)
People are able to browse through arrays of
clothing at any time of the day as long as they
have an internet connection, unlike physical retail
shops where shopping is restricted by specific
operating hours. (ELABORATION)
In Singapore, online shopping is an activity easily
available to majority of the population as 88% of
Singaporeans have access to the internet in 2014
according to the Infocomm Development
Authority Singapore.
From established international brands like
Forever21 and ASOS to local online shops like Love
Bonito and Her Velvet Vase, Singaporeans now
have no lack of choice when it comes to buying
affordable and fashionable clothing.
(EXEMPLIFICATION)
Online shopping websites have also burgeoned over
the past few years, giving rise to fiercer competition
between clothing brands. (ELABORATION) It is no
wonder the prices of clothes have fallen given that
supply has increased dramatically. (EVALUATION)
Sale gimmicks employed by online shops to
increase sales have also led to significant savings
for consumers. (ELABORATION)
For instance, retail giants like H&M and
Abercrombie and Fitch provide online coupon
codes which consumers can use to enjoy
discounts. (EXEMPLIFICATION)
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 Forever21s clothing is
ludicrously expensive US$50 worth of purchases
would cost US$48 to ship to Singapore which is
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WHY I DISAGREE
Admittedly, it would be too far-fetched to claim that
shopping does not bring us any happiness; it does,
though the sense of satisfaction derived from retail
therapy is transient. (EVALUATION)
In Singapore, people work extremely long hours.
To reward themselves for a hard week or months
work, they shop, and they normally get something
expensive (or more than what they would usually
pay for) to make up for the physical and mental
ordeal they go through, which they call work.
They buy yet another luxury watch or designer
handbag also to earn some bragging rights.
Photos of their latest purchases posted on
Facebook and Instagram would invariably garner
the coveted likes and comments of envy. These
can be gratifying until reality sets in (well, work
beckons) and the cycle continues.
(ELABORATION/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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WHY I AGREE
Without a doubt, the mall-shopping experience is
designed for maximum comfort, convenience and
service to be enjoyed by the customer.
(EVALUATION)
Air-conditioning to beat the heat outside; bright
lights highlighting exciting retail displays; music to
set the atmosphere, encouraging patronage from
the desired type of clientele; easy access to
transportation, entertainment and food so that
the shopping experience is one continuous stretch
of ease and comfort without interruption. It is no
surprise, then, that Singaporeans love to shop
and actually buy things while theyre at it.
Mall design aside, product offering is also key to
an enjoyable shopping experience. This is why
Singapore is widely touted around the world as a
shoppers paradise. In terms of mall design and
product offering, the shopping experience here is
as close to mall-shopping in the West as the
neighbouring region can get. The astounding
variety of brands available in Singapore, not to
mention the relatively more affordable prices
(thanks to our lower import taxes), is unrivalled in
Southeast Asia, attracting tourists from Malaysia,
Thailand and Indonesia by the hordes to do their
shopping here. (ELABORATION &
EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
While the consumer culture is engineered to induce
satisfaction, ultimately getting people to shop to
their hearts 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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WHY I AGREE
Unless one has pockets as deep as those of Jamie
Chua, a Singapore socialite whose impressive
Hermes Birkin collection would even make Victoria
Beckham swoon with envy, almost everyone wants
the best value for their money. This explains why
low-end and mid-range brands like COS, H&M, Zara
and Massimo Dutti, which copy high-end fashion
and sell it for only a mere fraction of the original
price, are doing roaring business worldwide.
(EVALUATION)
Singapore may be one of the most affluent
countries in the world, but her people are
also highly pragmatic. The majority of
Singaporeans, while indulging in an occasional
Chanel 2.55, do not shop at luxury boutiques on a
regular basis. They prefer seeking out sartorial
bargains at the likes of Zara where they can look
like a million dollars without actually burning a
hole in their pocket. Packed stores during the sale
season are a testament to Singaporeans love of
all things cheap and good. (ELABORATION &
EXEMPLIFICATION)
WHY I DISAGREE
While fast fashion looks like it is here to stay, high
fashion is becoming a rising trend, as income
increases and sartorial taste becomes more
sophisticated. While low-end to mid-range fashion
brands will continue to dominate the wardrobe of
the man on the street, the middle class are turning
to luxury brands mostly for the prestige factor
snapping up bags, shoes and accessories, even at full
retail prices. (EVALUATION/ELABORATION)
Although most luxury brands, with the exception
of Chanel, Goyard, Hermes and the like, hold end-
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WHY I AGREE
The prices of clothes have indeed been falling over
the years (EVALUATION), as many producers
outsource production to developing countries like
China and Thailand where costs are much lower.
Furthermore, cheap clothes can be easily
purchased via online shopping platforms like
Taobao that sell relatively inexpensive clothing.
(ELABORATION)
We have also been growing more affluent
(EVALUATION), thanks to our rapid consistent
economic growth over the years since our
independence. (ELABORATION)
It indeed becomes easy to make unnecessary and
mindless purchases when the value of such
purchases is deemed to be insignificant.
(EVALUATION)
Research agency Frost and Sullivan says Singapore
was the largest e-commerce market in South-east
Asia last year, generating revenues of US$1.7
billion (S$2.1 billion). This is confirmed by a recent
survey of shopping habits here by Japanese ecommerce giant, Rakuten. (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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WHY I AGREE
There is no denying that the internet is fast
becoming an integral part of our lives we depend
heavily on it for news and information, interpersonal
communication and of course, shopping.
(EVALUATION)
Due to the hectic pace of life today (Singaporeans,
work an average of 2402 hours a year, the longest
in the world), many do not have the time to trawl
malls in pursuit of sales and good buys and hence
embrace the convenience of online shopping. This
enables them to find good buys without having to
jostle with the crowds as well as lug their
purchases home as the purchases will be
delivered to their very doorstep.
Younger shoppers also want more unique clothes
to stand out from the masses. As a result they
turn to online shops that have varied options as
well as those who have more eclectic tastes such
as vintage and antique clothes. Many seek out
stores such as Etsy and eBay for vintage fashion.
In addition, with the changing diet as well as
lifestyle choices available today the average
Singaporean no longer fits the petite stereotype.
A more Western and global diet has resulted in
average body sizes expanding. According to Straits
Times, the average female in Singapore is a UK 12
which is equivalent to the beginning of the plus
size range. In spite of that, many retailers are
catering only to smaller sized women. Only a few
do Dorothy Perkins, H & M, River Island. Many
plus-sized women (and men) are hence seeking
out online options, such as Forever21 Plus, Asos
Curve, The Curve Cult, where size options are
almost limitless. Emotionally, it is also less
degrading for plus-sized shoppers to purchase
online as they no longer need to be told in the
face that the store does not cater to plus sizes or
humiliation when sales assistants their size behind
their back.
Online retailers are also aggressively promoting
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trendyline
WHY I AGREE
Of late, the slow fashion movement has been
steadily gaining momentum in many societies
around the world, including Singapore.
(EVALUATION)
As people are more educated today and more
aware of global issues and environmental issues,
they have started to realise that the shopping
culture is affecting the environment and the
livelihood of the poor workers in developing
countries and sought alternatives that are more
eco-friendly, such as secondhand clothes or
clothes that made of recycled materials.
(ELABORATION)
There are more eco-friendly brands emerging in
Singapore such as H & M Conscious, Biro, Honest
etc.
H&M is also the first fashion company to have a
garment collecting initiative. Collecting boxes are
placed at every cash point in all their stores,
receiving unwanted pieces of any brand which will
eventually be re-worn, reused or recycled. This is
part of H&M's ongoing efforts to promote
economic, social and environmental sustainability.
It is ranked as 64 on the Global annual list of 100
of the most sustainable companies in the world.
This shows how fast fashion need not necessarily
harm the environment. (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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8807/2
Higher 1
Paper 2
28 Aug 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
ANSWER BOOKLET
/35
Language
/15
TOTAL
/50
[Turn over]
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For
Examiners
Use
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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Explain the phrase to fight like stray dogs over a dustbin (line 31).
For
Examiners
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]
8
[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]
10
[1]
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11
Using material from paragraphs 7 to 9, summarise what the authors have to say about
the harmful effects of loneliness on people.
For
Examiners
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.
How far would you agree with their observations? Relate your arguments to your own
society.
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For
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
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
precede it? To me, it is obvious. This is the Age of Loneliness.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 selfmedication 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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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.
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?
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
75
would need, on average, about 25% more money.
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
Hobbess 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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What:
Paraphrased / Inferred
3. In paragraph 3, what do the words just as tell you about the effect of the epidemic on older
people? [1]
Lifted from passage
Paraphrased
Loneliness just as great an affliction of Loneliness is as much a source of misery/
older people (line 14)
hardship/ suffering for the elderly/ same extent
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]
Lifted from passage
Paraphrased / Inferred
People travel by car instead of buses
a. Choices that people make in their daily lives /
use YouTube rather than the cinema (line Our daily preferences/ change in peoples
behaviour
20)
b. have shifted from a group setting to an
individual setting / become more individualistic/
increasing social isolation
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5. Explain the phrase to fight like stray dogs over a dustbin (line 32). [2]
Lifted from passage
Paraphrased / Inferred
to fight like stray dogs over a dustbin (line a. In the struggle for survival,
32)
b. we regard others as competitors.
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)
Lifted from passage
as national incomes rise, happiness does not
rise with them. Aspiration, which increases
with income, ensures that the point of arrival,
of sustained satisfaction, retreats before us.
(line 40-41)
Paraphrased / Inferred
a: It seems contradictory that happiness does
not increase with salary/wages. (focus is on the
contradiction)
b: Yet, the truth is that as our salary increases,
the increased ambitions that come along with it
cannot be fulfilled leading to happiness
becoming elusive. (focus is on the reasoning)
7. What does the word assailed in line 74 tell us about how loneliness affects the rich? [1]
Inferred from passage
strongly affected / troubled greatly/ more troubled/ overcome/ affect deeply
Note: idea of strongly is necessary for awarding of mark.
As long as the degree is shown, award the mark.
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9. What are the authors opinion about schemes like Men in Sheds and Walking Football in line
82? [1m]
Lifted from passage
Yes, there are palliatives, clever
delightful
Paraphrased / Inferred
and They do not think that they are the solution/
Do not tackle the root cause/
Appear to be impressive or effective but are not
Or any other sensible answers.
10. Why is Hobbes mentioned again in the first line of paragraph 12? [1]
From the passage
(Para 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.
(Last
Paragraph)Hobbess
pre-social
condition was a myth. But we are entering a postsocial condition our ancestors would have
believed impossible. Our lives are becoming
nasty, brutish and long.
Paraphrased / Inferred
It is to give a sense of continuity (begins and
ends with a reference to Hobbes)
Or
While the authors disagreed with Hobbes claim,
Hobbes is mentioned again to show that the
claim may become true/ To show that the claim
was untrue in the past but seems to be valid
now. (possibility of claim becoming true must be
shown or that it was untrue in the past.)
(Note: Do not accept answers which only states
that the authors want to debunk Hobbes claim/
the authors want to reinforce their stand that
they disagree with Hobbes.)
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
#
1
2
3
4
Lift
nearly twice as likely to die
prematurely as those who do not
suffer feelings of isolation.
a lot more worrying for your health
than obesity.(FOCUS IS ON
COMPARISON TO OTHER
MEDICAL CONDITIONS).
more pressing for the elderly
the lonely elderly was adversely
affected in developing their
resilience
OR
and their ability to bounce back
after adversity
Lines Paraphrase
46
Cause of early death/ more prone to early
death.
47
48
50
to recover from
50
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Lift
53
Leads to physical
complications
56
We see more
ailments/illness
unequal societies
58
58
60
10
62
11
63
12
self-obsessed
63
13
14
fear rejection
15
16
17
18
19
20
Lines Paraphrase
cases
health
of
issues
psychological
OR
65
66
66
67
Marks Awarded
1
2
3
4
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8
9- 10
11-12
>13
5
6
7
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)
#
Point
Agree/ Disagree
Ex
Eg
Agree
Ex
Loneliness is becoming a major cause for mental
health concerns in highly urban or developed
societies, potentially leading to disorders or even
premature deaths.
E.g.
A 2009 - 2011 NUS study commissioned by the
Ministry of Social and Family Development found that
loneliness shortens the lifespan of the elderly, with
data showing that those who professed to be lonely
were found to have died within 2 years of the initial
interview. Also, according to Singhealth, social
isolation leads to lowered immunity and increased
possibility of medical conditions such as cancer and
heart disease.
Agree
(Mental health
disorders)occur more
frequently in unequal
societies where lonely
people are often left behind."
E.g.
As one of the most competitive nation in Asia,
Singapore makes for a highly individualistic, selfcentred society which prizes getting ahead of others
over empathy and camaraderie today. This is evident
in our 'kiasu' culture, which sees the young and old
inadvertently forgo the creation of genuine or deep
emotional bonds with family, peers and community in
their pursuit of success in academics, career and life.
Ex
Feelings of loneliness are elicited from social isolation
common in competitive and individualistic societies,
leading to mental illnesses such as depression and
even suicide.
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Disagree
Ex: Competition and individualism do not necessarily
enforce and celebrate social isolation. The authors
simply assume that all forms of competition are
unhealthy when in fact competitions can come in
various forms and manners with desirable
consequences.
Competition
can
promote
collaborative effort where people work with one
another. Competing against other groups also
engenders bonding rather than isolation.
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Disagree
in
Singapore
Agree
Ex: People turn to television to curb their loneliness.
This is especially so in Singapore for the Pioneer
Generation living on their own. For this particular
group, the television is arguably more ubiquitous than
the internet. Furthermore, this is user-friendly to the
tech-illiterate.
E.g. The TV is also able to entice since MediaCorp is
rather established in its programmes for the Chinese
speaking community.
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Raffles Institution
2015 Year 6 Preliminary Examination
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
Candidates Name
CT Group
GP Tutor
GENERAL PAPER
Paper 2
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
8807/02
31 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/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.
1.
From paragraph 1, what is the authors purpose in sharing her personal experience?
For
Examiners
Use
.......[1]
2.
How do the two questions in line 3 demonstrate the authors 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]
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For
Examiners
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 womens new approach
towards housework?
..
...... [1]
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For
Examiners
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 authors intention in saying this?
..
...... [1]
9.
What do lines 38-41 suggest about how men and women see their contributions to
housework?
..
...... [1]
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10.
Suggest one reason why the author ends the passage with the sentence Just ask the
Finnish mothers. (line 85)
For
Examiners
Use
..
...... [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.
Mothers get stuck with micromanagement because ...
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.....[8]
No of words: ___________
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12.
For
Examiners
Use
Judith Shulevitz argues that mothers play more of an active role in their childrens lives than
fathers. How far would you agree with the authors views? Relate your views to both you
and your society.
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
6
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..
.... .
For
Examiners
Use
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
.... .
..
..
[10]
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BLANK PAGE
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Raffles Institution
2015 Year 6 Preliminary Examination
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Higher 1
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
31 August 2015
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
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Judith Shulevitz writes that child-minding duties are not equal between mothers and fathers.
1
Theres 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? Wholl make sure hes wearing his little socks?
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
parent more obsessed with the childrens hosiery is the one wholl make sure its in stock. And the
shouldering of that one task can snowball into responsibility for the whole assembly line of childminding. She who buys the bootees will surely buy the bottle washer, just as shell probably find the
babysitter and pencil in the class trips. I dont mean to say that shell be the one to do everything, just
that shell make sure that almost everything gets done. Sociologists sometimes call the management of
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.
I wish I could say that fathers and mothers worry in equal measure. But they dont. 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
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 womens equality in the workplace.
Its 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
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
school paying attention at that level, says the social psychologist Francine Deutsch, author of
Halving It All: How Equally Shared Parenting Works.
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
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 were
overscheduling the children, but dont seem to realise that were 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, its mothers who perform the behind-thescenes labour that makes kids sports and other pursuits possible.
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
with their spouse, while two-thirds of the women said they were the one in charge.
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
combined less than working women do (3.4 hours a day).
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40
45
One reason women like me get stuck with the micromanagement is that we dont 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.
As long as the phrase he helped is used, says Dr. Smock, we know we have not attained gender
equality.
No matter how generous, helping out isnt sharing. I feel pinpricks of rage every time my husband
fishes for praise for something Ive 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
researchers that having to answer for the completion of domestic tasks stresses them out more than
any other aspect of family life, I suspect theyre not always willing to cede control.
Ive definitely been guilty of maternal gatekeeping rolling my eyes or making sardonic asides when
my husband has been in charge but hasnt pushed hard enough to get teeth brushed or bar mitzvah
practice done. This drives my husband insane, because hes a really good father and he knows that I
know it. But women cant help themselves. They have standards, helicopter-ish though they may be.
10
11
12
50
55
60
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 theyre judging us.
65
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
were 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
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!
75
15
All this may change as men as well as women chafe against the lengthening and increasingly
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. Its about time things
get easier when Mom and Dad feel happier looking after junior. Just ask the Finnish mothers.
80
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85
BLANK PAGE
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
1. From paragraph 1, what is the authors purpose in sharing her personal experience? [1]
From the passage
Theres 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? Wholl make sure hes
wearing his little socks?
Inferred
Note: Must have both points a and b
a
Mark
1
Function/Intention
To introduce the issue
To engage/get the reader to think
about the issue of
To connect with the reader/establish a
rapport with the reader
Context/Explanation
of mothers
minding
anxiety
about
child-
2. How do the two questions in line 3 demonstrate the authors excessive anxiety? [1]
From the passage
But who will keep him in socks? Wholl make sure
hes wearing his little socks?
Inferred
Focus: content of her questions
They reveal her
something trivial.
anxiety
by
Mark
1
asking
3. And the shouldering of that one task can snowball into responsibility for the whole assembly line of
child-minding. (lines 6-8)
i.
ii.
a
b
Paraphrase + Inferred
It suggests that bearing responsibility
for one task
Mark
1
Inferred
Both
are
routine/repetitive/mundane.
equally
Mark
1
OR
Both involve different/many things
being put together.
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
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]
From the passage
scatter her focus on what she does for pay or
[distracting grind of apprehension and
organisation]
clean off a career path
a
b
Re-exp
Her ability to pay full attention at work is
compromised/She cannot pay attention
to her job
and
this
also
destroys
her
professional/job prospects. OR This
limits her access to certain job
opportunities.
Mark
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
In the United States today, more than half of
all women work, and women are 40 percent
of the sole or primary breadwinners in
households with children under 18.
Re-exp
Expectation (Work)
a
Mark
1
Reality (Domestic)
6. What does this insertion in parentheses (lines 22-24) reveal about womens new approach towards
housework? [1]
From the passage
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).
Inferred
It shows that women have also learnt to be
less
attentive/less
obsessive
about
housework.
Mark
1
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
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
We fret that were overscheduling the
children,
but dont seem to realise that were also
overscheduling ourselves.
Inferred
If
mothers
worry
about
excessively/over-planning their
lives,
Mark
1
planning
childrens
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]
Inferred
The author intends/wants to reinforce/show
the inequality of gender roles in family duties.
Mark
1
9. What do lines 38-41 suggest about how men and women see their contributions to housework? [1]
From the passage
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 with their spouse, while
two-thirds of the women said they were the one
in charge.
Inferred
This suggests that men and women both
overestimate their contribution.
Mark
1
10. Suggest one reason why the author ends the passage with the sentence Just ask the Finnish
mothers. (line 85) [1]
From the passage
Its about time things get easier when Mom and
Dad feel happier looking after junior. Just ask
the Finnish mothers.
Inferred
To show how they are enjoying
fruits/benefits of equal participation.
the
Mark
1
Note:
Accept any reasonable answer that includes a
reasonable rationale
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
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]
Mothers get stuck with micromanagement because
Paraphrase
of
being
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
Mark
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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Yr6GPPrelimAnswerScheme
Application Question
12. Judith Shulevitz argues that mothers play more of an active role in their childrens lives than fathers.
How far would you agree with the authors views? Relate your views to both you and your society.
[10]
Points to raise:
Womens 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 childs 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 Movements
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?
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CLASS
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
[Turn over
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2
Read the passage 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
Examiners
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 2021)? Use your own
words as far as possible.
[3]
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4. Explain the irony about how we react to chaos in paragraph 5. Use your own words
as far as possible.
For
Examiners
Use
[2]
5. Explain the authors use of the word conversely in line 42.
For
Examiners
Use
[2]
6. Explain the metaphor of the prison (lines 3840).
[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
Examiners
Use
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.
Our unwillingness to be open to change
[8]
9. Identify which of the authors arguments are supported by the illustration of the boxes
in the first and last paragraph.
[2]
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5
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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For
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
Use
[10]
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BLANK PAGE
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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
August 2015
Paper 2
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
[Turn over]
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2
Al Kennedy writes about change.
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
stick with Box A. But what gives you the better chance? Should you change or not?
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
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?
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
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.
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
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.
The inability to face changes paralyses us, preventing us from responding
appropriately. We can interpret new situations and new people as unwelcome, if not
threatening, change, which is bad news for how we police crowds, carry out
overseas peace-keeping missions, or treat unfamiliar people. Yet our overreaction
to what feels like chaos can actually produce real chaos, and when we are
overwhelmed by change, we can get so frightened that we forget other humans are
human, and so we behave badly.
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
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
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
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
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.
As individuals and nations, our unwillingness to be open to change can prevent us
from being merciful and finding good solutions. If we cannot have the humility to
imagine that we could become like the homeless man in the street (or to imagine
that he could become like us), we need not try to make the world safer as he is
beyond help. Even when we convince ourselves to help, we usually cling to familiar,
failed templates. Nations are as inflexible as possible in worryingly fluid situations.
How easy it is for governments and personnel-in-combat to avoid subtleties and
imaginative solutions, and choose to rely on old, failed strategies. If the international
community can offer something better something truly beyond self-interest that
would be a beautiful change.
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
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
of the three. Box B was empty. Now we can stick with A, or change to C. But should
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40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
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
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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85
Paraphrase/
Inference
He
is
giving
you
the
possibility
of
your
hearts
desire/happiness/the
contents
of
the
box,
but
he
is
making
a
game
out
of
your
hearts
desire/
the
odds
are
stacked
against
you/
there
is
the
possibility
of
choosing
wrongly
and
bringing
it
upon
ourselves/
choosing
wrongly
2. What
does
the
author
mean
when
he
describes
reality
as
binary
(line
13)?
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[2]
From
text
binary
Without
the
status
quo,
there
will
be
chaos
and
war
Paraphrase/
Inference
He
means
that
there
are
only
two
possible
options:
things
remain
the
same
or
they
are
in
discord/
disarray/
conflict.
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]
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
People
like
me
tend
to
[A1]
ignore
the
A1.
We
disregard
the
prospect
of
possibility
of
positive
change.
We
are
things
becoming
better,
OR
inclined
to
[A2]
think
that
things
will
A2.
think
that
things
will
remain
the
same.
continue
the
way
they
are
forever
and
ever,
and
that
[B]
whatever
we
do
will
not
make
much
of
a
difference
in
the
larger
B. We
do
not
think
that
we
can
scheme
of
things.
The
poor
will
always
be
make
a
change
to
how
things
with
us,
and
[C]
human
suffering
in
the
are
C. and
think
that
social
problems
form
of
poverty
and
hunger
is
systemic
and
unchangeable,
an
aspect
of
the
are
ingrained/
inherent/
landscape
we
live
in.
In
this
way,
our
perpetuated
by
institutions
and
inability
to
accept
the
possibility
of
change
governments.
(not
present)
can
make
us
cruel:
[D]
the
homeless
man
D. (implied)
This
makes
us
ignore/
wandering
in
the
street
is
inevitable
and
a
be
apathetic
about
real
people
fact
of
life.
who
are
facing
hardship.
1-2
points
for
1
mark
3
points
for
2
marks
4
points
for
3
marks
Get PSJ Private Tutor to Guide you through Exams Now!
Contact www.privatetutor.com.sg
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4. Explain
the
irony
about
how
we
react
to
chaos
in
paragraph
5.
Use
your
own
words
as
far
as
possible.
[2]
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
Yet
our
overreaction
to
[expectation]
what
feels
like
chaos
can
We
think
that
when
we
respond
to
[A]
what
we
actually
produce
real
perceive
as
chaos,
[B]
we
are
actually
solving
it,
chaos,
[reality]
but
what
we
are
doing
is
to
[C]
create
a
chaos
that
was
not
there
in
the
first
place.
A
+
C
=
1
mark
B
+
C
=
1
mark
A
+
B
=
0
marks
A
+
B
+
C
=
2
marks
5. Explain
the
authors
use
of
the
word
conversely
in
line
42.
[2]
Being
without
love
or
novel
interactions
might
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).
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
Conversely
The
author
is
trying
to
show
how
the
reverse/opposite
situation
is
also
true.
(1
mark)
Being
without
love
or
novel
interactions
might
We
not
only
are
unwilling
to
be
awful,
but
we
fear
doing
anything
about
it
pursue
things
we
want
and
do
because
we
do
not
know
what
to
expect
should
not
have,
it
come
our
way.
Conversely,
when
we
are
stuck
in
an
We
are
also
unwilling
to
cut
off
unfavourable
situation,
an
unhappy
marriage
things
that
we
have
but
do
not
for
example,
we
cannot
summon
the
courage
to
want.
rid
ourselves
of
the
thorn,
choosing
instead
to
suffer
many
years
in
silence
(or
not).
Both
points
required
for
1
mark.
6. Explain
the
metaphor
of
the
prison
(lines
3840).
[1]
From
text
Paraphrase/
Inference
Even
when
change-avoidance
forms
(literal)
a
prison,
walking
out
of
the
prison
Just
as
a
prison
traps
us,
can
seem
daunting.
We
cannot
find
it
in
ourselves
to
accept
something
(metaphorical)
new,
even
when
we
are
dissatisfied
being
fearful
of
change
keeps
us
from
with
the
current
state.
progressing
in
life/
trying
something
new.
Both
points
for
1
mark.
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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.
(not
make
us
fearful)
which
cannot
protect
us
when
something
huge
and
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
industriesgood
luck
charms
and
tarot
free/
restrict
our
readingswhich
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
1
point
for
1
mark
must
be
able
to
cope
with
risk.
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]
trendyline
Lifted
As
individuals
and
nations,
our
unwillingness
to
be
open
to
change
can
prevent
us
from
being
[A]
merciful
and
[B]
finding
good
solutions.
If
we
cannot
[C]
have
the
humility
to
[D]
imagine
that
we
could
become
like
the
homeless
man
in
the
street
(or
to
imagine
that
he
could
become
like
us),
we
need
[E]
not
try
to
make
the
world
safer
Even
when
we
convince
ourselves
to
help,
[F]
we
usually
cling
to
familiar,
[G]
failed
templates.
Nations
are
as
[H]
inflexible
as
possible
in
worryingly
fluid
situations.
How
easy
it
is
for
governments
and
personnel-in-
combat
to
[I]
avoid
subtleties
and
[J]
imaginative
solutions,
and
choose
to
rely
on
old,
failed
strategies.
If
the
international
community
can
offer
something
better
something
truly
[K]
beyond
self-interest
that
would
be
a
beautiful
change.
Every
analysis
of
what
makes
happy
people
[L]
happy
demonstrates
their
[M]
ability
to
adapt
fast
and
well
to
new
situations
and
people.
They
are
able
to
roll
with
the
punches
and
[N]
deal
with
seismic
changes
in
their
lives
and
their
surroundings.
They
[O]
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
[P]
not
so
frightened
as
to
[Q]
indulge
in
the
mystical
industriesgood
luck
charms
and
tarot
readingswhich
only
give
[R]
a
false
sense
of
security
[S]and
lock
us
in
with
their
predictions.
OR
To
be
free
is
to
[T]
realise
that
it
is
impossible
to
guarantee
anything
in
this
life.
We
must
be
able
to
[U]
cope
with
risk.
[21
points]
Points
1-2
Marks
1
3-4
2
5-6
3
7-8
4
Suggested
response
Our
reluctance
to
be
receptive
to
change
stops
us
from
being
compassionate
(not
gracious)
and
coming
up
with
effective
answers
If
we
are
prideful
and
refuse
to
believe
that
our
circumstances
could
worsen/
or
that
his
can
become
better
OR
are
not
empathetic
towards
the
less
privileged
we
will
not
bother
bettering/improving
our
society/
helping
others
In
our
attempts
to
help,
we
will
stick
to
the
usual/what
we
are
used
to/
what
we
are
comfortable
with/
what
we
know
(not
comfortable
proposals)
and
this
may
be
ineffective/unsuccessful
/lacking
models.
Countries
will
remain
rigid
in
a
volatile
world
They
will
rely
on
obvious/unrefined
and
uncreative
answers/measures
The
international
community
will
be
selfish/self-
centric.
People
who
are
open
to
change
are
joyful
They
react/adjust
quickly
and
effectively
to
the
foreign
and
can
cope
with
major
changes
They
do
not
resist
changes
are
brave
and
do
not
rely
on
fortune
as
these
only
lull
them
into
believing
they
are
safe
They
are
not
entrapped/confined
They
acknowledge
that
there
are
no
promises
in
life
Happy
people
must
be
able
to
handle
/deal
with
uncertainty/failure
9-10
5
11-13
6
14-16
7
17
+
8
trendyline
9. Identify
which
of
the
authors
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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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
ANSWER BOOKLET
/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
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.
From Passage 1
1. In paragraph 2, explain why guilt may be an understandable response to the host of
problems we face.
.
.
.
. [2]
2. How does the dolphin-safe logo illustrate the importance of individual choice in paragraph
3?
[2]
3. Why does the author use the word but in paragraph 5? Use your own words as far as
possible.
[2]
4. we of course have more power than just our purchasing power. (lines 33-34). What is the
[1]
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For
Examiners
Use
5. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the paradox in lines 35-36.
[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.
Compared to shame, guilt is ....
[8]
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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.
[2]
10. In paragraph 5, explain how guilt and shame maintain morality respectively.
[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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[10]
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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 worlds problems. It is time for more shame.
2 Guilt may be an understandable response to environmental destruction, poor labour standards, animal
cruelty or carbon emissions from budget holiday flights. Its 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
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 antiregulatory 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
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 elses food, those
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.
25
30
7 The guilt that might mobilise a minority to activism has been co-opted and used as a marketing tool to
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.
35
8 It is tempting to think about shame as something Western societies have outgrown. Shaming
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
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
40
trendyline
45
cannot feel guilty. Yet, I believe we need shame now more than ever in this self-promoting and selfindulgent world, and that it is possible to employ shame to serve us in new, larger ways.
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 mountaintop-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.
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.
50
55
60
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
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.
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 Abbotts 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
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.
10
4 And yet in other contexts we are rather conflicted about the cry of shame. You can protest against honour
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.
15
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
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.
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
trendyline
20
25
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
internalisation of shame.
30
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 Youve 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.
trendyline
Inferred
A: The tuna boycott by consumers
led to the dolphin-safe production
of tuna [1]
Key idea: individual choice
influences suppliers actions
B: The dolphin-safe logo allows
the consumers to exercise their
choice to buy only tuna with the
dolphin-safe logo OR to not buy
tuna without the logo. [1]
Key idea: see logo buy or
dont buy?
(Key idea: dolphin-safe, ecofriendly products that do not harm
animals)
Do not accept:
The dolphin-safe logo allows
consumers to exercise their
choice. [0] clear context needed
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3. Why does the author use the word but in paragraph 5? Use your own words as far
as possible. [2]
Text
Paraphrased
A: (function/authors
purpose/intention)
The author is contrasting possibility
vs reality OR
emphasising/highlighting the
limitations of the assumption OR
emphasising the irony of the
situation.
Do not accept:
Rebuttal
B1: (context)
Consumers have the power/ability to
solve/alleviate a vast range of
environmental and social problems.
B2: (context)
However, most of them choose to
persist in their old environmentally
unfriendly habits.
2 or 0 otherwise it wont make
sense/no contrast.
Some form of reference to authors
purpose is okay to get A.
4. we of course have more power than purchasing power. (lines 33-34). What
is the alternative power suggested by the author? [1]
The power of shaming
Answer must encapsulate guilt.
X activism
X positive change
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5. Using your own words as far as possible, explain the paradox in lines 35-36. [2]
Text
The guilt that might mobilise a minority to
activism has been co-opted and used as
a marketing tool to distract that same
minority with easy acts of consumption.
Paraphrased
A. The few who feel that they should
shop ethically [1]
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
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.
Paraphrased
Shaming does not lead to
monetary incentives for
producers.
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]
Ambivalent and contradictory. [1 or 0]
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
Shame, like guilt, is something we often feel we
are better off without. The shame culture is
strongly 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.
Paraphrased
The examples show that
A: shame has led to cruel and
unjust treatment of others [1],
B: even causing deaths [1].
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10. In paragraph 5, explain HOW guilt and shame maintain morality respectively. [2]
Text
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
is possible. 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.
Inferred
A: Guilt makes us change our
behaviour because we know we
are wrong/we are pricked by our
conscience.
B: Shame makes us change our
behaviour/keeps us on our toes
because we are afraid of how
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
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.
Paraphrased
This is because they are
convicted by an omnipresent
God who knows when they
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
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 Youve 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.
Paraphrased
Shaming can be employed to
intimidate others.
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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.
Compared to shame, guilt is
Text
Differences
A Psychologists suggest that
guilt is largely a Western
phenomenon (many
Eastern cultures do not
even have a word for it)
Paraphrased
Main Idea
Western
concept
Compared to shame, it is
also more recent
(Shakespeare used the
word guilt only 33 times,
while he used shame 344
times).
More recent
Conscience
Transgression
of standards
Limited
application
(individuals)
Does not
apply to
groups
(context)
New, larger
ways
Private
emotion
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Positive Change
J (shame is) used to
influence the way groups
even entire industries
behave.
Influence
how larger
(business)
groups
behave/act
Empower the
weak
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-top-removing
coal companies).
(generalised)
It has succeeded in stopping the
profiteering ways of large
companies/industries at the expense
of the environment.
Past success
stopping
corporations
profiteering
ways
Influence
how
countries
behave
(can lift
countries)
(generalized)
from violating the basic rights of
their citizens.
Past success
stopping
countries
violation of
human rights
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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 authors
views convincing and which view is more applicable to you and your society?
Passage 1
Text
Para 3
I could see that the tuna
boycott had been powerful, but
the dolphin-safe logo of 1990,
which eased my conscience,
arose during the antiregulatory 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.
Para 4
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.
Para 5
Only the portion of the industry
that wants to cater to
consumers with consciences
has changed; the rest of the
industry continues to use
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.
Para 6
Although guilt is an
appropriate response to social
Evaluation
Not Convincing:
This largely did not affect our society and we were not
large tuna consumers and the boycott of 1990s of tuna
did not really affect Singaporean consumers choice as
far as tuna was concerned.
Convincing:
But there was concern in other areas especially in the
consumption of Sharks Fin
Not Convincing:
Singaporeans are rather a passive community and do not
see themselves as making a difference.
Most, look to the government to lead the way in the
solving of environmental problems. Singaporeans think
that without government support and encouragement
nothing can be done.
Most Singaporeans are also indifferent or passive.
Consumption is a way of life in Singapore. We do not see
the processes and therefore do not care where or how
the food comes from, we just consume.
Not Convincing:
Those who buy organically grown food are also few.
Singaporeans being practical do not want to pay higher
prices for these goods.
The industry therefore is not at all concerned as there is
no pressure form the consumer. So largely it does not
cater to the small number of activists.
Convincing:
Those who look for the products are environment friendly
are very, very few.
Not Convincing:
In Singapore, where its citizens have been politically
passive, any kind of activism was frowned upon. It had
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Para 7
..used guilt and guiltalleviation products that
engage people primarily as
consumers rather than as
citizens. Guilt tactics have
eclipsed the older strategy,
shame.
Passage 2
Text
Para 1
The act of shaming has in
recent years surfaced in
unexpected places, such as
social media platforms.
find themselves facing trial
by hashtag
Evaluation
Convincing
A valid observation of recent trends of online behavior as
there has been a rise of such acts of online vigilantism
across the world e.g. China human flesh search
engine.
Para 3
Shame, like guilt, is
something we often feel we
are better off without. The
shame culture is strongly
associated with
oppression.
Convincing
Shaming of people who are different can lead to social
discrimination and ostracism in society. On a personal
level, the individual is made to be a misfit or an outcast.
Para 5
Convincing
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.
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Para 8
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.
Convincing
Not convincing
Shame can be relentless, much more so in todays wired
society. Public shaming is corrosive to our social fabric
as netizens grow increasing obsessed with uploading
and criticising even the most frivolous wrongdoing. This
is rather cruel and is no different from bullying.
Para 9
Shame is a strong moral
medicine and, as with any
pharmaceutical, applying the
wrong dose is worse than not
using it at all.
Convincing
The use of shame to correct any form of misdemeanour
can be seen as a setback to other important values in
society, such as democracy and freedom of speech etc.
It can also lead to societal backlash and undermine a
countrys s global image.
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Name:
Civics Group:
GP Tutor:
GENERAL PAPER
Paper 2
Insert & Question Paper
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.
8807/02
Friday 14th August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/17
Summary
/8
Application
Question
/10
Content
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
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Read the passage in the insert 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
Examiners
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. 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]
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]
3. Suggest how the explosion of the blogosphere (lines 13 14) has led to an intensified
discussion and debate about sports.
.........................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................
... [1]
4. What does the word so-called (line 19) tell you about the experts?
.....
... [1]
5. In paragraph 3, what are the functions of sports? Use your own words as far as possible.
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For
Examiners
Use
....
....
....
...[3]
6. Explain the authors use of the word presumably (line 28).
.....
.....
...[1]
7. Using material from paragraphs 46 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.
Sports is valuable because ..........................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
... [8]
For
Examiners
Use
.....
.....
.....
.....
... [2]
9. What does the phrase oasis of truth (lines 66-67) suggest about sports?
.....
.....
.....
... [2]
10. Explain the irony in lines 74-75. Use your own words as far as possible.
.....
.....
.....
...[2]
11. In this article, Joshua R. Keefe discusses the functions of sports, its appeal and flaws.
How far do you agree with his observations? Relate your opinions to your own society.
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For
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
Use
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[10]
END OF PAPER
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Name:
CG:
GP Tutor:
GENERAL PAPER
Paper 2
Insert
8807/2
14th August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
Joshua R. Keefe discusses the functions of sports, its appeal and flaws.
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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,
the hero worship of the victors, and the training of youth.
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
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
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.
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
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
uses sports to explore mans 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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 peoples excellence. Coaches have a greater incentive to
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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10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
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.
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
kind of progeny of religion, as a social function that has taken up the slack of religions
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.
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
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.
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
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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55
60
65
70
75
80
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
b) widespread coverage, broadcasting, citizen journalism of
the play,
c) intensity admiration, (great) devotion, great recognition,
reverence, being devoted fans, glorification, high regard,
d) [so long as there is a sense of forward progression, and
there isnt a reference to a micro-session]
teaching, strengthening, preparing, developing, preparing
the young with the necessary skills, guiding,
shaping/moulding/culturing of the young, grooming,
education for the newer generation, the physical preparation
of adolescents,
Do not accept
a1) managing the game, having judges
b) those who manage the publicity of the game, sharing
news of these activities
c) obsession, fanatic fans, devoted towards successes
(wrong subject, winners as role models,
d) practice of the young, lessons for the young, the practice
that young people have to go through, the drills/practices
young people have to go through,
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
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a)
b)
c)
d)
duration
From short segments on radio, sports coverage has
expanded into all-day sports channels.
coverage
Sports used to be covered in traditional media only but
it is now a feature in a range of media
types of sports
Sports coverage has now expanded from a small range
of sports to an extensive range of sports.
nature of discussion
In the past, discussions were based on the game itself
but now, there is contentious/heated
discussion/exchange about the purpose/worth of the
game.
Any 2 ways
There must be a comparison to present the evolution.
There must be a match between the past and present 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
greater accessibility of sports news and information,
OR
more people can create blogs, expressing themselves
freely
such that more people are participating in the discussions.
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
These experts are not widely recognized / not
professionals who are familiar with the analysis of
sports / not fully qualified to provide their views on sports.
OR
They are not as knowledgeable about sports as they
claim to be.
*Sports is a necessary context
Do not accept
mere negation without any context of sports
may or may not be experts in sports understanding of socalled has not been clearly clarified
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5.
In paragraph 3, what are the functions of sports? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]
Lifted
Paraphrased
6.
Explain the author's use of the word 'presumably'. (line 28) [1]?
Lifted
Paraphrased
The author highlights the
likelihood / possibility / uncertainty
OR
people are likely
to find something worthy in sports (necessary context)
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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
(f)
teaches self-control
coaches one to have mastery over himself / selfrestraint /manage ones temper
*Allow for lift of self
*Context of students/school is required
(i)
[INFERRED POINT]
Sports has an economic value
[INFERRED POINT]
Athletes are viewed as goods / no longer regarded as
people.
OR
Sports is increasingly becoming a product to be
bought and sold
(k) intrinsic character building lessons that have
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(l)
(r)
(t)
OR
The viewers become just a crowd. [BOD]
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Marking range:
1 2 points
3 4 points
5 6 points
7 8 points
9 points
10 11points
12 13 points
14 points or more
1 mark
2 marks
3 marks
4 marks
5 marks
6 marks
7 marks
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
Sports has managed to
in a society that is segmented [context is not necessary],
(a) LARGE QUANTITY OF PEOPLE / PARTICIPATION
Sports that allow mass gathering / community to come
together
(b) ACROSS CLASS
Frequently joins people of different walks of life / social
strata together
(c) SHARE COMMON EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
To enjoy similar / communal
emotional encounters
OR
feelings
1 pt = 0m
2 pts = 1m
3pts = 2m
Marks can be awarded simply by identifying the how,
without the context
9.
What does the phrase 'oasis of truth' (line 68 69) suggest about sports? [2]
Lifted
Paraphrased
Sports (necessary context) offers / allows us
(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
EXPECTED:
MEANINGLESS AND SO WOULDNT CONSUME TIME/
EFFORT
ACCEPT ALSO:
EXPECTED
CONSUMES TIME/EFFORT AND SO, WLD BE
MEANINGFUL
ACTUAL
CONSUMES TIME/EFFORT BUT MEANINGLESS
ACTUAL:
MEANINGLESS BUT ALSO CONSUME TIME/EFFORT
However, the loyalties here are capable of fully
occupying us / our hearts / making us waste a lot of
time on them.
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ALL OR NOTHING
Context of loyalties/emotional debates is necessary.
IF IRONY PRESENTED BUT NOT PARAPHRASED.
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CANDIDATES NAME
CLASS
GP TUTORS NAME
GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
27 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
[Turn over
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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.
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.
.
.
[2]
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 2425). Use your own words as far as possible.
.
. [3]
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6 Why does the author use the phrase the most self-aware or enlightened excepted (lines
4041)?
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[1]
.
.
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[2]
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]
10 What is the authors intention in comparing Tolstoys Ivan in paragraph 9 with Bergmans
Block in paragraph 10?
.
[1]
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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.
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.
Failure holds immense importance for human beings because ......
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12
Costica Bradatan argues strongly in favour of failure. How applicable are the authors
observations to you and your society? Illustrate your answer by referring to the ways in
which you and your society regard failure.
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GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
Paper 2
27 August 2015
INSERT
1 hour 30 minutes
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10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
10
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
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
into doing a little good. Ironically, it is the struggle with our own failings that may bring out
the best in us.
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,
utopias are a reaction to the deficits and precariousness of existence. They are the best
expression of what we lack most. Sir Thomas Mores 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.
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
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
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.
We are designed to fail. No matter how successful our lives turn out to be, how smart,
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 Tolstoys Ivan Ilyich expertly
describes the process. Yet Tolstoys 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.
A better model may be Ingmar Bergmans Antonius Block, from the film The Seventh
Seal. A knight returning from the Crusades and plunged into a crisis of faith, Block is
faced with grand failure in the form of a man. He does not hesitate to engage Death headon. 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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50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
11
Bergman the philosopher teaches us a great lesson here. We will all end in failure, but
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
living.
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95
100
Suggested rephrase
It is alluring because human beings are
making breakthroughs in knowledge /
understanding our world at an
unprecedented pace
Lifted Answer
Why should we care? And more
specifically, why should philosophy
care about failure? Doesnt it have
better things to do? (l.1011)
Suggested rephrase
The author asks a series of questions
to stimulate further interest [1] OR
to provoke the reader to think more
deeply about the topic [1] OR
to introduce the role of philosophy in an
interesting manner [1] OR
to pre-empt questions that readers might
have [1] OR
to highlight the importance of failure/
lead the reader to realise that
eradicating failure is not all beneficial [1]
3. Why are the words failures, errors, fallacies and naiveties (line 15) in
inverted commas? [1]
Lifted Answer
Any major philosopher typically asserts
herself by addressing the failures,
errors, fallacies or naiveties of
other philosophers, only to be, in turn,
dismissed by others as yet another
failure. (l.1315)
Suggested rephrase
The words are in inverted commas
to suggest that the opposite is true [1]
OR
to show that they are not really failures
and errors [1] OR
to point out that it is incorrect/inaccurate
to label them as such [1] OR
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4. What is the author suggesting about the nature of philosophy in the last
sentence of paragraph 2? [1]
Lifted Answer
As it were, philosophy succeeds only
insofar as it fails. (l.22)
Suggested rephrase
The author is suggesting that the nature
of philosophy is paradoxical / conflicting/
contradictory. [1]
5. Explain what the author means by saying that failure reveals just how close our
existence is to its opposite (lines 2425). Use your own words as far as possible.
[3]
Lifted Answer
Out of our survival instinct, or plain
sightlessness, we tend to see the
world as a solid, reliable, even
indestructible place. (l.2527)
Suggested rephrase
We are inclined/ predisposed to regard
the world as a secure/ stable/
everlasting/ enduring/ unshakeable
place/ think that nothing can cause the
world to become unsafe/ damaged. [1]
6. Why does the author use the phrase the most self-aware or enlightened
excepted (lines 4041)? [1]
Lifted Answer
Most of us (the most self-aware or
enlightened excepted) (l.4041)
Suggested rephrase
The author uses the phrase
to establish rapport with the readers/ to
make the readers think he is one of
them. [1] OR
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7. Explain the authors use of the word may in line 6364). [2]
Lifted Answer
Utopias may look like celebrations of
human perfection, but they are just
spectacular admissions of failure,
imperfection and embarrassment
(l.6365)
Suggested rephrase
Utopias only appear/seem to be
triumphs of human ideals [1]
but expose/highlight the flaws/ fiascos/
shortcomings and awkwardness/
discomfort/ uneasiness of current
existence/ in reality/ the real world/
current society [1]
8. Why does the author argue that we will be virtually perfect and essentially
dead (lines 7172) if science solves all our problems? Use your own words as
far as possible. [2]
Lifted Answer
we will be perfectly healthy, live
indefinitely, and our brains will
work like computers (l.6970)
but I am not sure what we will have to
live for (l.71)
our being essentially failing creatures
lies at the root of any aspiration (l.73
74).
Suggested rephrase
This is because human beings will be
faultless/ unblemished/ flawless/ have
the best attributes when science solves
all our problems. [1]
(**perfect =0 lifted)
However, this will cause us to lose the
motivation to live/ to have nothing to
strive for/ no goals/ ambition to work
towards. [1]
** Note: Must make explicit link to virtually
perfect and essentially dead
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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]
Lifted Answer
No matter how successful our lives turn
out to be, how smart, industrious or
diligent we are, the same end awaits
us all: biological failure. (l.81)
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. (l.8183)
Suggested rephrase
The author is referring to death [1]
and we ignore/avoid
confronting/discussing the fact that it is
ever present/always there [1]
Lifted Answer
Suggested rephrase
The
authors
intention is
how to approach the grand failure, how
to face it and embrace it and own it
to contrast their differing attitudes
something poor Ivan fails to do (l.87
towards death.
88).
OR
Block is faced with grand failure does to highlight importance of embracing
not hesitate to engage Death head-on
death like Bermans Block instead of
does not flee, does not beg for mercy
trying to avoid it/ fleeing from it like
(l.9092).
Tolstoys Ivan.
** Note: Answers MUST show
comprehension that grand failure refers to
death learning from failure etc = ZERO
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]
Failure holds immense importance for human beings because
From the passage
Suggested rephrase
A1 when it happens, there is an abrupt/
Failure is the sudden explosion of
nothingness into the midst of
unexpected sense of emptiness/ void
existence (l. 34)
in our lives and
A2 we realise that life is/ humans are not
start seeing cracks in the fabric of
being (l. 35)
perfect.
A3 When we have come to terms with
that is precisely the moment, when
properly digested (l. 3536)
this// assimilated/ absorbed/
processed this fact,
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A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
C1
C2
C3
Suggested rephrase
the misfortune of failure becomes
something good/beneficial
The persistent/ continual danger of
failure
makes us appreciate/treasure our
existence/ realise how remarkable/
unusual our existence is
and that we are alive despite the
circumstances/ adverse
circumstances/ circumstances
indicating that it should have been
otherwise.
This knowledge/ understanding gives
us self-worth/ self-esteem/ selfrespect/pride.
Failure has clear/ evident healing/
curative properties,
(inferred) enabling us to come to
terms with reality/ life and
(inferred) stop having a false
perception of self-worth/ an inflated
ego// we realise that we are not as
great as we think.
(inferred) Failure also makes us less
self-centred/ selfish/ egocentric/more
considerate to others/ learn to coexist with others
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Total = 20 points
Mark scheme
12 points 1 mark
3 points 2 marks
45 points 3 marks
Suggested rephrase
failure/ better our performance.
[Note: focus must be on closing the
gap and this point is about society or
humanity in general]
C4
C5
C6
6 points 4 marks
78 points 5 marks
9 points 6 marks
12. Costica Bradatan argues strongly in favour of failure. How applicable are the
authors 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.
Singapores 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 authors 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) - Singapores defense budget will increase by 5.7% in
nominal terms to $9.5b for fiscal year (FY) 2015 ... IHS Janes 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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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).
This observation is definitely applicable and relatable to the Singapore narrative
because our nation was born of failure, and did experience failure in its infancy. This
makes our current success even more amazing to behold.
Independence was thrust upon us because of the failed merger with Malaysia. LKY
famously described the split as a moment of anguish, and his grief is immortalized in
the video recording of his interview with members of the press after the split was
announced. He, and many of the PAP (including Dr Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam
and Mr. Ong Pang Boon), felt that it was a disaster and that separation was not the
right thing to do.
Not only was our independence a result of failure, we still experienced strained race
relations, and the failure to live harmoniously together resulted in race riots in the late
1960s - early 70s after independence.
The knowledge of our uncertain and tumultuous beginnings make for an even more
striking contrast with Singapores considerable economic growth and development
today, as well as her racial harmony. It is something that all Singaporeans can be
proud of.
However, it may not be as applicable in modern day Singapore where anything
other than the absolute best is considered a failure, and the cost of failure is seen
to be high, the perceived enormity of failure may be may be too indigestible
(unacceptable) for people to bounce back from, contributing to the increase in
stress and anxiety related mental issues, and to high suicide rates. There is no
dignity in failure, only shame, and the desire to escape it.
901 people were arrested for attempting suicide in 2014, and the suicide rate has
fluctuated over the years in the 400 range (415 in 2014)
The most recently publicized case of suicide involved a straight-As student committing
suicide because of two B grades at O levels (The New Paper, July 27 2015: Straight A
student commits suicide over O-level results, mum takes her own life months later).
Her perception of herself as a failure because of B grades, her inability to accept less
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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
societys 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 societys 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 authors 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 Alzheimers and she eventually
remembered her grandchildrens 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 authors 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 Singtels 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.
WPs failure in the management of Aljunied Town Councils 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 PUBs 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
BreadTalks 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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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 ones physical and mental faculties are failing.
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H1
CANDIDATES
NAME
CIVICS GROUP
1 4
TUTOR
GENERAL PAPER
8807/ 02
Paper 2
28 Aug 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
TOTAL:
/50
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.
For Examiners Use
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
Sub-total
/ 35
.. / 15
Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions which follow. Note that
up to 15 marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout
this paper.
For
Examiners
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.
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.
..
..
..
..[2]
What are the authors purposes in beginning his opening paragraph with the example of
Gorlitzer Park? Use your own words as far as possible.
..
..
..
..[2]
Explain the authors use of the word flock in line 10. Use your own words as far as
possible.
..
..
..
..[2]
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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.
For
Examiners
Use
..
..
..
..
..
...[3]
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.
..
..
..
..[2]
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Using material from paragraphs 5 - 7 only, summarise the reasons for the change in the
behaviour of todays youth.
For
Examiners
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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........ [8]
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In paragraph 8, what explanations does the author offer for why better behaviour of the
young has not translated into greater happiness (lines 73-74)? Use your own words
as far as possible.
For
Examiners
Use
..
..
..
..
..[3]
What is the author implying by the phrase carefully crafted profiles in line 80?
.[1]
Explain the authors attitude towards the change in youthful tendencies and behaviour
from the phrase Perhaps there has been progress (line 82).
..
..[1]
10 Which phrase in the first paragraph echoes the authors point in the last paragraph
about Berliners not wanting to bring back the decadent past (line 84).
..
.[1]
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11 In this article, Michael Butler makes a number of observations about how youth in
todays Western world are no longer indulgent, aimless and rebellious. How far is this
true of you and the youth in your society?
For
Examiners
Use
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
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..
..
..
..
..
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.........
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...
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[10]
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GENERAL PAPER
TPJC Preliminary Examination
Paper 2 INSERT
8807/02
28 August 2015
1 hour 30 minutes
Michael Butler writes that todays young people are not the unhappy, alienated, violent
failures they are often made out to be...
1
Grlitzer 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.
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 Grlitzer 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.
Similar trends are seen across the Western world. In 2008, Time magazine described 15
Britains 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, Britains 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 bingedrinking 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
Americas teenage pregnancy rate is half what it was two decades ago.
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.
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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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. Todays 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
50
countries people from minorities are less likely to drink or use hard drugs.
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: todays 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
sober places. But todays 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 studentsand of young people in
generalstill 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
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
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 blas about the
consequences. By the late 1980s that generation was giving way to a new group of
parents who waited longer to have children and paid more attention when they did.
55
60
65
70
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.
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
85
build something better.
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2015
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)
From passage
Paraphrased
EITHER
From passage
Paraphrased
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3. Explain the authors use of the word flock in Line 10. Use your own words as far as
possible. (2m)
From passage
Paraphrased
Young people flock here from all Literal meaning : to gather in large numbers at a
over the world
particular location ( 1m)
Figurative meaning :
The young all over the world seem to be lured by
the city night-to-dawn entertainment and
exciting wild happenings,
OR
actually they also came to fulfil serious ambitions
Where the young come to study, through succeeding in studies and careers (1m)
work and boost their creative
careers, not just party.
Few European cities do youth
culture and hedonism better than
Berlin.. the wild appearances
belies reality
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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
an epidemic of violence, crime and
drunkenness ,scared of its wayward
youth
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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)
From passage
Answer
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Summary
5. Using materials from Paragraphs 5-7 only, summarise the reasons for the change in the
behaviour of todays 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
Public
campaigns
to
control
the
young
at
risk/delinquents
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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)
14
15
10
11
12
13
/vices
shelter /livelihood/support
networking/video-watching
enjoyable/relaxing/casual/comfortable
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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:
No of
pts
1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
Marks
1m
2m
3m
4m
5m
6m
7m
8m
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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.
From passage
Paraphrased
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)
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)
From passage
Paraphrased
(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
the profiles may be real but has been heavily
slanted/skewed/tweaked to give the best
impressions rather than showing the mundane
reality (1m)
9. Explain the authors attitude towards the change in youthful tendencies and behaviour
from the phrase Perhaps there has been progress (Line 82) (1m)
From passage
Answer
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 authors point in the last paragraph about
Berliners not wanting to bring back the decadent past (Line 84).(1m)
From passage
Paraphrased
does not live up to its ugly reputation (1m)
Or
a hassle, not a service (1m)
No need to paraphrase, lifting acceptable
Application Question
11.
In this article, Michael Butler makes a number of observations about how youths in
todays 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 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
In Singapore Society, increasing
stress and materialism of a hypercompetitive result-oriented system at
school/work has resulted in
upbringing of children in the hands of
outsiders like maids/childcare
centres/baby sitters/school teachers
from almost infancy due to dual
income family necessitated by high
costs of living and strife for
survival/success leading to poor
parenting or simply not having time
for parenting roles
Long school hours and overwork has
resulted in little precious time for
family -dinners/after work gettogethers/family bonding
Excessive stress in both places has
led to disenchantment.
dissatisfaction/fatigue/burnt-out
generation and severe threat to
family unity/e.g. rise of divorce and
single parenthood
Evidence of increasing trend of
teenage under-aged smoking and
drinking at Clarke Quay areas and
shop-lifting crimes, even more
serious teenage rioting like gang
attacks
Clear trend of teenage pregnancy
and abortions averaging 2,000 +
cases per year
Not applicable
Not really epidemic of violence and
anarchy as SG is very strict on law and
enforcement even for teen crimes ( Amos
Yee supposed out-of-control as
acknowledged by his parents still face the
full and fair impact of the law
Authorities have adopted multi-prong
approach to reduce teenage problemsSexuality education lessons, compulsory
education, tougher policing against
gatherings, enacting of laws banning
consumption of alcohol in public places by
10 p.m. weekdays and ban on sale from 7
p.m. to 7.a.m weekends and over entire
period of public holidays despite the age of
the drinker )
SG Youths are accustomed at a young
age by competition and Kiasu-ness to
compete on merit, those who did not make
the grade have other pathways to success
based on their aptitudes and talents
Most families although working long hours
try to find time for overseas
holidays( school holidays tours are booked
way in advance ,also super-long weekend
like SG 50 ND holidays)
Even weekends, family outings at ECP
and favourite shopping pastimes are
typical family time to make up for the
week.
However, with older teenagers, greater
sense of competiveness is ever present ,
also increasing trend of teenage
depression and counselling by MOE with
additional resources like ECG set-up
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2)
Line 27 -28: The sudden outbreak of restraint is doing havoc to businesses which thrive
off youthful excesses
Applicable
Businesses like clubbing in Clarke
Quay areas have gone bust as they
depend on young crowd of range
like college teenagers and young
working adults, NS boys, etc .
Nightlife scene in SG very volatile
to depend on youthful
patronage/excesses
WHY sudden restraint? Youths are
becoming more educated, growing
up in Asian conservative society
with stricter governance and
penalties for breaking alcohol
curfew, fear of losing out to peers
and wasting time, lure of new
media esp rise of online gaming
and gambling to replace clubbing
and pubbing
Even relatively less harmful vices
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.
Not applicable
Youths are not going to be easily controlled
as many believe they are only young once.
Alcohol and tobacco curb only statutory
control as teenagers can still obtain these
resources if they want to ,
Other new vices like online gambling( until
recently not enforceable but now new law
will come in effect ) have thrived along with
new media,
Addiction to gaming is real among hordes of
teenagers ( with money thrown in) as school
counsellors report more cases
Online businesses promoting excesses
such as targeting youth spending are
thriving, e.g. branded bags for girls, K-POP
products, regular expensive concert tickets
amounting to a few hundred dollars
3)
Line 43- 44: Todays youths by contrast are few in number and are growing up in ever
older societies: the implications
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Applicable
Not applicable
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.
Applicable
Not applicable
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5)
Line 70-71:
a new group of parents who waited longer to have children and paid more
attention when they did
Applicable
Not Applicable
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8807/2
GENERAL PAPER
Monday
1 hour 30 minutes
31 August 2015
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your Name and Civics Class in the spaces provided in the answer paper.
Answer all questions.
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 [
question.
Note that 15 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.
___________________________________________________________________
This question paper consists of 9 printed pages including this page.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
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
55
marriage and even outside of the structure of coupledom entirely.
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.
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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Candidates Name:
__________________________
__________________________
Content
/35
Language
/15
Total
/50
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]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. In paragraph 1, what is ironic about the authors 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]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4.
[2m]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. What do you understand by the authors claim that marriage was originally a business
transaction (lines 22-23)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2m]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. What is implied by the authors 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 authors use of quotation marks for the words right and forever in line 57.
[1m]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
8. What is suggested by the authors statement that marriage is married to its historical
moment (lines 75-76)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2m]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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]
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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]
By the early 20th century, ______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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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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___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
End of Paper
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Possible Paraphrase
2. In paragraph 1, what is ironic about the authors claim that the recent books Staying True, Marry
Him and The Politician are sure to get you in the mood for romance?
[2]
From the Text
Inference
While the author claims that these newly launched books will put one
in the mood for love, it is ironic that the books listed are all about
failed relationships/marriages.
Note: Candidates must give both portions in order to get 2 marks. No
marks given otherwise.
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]
From the Text
Possible Paraphrase/Inference
[2]
Inference
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5. What do you understand by the authors claim that marriage was originally a business transaction
(lines 22-23)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
From the Text
Possible Paraphrase/Inference
marriage was
originally a business
transaction
6. What is implied by the authors claim that remarriage is the most civic-minded thing a man or
woman could do (lines 32-33)?
[2]
From the Text
Possible Paraphrase/Inference
7. Explain the authors use of quotation marks for the words right and forever in line 57?
[1]
Inference
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8. What is suggested by the authors statement that marriage is married to its historical moment
(lines 75-76)? Use your own words as far as possible.
[2]
From the Text
Possible Paraphrase/Inference
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]
From the Text
Possible Paraphrase
10. What does the author imply by the remark We are not all Mark Sanford or John Edwards (lines
84-85)?
[1]
From the
Text
Inference
Not all of us are prone to being unfaithful.
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]
By the early 20th century
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Possible Paraphrase
ideas about/belief in the significance/identity of a
person
Note: Significance/identity is inferred.
b liberty (36)
egalitarianism/parity/similarity in status
to companionate (39)
emotionally, sexually,
psychologically (41,42)
women came to participate more in the
workforce (43,44)
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OR
OR
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
1
810
marks
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8.
9.
10.
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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
2
47
marks
Band
3
13
marks
Band 2
47
marks
Band 3
13
marks
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Candidates Name
CTG
H1 GENERAL PAPER
8807/02
PAPER 2
14 August 2015
1030h-1200h
YISHUN JUNIOR COLLEGE YISHUN JUNIOR COLLEGE YISHUN JUNIOR COLLEGE YISHUN JUNIOR COLLEGE YISHUN JUNIOR COLLEGE
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TIME
1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
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.
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FOR EXAMINERS
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Content
/35
Language
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Total
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[Turn over]
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Sandi Mann is one of the few psychologists to have forayed into the mind-numbing
territoryof boredom. Mann wants to understand the profound effect that boredom may
have on our lives. Its 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, Manns research would also
suggest that without boredom we couldnt achieve our creative feats.
Boredom is such a large part of day-to-day existence that it is somewhat surprising the word
only entered the language with Charles Dickenss Bleak House in 1852. Dickenss study of
Lady Deadlocks 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 dont 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.
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 isnt
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
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.
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.
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?
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 dont 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.
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 Im bored when Im stuck in traffic, Ill put music on and allow my mind to 60
wander knowing that its good for me. And I let my kids be bored too because its good
for their creativity.
10 Eastwood is less enthusiastic about boredoms 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. Im 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 counterproductive, 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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Read the passage 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 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 Dickenss study of Lady Deadlocks 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
Examiners
For
Use
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
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 authors 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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10. Using material from paragraphs 48 only (lines 2657), summarise the drawbacks
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.
Boredom is harmful when
[8]
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For
Examiners
Use
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?
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For
Examiners
Use
For
Examiners
Use
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For
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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]
From the Passage
Sandi Mann is one of the few
psychologists to have forayed into the
mind-numbing territoryof boredom. (lines
1-2)
Answer
It implies that boredom is an area that has
not yet been thoroughly explored by
researchers/ that the research on boredom
is relatively new. [1]
2. Why does Sandi Mann call boredom the Cinderella of psychology in line 3? [2]
From the Passage
Answer
Its 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]
b. (i)boredom is a state of mind that has
been treated as unimportant but (ii)is
now gaining the interest of
researchers for its influence on our
lives. [1]
(essence of answer focuses on the
apparent versus reality; point b is only
awarded if point a is present)
3. Explain what the author means by Dickenss study of Lady Deadlocks 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]
From the Passage
Answer
Dickenss study of Lady Deadlocks suffering a. Dickenss insights into how marital
she is bored to death by her marriage
relations of his fictitious characters can
lead to boredom [1]
would end up pre-empting many of the b. Turns out to have accurately
latest findings. (lines 9-11)
reflected/predicted the outcomes of
recent research on its effects in reality
[1]
4.
According to Eastwood, why had scientists been slow to explore the sensation
(line 12)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
From the Passage
Answer
But perhaps because of its prevalence in a. Since it was a state of being/emotion
our lives, scientists had been slow to explore
so commonly experienced by people,
the sensation.
[1]
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When you are swimming in something, b. scientists did not see the value of
maybe you dont 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 1114)
swimming in something : a situation where
people are so immersed in the issue/
something is so much a part of us
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]
isnt enough of a rollercoaster to hold their
attention. The world is chronically understimulating, 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 Im bored when or at least neutral response.)
Im stuck in traffic, Ill put music on and allow
my mind to wander knowing that its good
for me. And I let my kids be bored too
because its 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 authors 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
irritants [1]
work meeting or family gathering might
seem superficial annoyances,
they could therefore be a symptom of a b. could in fact be manifestations of
crippling,
fundamental
problems
deeper existential crisis and
beyond day-to-day concerns. [1]
OR
requirement
for
long-term
need for fulfilment that extends far beyond c. A
satisfaction that is not being met. [1]
immediate circumstances. (line 75-78)
(contextual use of both superficial and
deeper must be present in the answer)
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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10. Using material from paragraphs 48 only (lines 2657), 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.
Boredom is harmful when
S/ Points/Ideas from the
No passage (Essence of the
point/idea in bold)
Paraphrased equivalent
DRAWBACKS
1
Boredom at work is
propping up the
confectionary industry.
(lines 31-32)
Boredom leads to
BENEFITS
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Paraphrased equivalent
However, boredom
10
...when performing
mindless tasks boost their
creativity such as finding
innovative uses for
everyday objects. (lines
51-52)
11
...tedium encouraged
their minds to wander,
which leads to more
associative and creative
ways of thinking. (lines
52-54)
Boredom actually
l. invigorates/ stimulates the brain to explore which
further develops deeper connections and inventive
methods of the thought processes / inventiveness
in thoughts.
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13
Paraphrased equivalent
Marks
8 marks
11
10
7-8
5-6
3-4
1-2
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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]
Points
mentioned by
the author
Elaboration/
Explanation
Boredom can be beneficialbut 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.
One benefit is
that boredom
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 could
sometimes push
us to take risks
that hurt us
(Para 7, line 43)
By this, he
meant that it
prevents us from
remaining in the
rut or simply put,
always sticking
to old set ways
of thinking and
refusing to
change. Instead
boredom pushes
us to try new
things and seek
new pastures
which might give
us new goals in
life but might
also harm us.
Response
Whether boredom can be a benefit or a bane really depends on what risk is being taken and the
opportunity cost.
Evidence 1
Some old people who feel bored after retirement try new things as a way to pass their time, e.g
learning line dances, taking up singing lessons, learning English and even learning to use the
computer. Some also sign up for short trips out of Singapore.
Evaluation
In the context Singapore, old people, especially the pioneer generation who grew up during a
period of hardship and poverty, their youth and almost their entire life is spent working to raise
their children and providing for them. It being the norm for young couples in Singapore to live on
their own, the old might feel bored and empty and many do seek ways out of this boredom through
registering for Residents Committee activities like learning to sing and going on short shopping
trips to factories and JB. These activities enable the elderly who are often rather set in their ways,
especially those who have never worked in their lives, to meet new people from different
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Points
mentioned by
the author
Elaboration/
Explanation
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Points
mentioned by
the author
Elaboration/
Explanation
We should be
cautious about
looking for an
immediate
escape and we
need to listen to
the emotion and
ask what it is
trying to tell us
to do
(paragraph 10,
line 63)
..looking for
instant
gratification
may be counterproductive(line
68)make us
more bored (line
What is meant
here is that we
should be careful
when we are
bored and
thinking of doing
something to
relieve the
boredom. We
need to ask
ourselves if the
action we are
about to take will
compromise our
security and
result in harm to
ourselves.
Response
True, especially if the escape chosen provides only a short-lived escape and lands you in more
trouble.
Evidence 1
Boredom causes some people to turn to drugs according to the findings by Singapore AntiNarcotics Association. (http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/young-educated-drugtakers-sana.aspx)
Evidence 2
Boredom was also one of the reasons why people start smoking in their adolescent years,
according to Dr Kenneth Chan, a consultant at the department of respiratory and critical care
medicine at Singapore General Hospital. (http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/SGHdoctor-on-smoking-addiction.aspx)
Evidence 3
Daryl Lim Jun Liang,18, was arrested for beating up smaller foreign workers to practise his martial
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Points
mentioned by
the author
71)
Elaboration/
Explanation
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Points
mentioned by
the author
Boredom allows
us to make
leaps of
imagination ,
get out of the
box and think in
different ways
Elaboration/
Explanation
Meaning
boredom makes
us think beyond
what we would
normally do and
stretches our
imagination to
conceive
creative ideas.
Response
This could be true if the energy is directed to the right purposes.
Evidence 1
Derrick Kohs own boredom as a child when learning Math through the electronic learning systems
in the late 90s and early 2000s pushed him to think of how to do things differently. Now the owner
of an education chain in Singapore, he conceived his interactive Math learning portal out of
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
highlights how a
psychologist
Response
It would have to depend on the circumstances and setting/support provided
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Points
Elaboration/
mentioned by
Explanation
the author
argues that
boredom is
good for the
creativity of kids.
(paragraph 9)
Evidence 1
Many students who are bored in class distract others.
Evaluation:
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
mentioned by
the author
Elaboration/
Explanation
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