CJC 2023 GP Prelim Paper 2 Answer Scheme

2023 Prelim Paper 2 Suggested Answer Scheme Passage 1 1. What is the author ’s definition of meritocracy in paragraph 1? Use your own words as far as possible. [1m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase that an individual’s position in society should depend on his or her combination of ability and effort. A person’s success/progress/status in society should be based/reliant/contingent on/ defined/informed by a mix/blend of their skills/talent/prowess and hard work/labour. DNA: ‘willpower/determination/ commitment/ contributions/ work’ for ‘effort’ DNA: ‘role’/’value’/’worth’ for ‘position’ (notion of hierarchy or progression is required) DNA: ‘represented by’ for ‘depend’ 2. State three reasons why meritocracy is ‘so popular’ (line 7) to most people today. Use your own words as far as possible. [3m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase First, it prides itself on the extent to which people can get ahead in life on the basis of their natural talents. Second, it tries to secure equality of opportunity by providing education for all. Third, it forbids discrimination on the basis of race and sex and other irrelevant characteristics. Fourth, it awards jobs through open competition rather than patronage a) Meritocracy allows people to progress/succeed due to their innate/inborn skills. DNA: “head start”, “potential” for “talents” DNA: ‘their own’/‘personal’ for ‘natural’ b) It ensures everyone has the same prospects/chances through schooling/dissemination of knowledge. B.O.D.: “give everyone learning resources” c) It disallows unfair treatment/prejudice on the pretext of colour/ethnicity and gender. DNA: “strongly against”, ‘prevents’ for ‘disallows’ DNA: “segregation”, “ostracised”, “exclusion” for ‘discrimination’ d) Jobs are not assigned to people on the grounds of associations/ lineage/family connections/recommendations and to those who

and nepotism have shown support through financial aid, but instead to the best talents/fair challenge. Accept paraphrase of “patronage and nepotism” collectively, through some notion of “privilege”. Any 3 points for 3m 3. Explain the author ’s use of the metaphor ‘palace of illusions ’ (line 22) to describe meritocracy. [2m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase However, some argue that meritocracy is now the opposite of what it was intended to be: a way of transmitting inherited privilege from one generation to another through the mechanism of elite education... This palace of illusions is also a factory of misery. a. (Literal meaning) Just as a palace of illusions promises grandeur / holds great allure but is ultimately false, [1m] Note: notion of ‘grandness’/’greatness’ is required for point A. DNA: ‘delusion’; ‘romanticised’ (by itself) b. (Contextual meaning) meritocracy promises fairness/equality but does not actually deliver on that promise. [1m] Note: ‘Meritocracy’ must be mentioned in answer for point B. The notion of ‘fairness’/’equality’ is inferred from the passage. Other similar ideas can be accepted as well. 4. From paragraph 4: On what basis do meritocracy ’s advocates argue that it does a better job than its alternatives? [2m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase They argue that it does a better job than the alternatives of reconciling various goods that are inevitably in tension with each other – for example, social justice and economic efficiency and They do so by highlighting/stating the premise that a. Meritocracy is able to bring together/ harmonise/ synthesise/ integrate/ accommodate / allow for / strike a balance between / resolve conflict between / seeks agreement between [1m] DNA: “solve problem”/”heal”/ “reuniting”/”reconnecting”/”rebonding”/ “putting together” (values are in conflict) / “joining”

individual aspiration and limited opportunities. b. inherently/naturally/innately/ inescapably/unavoidably… opposing/conflicting/ clashing… value systems/ societal values/ ideologies/goals/aspirations/ideas/ concepts [1m] DNA: ‘undeniably’ for ‘inevitably’ DNA: ‘needs’/’factors’/’aspects’/‘benefits’/ ‘issues’ for ‘goods’ DNA: ‘in contrast’, ‘polarising’ for ‘in tension with’ 5. From paragraph 6: Why does the author mention the fact that women make up more than half of un iversity places in Western countries and Kamala Harris is vice-president of the United States? [2m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase Discrimination on the basis of race and sex is now illegal across the advanced world. Women take up more than half of the places in most Western (and in many emerging country) universities. Kamala Harris, a woman of Jamaican and Indian heritage, is vice-president of the United States, and may well follow Barack Obama to the Oval Office. None of that would have been possible without the meritocratic idea. He does so to a. [Function] strengthen/reinforce/emphasise/underline/highlight his claim OR demonstrate/support/illustrate/prove/provide evidence for the idea (1) DNA: “to show” b. [Context] that bigotry / unfairness / inequity / intolerance predicated on ethnicity or gender is against the law in developed nations OR that meritocracy was instrumental in ensuring that gender or ethnic minorities were treated fairly/ were able to achieve the fairest/ most equitable outcomes. (1) Note: Point A must be attempted for Point B to be awarded. Passage 2

6. According to the author, in what way is meritocracy commonly perceived as an ‘even playing field’ (line 3)? Use your own words as far as possible. [1m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase Politicians across the ideological spectrum continually return to the theme that the rewards of life - money, power, jobs, university admission - should be distributed according to skill and effort. The most common metaphor is the ‘even playing field’ upon which players can rise to the position that fits their merit. Conceptually and morally, meritocracy is presented as the opposite of systems such as hereditary aristocracy, in which one’s social position is determined by the lottery of birth. Under meritocracy, wealth and advantage are merit’s rightful compensation, not the fortuitous windfall of external events. Meritocracy is regarded as an ‘even playing field’ because an individual attains success based on his/her hard work/ability/talent instead of luck. OR Meritocracy is regarded as an ‘even playing field’ because, under it, an individual attains success based mainly/ solely/purely on his/her hard work/ability/talent. OR Meritocracy is regarded as an ‘even playing field’ because, under it, an individual ought to attain success based on his/her hard work/ability/talent. DNA: “skill”/ “effort” / “rise” (lift) 7. From paragraph 2: Why does the author use the word ‘intervenes’ (line 10) to describe the role of luck? [1m] From the passage Suggested paraphrase the belief that merit rather than luck determines success or failure in the world is demonstrably false. This is not least because merit itself is, in large part, the result of luck. Luck intervenes by granting people merit, and again by furnishing circumstances in which merit can translate into success. Many have merit, but few succeed. What separates the two is luck. a. (Meaning) The author uses the word ‘intervenes’ to emphasise/draw attention to luck as an interfering/external/disrupting force DNA: “luck decides” AND b. (Context) which reduces the significance/role of merit in determining one’s success/ doing well (the idea of achievement needs to be clear) DNA: “interferes with system of meritocracy” Both points needed for 1m 8. From paragraph 5: Explain in your own words, the ‘paradox of meritocracy’ (line 26). [1m]

From