2023 NJC H1 General Paper Prelim P2 Suggested Answer Scheme

© National Junior College 2023 NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE 2023 SH2 Preliminary Examination Paper 2 Answer Scheme (Teacher’s Copy) 1. From the examples of Bill Gates and Beethoven in Paragraph 1, what do the aut hors suggest about rituals? Use your own words as far as possible. [2] Lift Paraphrase 1 “more idiosyncratic”, They are implying that rituals practised by successful people are (extremely) unique/ peculiar quirks/ habits/ preferences/ differs from person to person 2 “very particular”, “counted exactly” The precision/ specificity of rituals 3 “power his composing” [Inference] primes/motivates/helps people to achieve their goals. DNA: successful Any 2 points for 2m. Inference should be made from the entire chunk of text including pt 3. 2. In lines 12 - 14, why does the brain “attribute success to something as arbitrary as ” rituals? Use your own words as far as possible. [1] Lift Paraphrase 1 The brain is constantly looking for associations between two events. OR While it is mostly correct, it sometimes mistakes coincidence for causality. The mind is always seeking connections between two occurrences/ happenings. OR But occasionally, the mind erroneously/wrongly assumes that one random event led to the other/ what happened by chance/incidentally is the actual reason for another occurrence.

© National Junior College 2023 3. Using materials from paragraphs 3 - 6 only (lines 19-60); summarise what the authors have to say about the benefits of superstitious learning and why people adopt them. 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] Superstitious learning is beneficial because Lift Paraphrase [Benefits of superstitious learning] 1 By giving us a sense of self- determination… (line 20) it can make us feel like we have autonomy over our lives 2 …can help us to overcome anxiety (line 22) (related idea) We often rely on such rituals when we are anxious (lines 24- 25) and can conquer any unease OR when we are nervous 3 and may even bring about a noticeable boost in performance. (lines 22-23) resulting in a recognisable enhancement/rise/increase 4 which in turn can improve our performance (line 27) in achievements/ accomplishments/ overall effectiveness [Idea of improvement can be credited in EITHER pt 3 or 4. Do not double penalise.] 5 It offers psychological benefits that logic and science cannot always provide (lines 23-24) better emotional/mental well-being/ wellness. 6 …a sense of control (line 24) …produce an illusion of control (line 26)(which in turn can improve our performance - pt4) feeling of power/ that we can take charge in our lives 7 and a sense of meaning (line 24) and purpose DNA: value 8 We (often rely on such rituals when we are anxious or) want to perform well (lines 24-25) Rituals are helpful when we desire to excel/ be successful 9 enhance self-confidence (line 27) We trust ourselves more/ believe in ourselves more/ have greater faith in ourselves / bolsters our self-belief Accept ‘self-esteem’, ‘self-worth’

© National Junior College 2023 10 and thus indirectly affect our fate (line 28) and inadvertently influences our destiny DNA: outcome, results [Why people adopt rituals] 11 implicit learning - the brain ’s ability to non-consciously pick up patterns – can explain why some people are more likely to form superstitious habits (lines 32-33) As our brain automatically/unintentionally identifies trends/repetitions Accept lift for ‘consciously’ (including sub-consciously, unconsciously). DNA: tendency 12 Creative tasks are especially rife with uncertainty (line 36) … adopted to get their thoughts flowing (line 38) [Inferred] Performing rituals allows for assurance/ peace of mind/ sense of stability, allowing for greater focus on the process of creating / so that ideas can come smoothly. Context of creativity must be present. 13 …often find fallacious reasons for their successes and failures. (line 42) People frequently make false inferences/ draw illogical associations for their achievements and downfalls, 14 They will then pass on that advice to their colleagues and students - meaning that others will start to adopt the same arbitrary rules when preparing and submitting papers (lines 43-45) influencing others/ sharing their rituals/ and learn rituals from each other 15 humans are social creatures; we are primed to look to people of higher status for advice (lines 50-51) because we are predisposed to seek guidance from individuals of elevated standing. 16 we have a tendency to “over-imitate” when we learn from others, copying every action they perform, (lines 52- 53) We exhibit a propensity/an inclination to excessively replicate / mimic during the learning process/ every action they undertake, 17 even if there is no obvious logical reason for a particular deed (line 53) despite there being no apparent rationale/ rational justification for a specific action. 18 we simply do not even question the reason for doing something - (line 54) We blindly accept the need for performing an action, without even considering the rationale behind it, DNA: purpose 19 we just assume it must have a purpose (lines 54-55) taking for granted the objective/ and presume/ suppose it has meaning DNA: reason

© National Junior College 2023 20 Given this tendency …we are tempted to take on their idiosyncratic rites and rituals With this inclination, we feel enticed to adopt the habits/ customs of successful people, 21 in the hope that we can somehow achieve the same success (lines 55- 58) wishing that we can potentially attain similar accomplishments. 22 without recognising how many other factors - including sheer chance - would have played a role in their achievements. (lines 58-60) causing us to be blind/ little acknowledgement of various/multitude of other factors , including pure luck, that could have contributed to their accomplishments. 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-14 15 and above 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4. What do the authors imply by using the word “religiously” (line 64)? [1] Lift Inference 1 One 2020 study of Swedish biotech companies found that two CEOs who had come to associate certain marketing strategies with success religiously repeated the same steps in their new start-ups - even though there was no logical reason to think that the specific approach could work again. The authors imply that the two CEOs had replicated the marketing strategies that they assumed were associated with the achievements of other new companies consistently/ habitually / conscientiously 2 blindly// without questioning the process/options/reasons. Both parts needed for 1m.

© National Junior College 2023 5. In line 68, why does Nordman suggest that we should “remain suspicious ” when making decisions? Use your own words as far as possible. [2] Lift Paraphrase Inference 1 “when spurious associations influence high-level decision-making…” When we make crucial/difficult decisions according to/ affected/ guided by our own unsubstantiated line of reasoning/ without rationale… DNA: “important” (lift) Allow lift: “decision” 2 “...superstitious learning may be costly.” This could result in larger implications and consequences / the price we pay could be high. 3 “even though there was no logical reason to think that the specific approach could work again.” The same method will not allow us to succeed again. Any 2 points for 2m. 6. Explain the authors ’ use of parenthesis in lines 69 - 70. [1] Lift Inference 1 Often, however, the rituals that we acquire take very little effort. (There ’s no real harm, after all, in counting your cof