2023MIPrelimQP (H1 General Paper 8807_02_INSERT)

Class Adm No Candidate Name: This question paper consists of 3 printed pages and 1 blank page. [Turn over ©2023 Millennia Institute 8807/0 2/PRELIMINARYEXAMINATION/PU3/GP 2023 Preliminary Examination Pre-University 3 GENERAL PAPER 8807/02 Paper 2 12 September 2023 1 hour 30 minutes INSERT READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, class and admission number in the spaces provided at the top of this page. This Insert contains the passage for Paper 2.

2 ©2023 Millennia Institute 8807/02/PRELIMINARYEXAMINATION/PU3/GP Benedict Arnold considers the changing perceptions of loyalty today. 1 At a time when age-old political structures are crumbling, civil str ife abounds, and economic uncertainty surges, loyalty offers us security in our relationships with associates, fr iends, and family. Often revered as a virtue across time and cultures, loyalty is commonly associated with the ideas of unwavering commitment and duty. Epic poems of ancient worlds, t he Mahabharata and Odyssey, boasted stories of loyalty, from Yudhishthira ’s refusal to ascend to heaven without his devoted canine companion to faithful Penelope ’s patient wait for the return of her husband, Odysseus. In feudal systems, loyalty to one's lord or ruler was considered a sacred duty . Religious and philosophical teachings, such as those in Christianity and Confucianism, emphasise loyalty as a moral imperative that encourage individuals to remain steadfast in all their relationships. 5 10 2 Loyalty, however, is a suspect virtue. It is essential for good human social life but susceptible to abuse. It focuses more on persons rather than principles , which often leads to unethical choices and behaviour. In more competitive times, loyalty seems more of a handicap rather than a virtue , particularly at the workplace. Young workers are changing jobs more frequently, some as often as every year. Possessing diverse skills to take on more challenging roles, these work ers seek out better employment in different companies in a perpetual pursuit for higher salaries. Consequently, remaining at the same job is interpreted as incompetence or foolishness – someone who stays is either unqualified to find a better-paying job, or too naïve to think that they w ould be rewarded fairly for their loyalty to the company. Gone are the days of starting and ending one’s career in the same company, which was once seen as a mark of capability and dependability. It is now fashionable to change jobs as soon as one is able. With employers looking for different types and levels of skills, qualifications and attitudes, workers today are literally spoilt for choice, compared to workers in the past. 15 20 3 Many commentators claim that in this time of infinite choice, loyalty is dead. Statistics seem to bear them out – on average, corporations now lose half their cus