ASRJC 2023 JC2 GP Prelim Paper 2 Insert New

ANDERSON SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE JC2 Preliminary Examination 2023 ______________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL PAPER 8807/02 PAPER 2 25 August 2023 INSERT 1 hour 30 minutes ______________________________________________________________________________ READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST This Insert contains the passage for Paper 2. ______________________________________________________________________________ This document consists of 3 printed pages and 1 blank page. [Turn over

2 Cassius Arashi discusses the power of information. 1 In the fascinating realm of communication, bees serve as captivating exemplars of the intricate art of how information is shared. Within their buzzing colonies, the se tireless workers have mastered the subtle language of waggle dances and pheromones, creating a sophisticated network for sharing knowledge and coordinating coll ective action which maintains the overall functioning of their colony. Much like these industrious insects, we too, are constantly engaged in the transmission of ideas and insights, allowing us to work together to achieve common goals. As humans, unlike bees, our uniqueness lies in our ability to harness information to innovate and reshape the physical world. By rearranging atoms and creating products, we continually expand our understanding of the world around us. Undeniably, in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, the adage 'information is power' holds truer than ever. 5 10 2 Today’s Internet generation may find it incredulous as to how people in the past could possibly access and disseminate information without the Internet but such scepticism comes from a place of ignorance and possibly arrogance. Whether it was the days of the town crier announcing the decree of the king, or the development of ‘modern’ technology, like television and radio, every generation has its own way of doin g this. Notably, not all media are created equal; they can be so vastly diverse in form, influence, and reach. For example, in print media, books are durable and able to contain lots of facts but are expensive to produce. In contrast, newspapers are comparatively cheaper and quicker to create, making them a better medium for the quick turnover of daily news. Television offers superior visual information, s urpassing radio and static print. It excels in broadcasting live events to a nationwide audience, like the annual State of the Union Address by the U.S. President. Regardless, media remain centralised, with content carefully curated by media organisations, allowing them to control the narrative. In contrast, the new media encourages public discussion of issues and allows nearly anyone who wants a voice to have one. These days, information reaches us from different directions and in multifaceted ways. This creates