4NA SS PRELIMS BLS 2019

2019/PRELIM/4N/SS Name ( ) Class Subject : HUMANITIES (SOCIAL STUDIES) Paper No : 1 Subject Code : 2175/01, 2176/01, 2177/01 Level : SECONDARY 4 NORMAL ACADEMIC Date/Day : 16 AUGUST 2019 / FRIDAY Time : 0800-0945 Duration : 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write all answers in the Answer Booklet. Write in dark blue or black pen. Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer both parts of Question 2. 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. This paper carries a total of 50 marks. BOON LAY SECONDARY SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2019

2 2019/PRELIMS/4N/SS This question paper consists of 7 printed pages and 1 blank page. Section A (Source-Based Case Study) [35m] Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1 Living In A Diverse Society Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the issue to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. (a) Study Source A. What can you infer from the source? [5] (b) Study Source B. Why did Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister made the statement? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Sources C and D. How similar are these sources? Explain your answer. [7] (d) Study Source E. Are you surprised by what Source E says? Explain your answer. [7] (e) How far do the sources show that Paralympians should be given the same reward as Olympians? Explain your answer. [10]

3 2019/PRELIMS/4N/SS Should Paralympians be given the same reward as Olympians? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Joseph Schooling won the first ever gold medal for Singapore in the 100m Butterfly event. He was awarded $1 million under the Singapore National Olympic Council’s Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme. In September the same year, Paralympian* Yip Pin Xiu won 2 gold medals in the Rio Paralympics* and was awarded only $200,000 for each of the gold medals she achieved. This sparked online debates about the difference in prize money. Many Singaporeans felt that the difference in prize m oney is a form of discrimination against the Paralympians. Others have argued that the difference in prize money is justified due to the differing circumstances. *Paralympian – Someone who participates in the Paralympics. *Paralympics – the Olympic games for people with disabilities. Study the following sources to find out if Paralympians should be given the same reward as Olympians. Source A: An image posted on an online forum on 20 December 2016. . Trains twice every day. . Is abled-bodied . Won Olympic gold in 2016 . Trains twice every day. . Suffers from muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. . Won Paralympic Gold in 2008 and 2016 WHY SO DIFFERENT?

4 2019/PRELIMS/4N/SS Source B: An extract from an interview with Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin about rewarding Paralympians published in The Stars Online on 11 September 2016. Source C: An extract of an opinion of a Singaporean sports journalist published on Asiaone, an online news website, on 15 September 2016. Source D: An extract of an opinion from a Singaporean published on an online forum on 24 September 2008. Today, Malaysia is one of the countries in the world that gives the same reward to normal and 'extraordinary' athletes. Three years ago, when I received news of a Malaysian para - athlete who won at the World Athletics Championships, I was told that para-athletes were rewarded 30% less than a normal athlete. I brought up the issue to change the policy at the National Sports Council (NSC). My proposal received initial rejection but I challenged them if they knew what it takes to be a world champion with disability? And what it takes to overcome your disability and succeed? I would not know how to feel 30% proud of them. I only feel 100% proud of our para heroes. They have shown us that yes, they are not ordinary. They are extraordinary. You cannot compare the achievements of a Paralympian with an Olympian. Yip Pin Xiu competed in a classification race based on the disabilities with a direct entry to the finals, while Joseph Schooling had to compete with 42 other swimmers to win his gold. I certainly admire what she has done and believe she deserves all the rewards and the offers that have come, like AirAsia’s decision to give free flights While Yip has done Singapore proud, the impact she has made is certainly not as massive as what Schooling achieved and a prize of $1million cannot be the answer. However, something more tha $200,000 can be considered. Why differentiate disabled athletes from the able -bodied ones? Isn't that discrimination? By giving out lesser monetary rewards to our Paralympia ns, the Singapore National Paralympic Council is sending a strong message that the competition they are in is less important and lacks the right spirit than that of our Olympians. Regardless, anyone who represents the nation and brings glory to it should be given the same rewards. Our athletes have made a lot of sacrifice and have shown dedication, especially the less able-bodied ones. If Singapore really want our athletes to stay motivated and aim for higher goals, the Singapore National Paralympic Council should standardise rewards. Any record broken, regardless of where and when, should receive the same rewards.

5 2019/PRELIMS/4N/SS Source E: An extract from an interview with Mr Rajah Singh, the Vice -President of the Singapore Disability Sports Council, who was also a former Paralympian, published in The New Paper on 17 September 2016. Source F: An extract from an opinion of a Singaporean posted on an online forum on 13 August 2016. Yip, who became our first Paralympic champion when she won the 50m backstroke race at the 2008 Beijing Games, deserves recognition and whatever reward the Singapore National Paralympic Council deems fit for her under its Athlete's Achievement Award. But it would not be fair to compare her achievements with Sch ooling's. Yip had direct entry into the final against six competitors - compared to Schooling's battle with 42 other swimmers in the heats, semi-finals and final. The pool of swimmers you are up against is smaller. So mathematically, we have to tailor for that. A Paralympic medal is not an Olympic medal. It is not less than an Olympic medal, but neither is it more. They are certainly not equal, that is why the Paralympics exist. Schooling has been promised a million dollar, but on the same note, Yip has never been promised a million, and always knew what she was getting into. If Yip deserves the same amount of money as Schooling, then the same reasoning should apply to the Youth Olympics as well. Money is not everything and should not be everything. Both Schooling and Yip took great risks but I know that money is not the main reason why they sacrificed so much. To make a big dea