GAN ENG SENG 4NA SS Prelim 2019

This paper consists of 07 printed pages including the cover page. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST 1. Write your name, index number and class in the spaces provided on the cover page of the question paper. 2. Section A: Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B: Answer all parts of Question 2. 3. Write all answers in the answer booklet provided, with dark blue or black pen. 4. At the start of each answer to a question, please write the question number / part in the boxes provided in the answer booklet. 5. You are advised to spend no longer than 80 minutes on Section A. 6. Begin your answers to Section B on a new page in the answer booklet. The number of marks for each part-question is shown in brackets. Qn No. For Examiner’s Use Section A 1 35 Section B 2 15 Total 50 GAN ENG SENG SCHOOL Preliminary Examination 2019 CANDIDATE NAME CLASS INDEX NUMBER HUMANITIES Paper 1 Social Studies Sec 4 Normal (Academic) 2175/01 & 2176/01 13 August 2019 1 hour 45 minutes Additional Materials: Answer booklet is provided.

GESS 4NA SS Prelim 2019 AZL/PL 2 Section A (Source-based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1 Being Part of a Globalised World 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 you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 (a) Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about the ride-hailing services? Explain your answer. [5] (b) Study Source B. Why was this source published? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Sources C and D. How far does Source C agree with Source D about the benefits of ride-hailing services? Explain your answer. [7] (d) Study Source E. How surprised are you by this source? Explain your answer. [7] (e) Study all sources. How far do the sources in the case study show that the ride-hailing services are beneficial to Singapore? Explain your answer. [10]

GESS 4NA SS Prelim 2019 AZL/PL 3 Are ride-hailing services beneficial to Singapore? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. In recent years, technological advancements have allowed ride-hailing applications such as Grab and Uber to transform commuting worldwide . Commuters are able to get a ride whenever and wherever they want and settle the bill electronically all through an app. This has made travelling around easier for the commuters and provided a new source of employment for ride-hailing drivers. However, these new developments have also created some controversies; traditional taxi drivers and operators have been negatively impacted by the new competition and governments around the world are faced with the challenge of regulating this new industry. On 26 March 2018, Grab announced that it had acquired Uber’s Southeast Asia operations, leading to fears of commuters that there would be higher fares due to a lack of competition. Drivers of Grab and Uber were also worried about new commission rates given. Are ride-hailing services beneficial to Singapore? Study the following sources to find out.

GESS 4NA SS Prelim 2019 AZL/PL 4 Source A: Adapted from a view of a private-hire driver in Singapore, published in a Singapore newspaper, 13 August 2017. Out of 10 rides he picks up on the Grab platform, private -hire driver S. K. Tan, 61, estimates that around seven of them are on a promotional fare. While he is paid the actual fares, he expresses concern about whether his job is sustainable. "They are giving so many cheap, and even free, rides to customers and they are also paying us fares and incentives," says Mr Tan. Of the $1,100 he makes in a week, about $400 of it is a bonus which Grab gives him for hitting a trip target. The goal is 180 rides a week, which is achievable if he drives his normal hours of about 10 to 12 hours a day. Source B: A photograph published online, on 16 November 2015. It shows the then Senior Minister of State for Transport hearing from leaders from the National Taxi Association (NTA) to understand the concerns of taxi drivers about ride-hailing services. Source C: Adapted from an online Singapore newspaper, 7 April 2017. Older and less tech-savvy commuters still prefer to hail taxis from the streets, with some stating unfamiliarity with the app as the reason. One taxi driver recounted how he felt so bad for an elderly woman who was trying her best with no success, under the hot afternoon sun, to f lag down a cab that he ended picking her up after bypassing her three times to pick up passengers who had booked his taxi via the app. Communications executive Michelle Scully, 43, added: “It’s a hassle to use an app, and it’s easy to flag a cab. I want to make sure these taxi uncles still have a job.”

GESS 4NA SS Prelim 2019 AZL/PL 5 Source E: Adapted from an open letter written by a taxi driver, to Mr Chan Chun Sing, former chairman of National Taxi Association. It was published on Facebook, on 27 April 2016. With the recent fare reductions by ride-hailing companies, consumers were overjoyed. However, fare reduction should not be at the expense of any drivers. All drivers, private-hired vehicle drivers and taxi drivers, are driving longer hours in order to cover the shortfall they used to earn previously. This will cause fatigue to the drivers, possibly leading to more road accidents. As drivers, we would love to go home safely to see our loved ones, who would not? As taxi drivers, we do welcome competition. However, the fierce competition in pricing by ride - hailing companies seems like an attempt to monopolise* the industry. Once that is achieved, commuters will be at the mercy of the company that has full control of fare pricing. *to control something completely and to prevent other people having any effect on what happens Source D: Excerpt of speech by Second Minister for Transport, Mr Ng Chee Meng at Ministry Of Transport’s Committee Of Supply Debate 2017 on 8 March 2017. Today, we use a single app, like GrabTaxi, to book taxis almost instantaneously from any taxi company. Commuters are better served because there are now more taxis that are reachable, literally at our fingertips. I am glad to see that commuters are using these mobile technologies, and are satisfied with both taxi and private hire car services. I understand some commuters' concerns about dynamic pricing. Fares indeed will likely vary according to demand and supply, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, depending on peak hours or low-peak periods. But importantly, before any journey begins, commuters will know exactly how much their fare would be. They can then choose to accept or decline the offer.

GESS 4NA SS Prelim 2019 AZL/PL 6 Section B (Structured-Response Questions) Question 2 is compulsory for all candidates. 2 Living in a Diverse Society Study the extracts carefully, and then answer the questions. Extract 1 1,539 Singaporeans in total were surveyed. According to YouGov’s research, 13 per cent of Singaporeans live in rented property, with 25 per cent having rented at least once in their lives. Extract 2 The policy of bilingualism was introduced in government and government aided schools in 1966. This policy aims to encourage Singaporeans to be proficient in both the English language, and in their respective ethnic mother tongues. Extract 3 Through the Ethnic Integration policy which was introduced in 1989, the Singapore government aims to achieve a balanced ethnic mi