2023 MGS SS PRELIM ANS KEY

Section A Suggested Answer (MGS Prelims 2023) 1 Study Source A. Do you think the cartoonist supports the American healthcare system? Explain your answer, using details of the cartoon. Suggested Answer Success Criteria The American cartoonist does not support the American healthcare system (A) as he is mocking it. (A- using the tone/ sarcasm in the source) Source A sho ws the “poor, the black, and nursing home resident ” as “COVID fatalities” with “underlying conditions.” The cartoonist is critical of the limitation of the American healthc are system in responding to the pandemic. The high rate of deaths amongst the po or, African Americans, and nursing home residents was due to not getting their underlying medical conditions treated and being exposed to the virus infect ion. America’s market-based approach is mainly based on private health insurance coverage that does not work well for lower-income individuals who cann ot afford to get themselves insured and thus cannot access affordable healthcare. ● ATQ ● Evidence (Describe the source) ● Explanation 2 Study Sources B and C. How different are the sources? Explain your answer. [6] Suggested Answer Success Criteria Sources B and C are different in their pandemic-response strategies. Source B, Singapore adopted a more stringent lockdown/top-down approach (CC)to control the spread of the pandemic but (CW) Sweden ’s pandemic-response strategy focuses more on a less stringent/open/bottom-up approach (CC). So urce B states that “the disruptions caused by containment measures have been especially stressful for low-paid workers. They had to forgo wages —or jobs—in order to care for their children when schools or childcare centres closed, and when they or their family members fell sick. ” (EV) This shows that Singapore relies on a government- dictated lockdown to contain the spread of the virus in the earlier pha se. (EXP) However, Source C states that “it focused on voluntary measures ” (EV) This shows that it was dependent on the people to want to act on it or not. ● ATQ ● Common Criteria ● Comparison word ● Evidence x2 1 best line ● Explanation x2 Both (CW) sources are similar (A) in showing that the COVID-19 pa ndemic has worsened socio-economic inequalities. (CC) Source B states that “Staying safe comfortably, working from home and getting paid: these are marks of privilege, and out of reach for many lower-income families who lived in overcrowded conditions and faced mental health issues. Similarly, (CW) Source C states that “The pandemic has exposed social inequalities within Swedish society ” between the healthy and the sick, the employed and unemployed. This reveals that the pandemic has exposed the rich-poor divide and made lower-income households , the sick, and unemployed even more vulnerable. Or Both (CW) sources are largely similar (A) in providing a balanced trea tment of the importance of individual responsibility and government responsibility (CC) when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Source B states that “The government led the way with four budgets for COVID-19 support measures. To flatten the virus curve, everyone had to assume responsibility for their personal safety, as ca ring for oneself was caring for the community. ” Similarly, Source C states that “To contain the spread of the pandemic, Sweden focused on voluntary measures regarding individual hygiene, social distancing, and travelling. ” and “Sweden relies on universal protection systems in protecting lives and livelihoods. Existing social insurance provisions were temporarily reinforced. ” Both sources show how ● ATQ ● Common Criteria ● Comparison word ● Evidence 1 best line ● Explanation

individuals complement their governments in minimising the spread of the pandemic and how both governments help the vulnerable with financial support. 3 Study Source D. How useful is this source as evidence of the role of go vernments in responding to healthcare needs? Explain your answer. [7] Suggested Answer Note: - Always begin with USEFUL - “About” = Need to infer about the role of government using adjective - Successful CR requires proper LOR → Reliable therefore useful/unreliable therefore less useful Success Criteria Source D is useful (A) as reliable as supported by E (LOR) as evidence about the important/ crucial role of governments (Inference about role of govt) in making healthcare available for all citizens. Both (CW) suggests that t he role of government is crucial. (CC) This can be seen from C that “all governments must immediately resume and accelerate efforts to ensure every one of their citizens can access health services without fear of the financial consequences ”. (EV) This tells me that governments need to put in place a system to ensure that the low - income groups are not deprived of receiving healthcare support. (EXP) Simi larly, E says “Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat when he announced the Solidarity Budget, Singapore ’s third fiscal package —out of five, totalling $100 billion in pandemic support measures. ”(EV) suggesting that the role of government is important in helping to ensure that their is money to support the ones who need it during the pandemic. (EXP) NO CR TO SHOW GOVT ROLE IS UNIMPORTANT / INSIGNIFICANT ● ATQ + LOR ● Common Criteria ● Comparison word ● Evidence x2 1 best line ● Explanation x2 Useful: Purpose/ Explained Provenance Source D is useful (A) as evidence about the role of governments in responding to healthcare needs as the WHO Director-General speaks with authority.(LOR) As it is a WHO Director General speech (D1) he would be proving findings that were well researched and data backed hence making him reliable (EXP1) Source D states that “Even before the pandemic, half a billion people were being pushed or pushed still further into extreme poverty because of payments they made for healthcare.” This means that the WHO Director-General has access to data/findings about how the pandemic has made it even more challenging fo r the vulnerable in countries to have access to affordable healthcare. A s WHO, they would want countries around the world (A) to address the severity / pressing issue brought about by the pandemic (A) hence they would need t o stress on the severity of it (M) by showing data about the situation (M) so th at countries will feel pressured (F) and get to action in order to resolve the issue. (A) Hence will be giving them the accurate situation that requires governments’ attention.(EXP) ● ATQ + LOR ● Details from provenance D1, D2, D3 ● Explanation of how it makes the source reliable therefore useful EXP1. EXP2, EXP3 4. Study Sources E and F. Having Source E, are you surprised by Source F ? Explain your answer. [7] Suggested Answer Note: - Para 1: Must use both sources given → compare E & F - Para 2: Should move on to higher level skills like CR of main source / Explained provenance Success Criteria Comparison of E and F ● ATQ + LOR

After reading E, I am not surprised by F (A), as F is expected as E supports F (LOR). E and F both (CW) suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened so cio- economic inequalities in Singapore. (CC) Source E states that the pandemic “aggravated socio-economic fault lines along class ” and “The public and policymakers are aware of the spotlight on inequalities, 'invisible po pulations', and 'digital divides ’. Similarly, Source F also shows the inequalities between higher and lower-income households in Singapore during COVID-19 pandemic . The lower-income family is standing on fewer gold coins symbolising lower income and they are sinking in a sea of virus. Source F is not surpri sing as the pandemic has exposed the vulnerable groups even more when jobs especially in the services and retail sectors were lost. This resulted in the loss of i