Hai Sing Catholic School 4N prelims 2018

1 | P a g e SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates 1 Exploring Citizenship and Governance 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. Why did the cartoonist draw this? Explain your answer, using details of the cartoon. [5] b) Study Sources B and C. How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7] c) Study Source D Are you surprised by Source D? Explain your answer. [6] d) Study Source E How useful as evidence is Source E in reflecting Singaporeans’ attitude towards the CPF? Explain your answer. [7] e) “The CPF policy is not benefitting Singaporeans.” Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10]

2 | P a g e How far do Singaporeans support the Central Provident Fund? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare, and housing needs. As at 2018, employers contribute 17% of the employee’s pay to the CPF account while employees contribute 20% of their pay into the CPF account. Although hailed as a good plan by many overseas observers as CPF guarantees Singaporeans a secure retirement fund to be paid out every month, it has also received many criticisms as Singaporeans are not allowed to withdraw the full amount at the age of 55. Read the sources to determine if Singaporeans support the CPF. Source A A cartoon about CPF found in a blog.

3 | P a g e Source B An article adapted from a website that is critical of the government. PAP manipulated the CPF which is a retirement saving by mixing it up with housing financing, apart from other usages. Only 11% of a person's salary is kept as fixed savings for retirement, including Medisave for healthcare. People cannot withdraw their CPF money at the age of 55 to put to put it to other uses. Thus, it is not surprising at all that most Singaporeans will not be able to afford a comfortable retirement just depending on the CPF savings. Source C An interview with a financial consultant, published in The Straits Times. One reason could be that people tend to view the CPF system in fragments rather than as a whole retirement savings plan. Looking at it in parts, people see that they put their money in when they are young, and when they want to take it all out at 55 they are unable to, and at 65 they try again and can withdraw only a portion. In ‘CPF Life’, money is in the Retirement Account. Retirees are allowed to withdraw their monthly allowances from this account. "So if people see that connection, it's the best retirement plan you can find, really," said Christopher Tan, a financial consultant. Source D Article published in The Straits Times. Despite a drizzle and the afternoon sun, a 2000-strong crowd gathered at Hong Lim Park for a protest against the Central Provident Fund (CPF) system on Saturday afternoon. Taking place amid the continuing public debate about the retirement savings plan, the nine speakers at the "Return Our CPF" protest mainly criticized three areas: what they perceived as the inflexibility and changing rules of the compulsory savings scheme, the low rate of interests people get back on CPF savings and the lack of transparency in how CPF monies are used.

4 | P a g e Source E A Singaporean reader’s response to the CPF policy in Singapore published on a pro- government website. I contribute to Mandatory Provident Fund (Hong Kong equivalent of CPF) and the locals all wish that they have CPF instead. The employer contribution is 5% in Hong Kong instead 17% in Singapore. You cannot use your Ordinary Account to buy houses, thus a lot of people in Hong Hong rent houses instead of buying them. There is no Medisave in Hong Kong – I used my Medisave for a major surgery a few years back and I am glad of its existence. Unlike CPF where you will get back your money, MPF suffered heavy losses in the stock market and my colleagues got back less than half of their contribution. Copyright Acknowledgements Source A: http://sporesays.blogspot.com/2011/06/minimum -sum-in-cpf.html Source B: https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2018/05/24/not -surprising-that-most-singaporeans-will-not-be-able-to-afford-a- comfortable-retirement-with-just-cpf-savings/ Source C: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporeans -dont-realise-what-a-gooddeal-the-cpf-is Source D: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/speakers -at-cpf-protest-call-for-flexibility-better-returns-greater- transparency-for-cpf Source E: http://www.fivestarsandamoon.com/2016/09/cpf -really-good-deal/

5 | P a g e 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 Residents at a Yishun Housing Board flat said they are at their wits' end after being harassed by a neighbour for over a year, with one family going as far as to build a "wall" barbed with cactus plants on the common corridor for protection. The Lee family, who live in an four-room corner unit and were the ones who erected the wall, said that the barrier was a last resort for them after having had to deal with the difficult neighbour since last December. They come home nearly every day to find an oil-like substance reeking of urine splashed across their door and along the corridor. Extract 2 In Singapore, we have our own integration problems, as seen by a rising tide of anti- foreigner sentiment, especially online. Our workforce has more than 1.33 million foreigners, of whom about 750,000 are domestic workers and construction workers. Extract 3 New citizens should get involved with local communities. That, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, "is the easiest and best way to understand, respect and embrace Singapore's unique values and practices." He urged them to find out more about this country, make friends here and if they do not know English, learn a bit of the language. This will help them integrate better. a) Extract 1 talks about the difficulties of getting along with one’s neighbour. In your opinion, how can we improve the relationships between neighbours living in the housing estate? Explain your answer, using one strategy. [7] b) Extracts 2 and 3 talk about the challenges faced in a diverse society like Singapore. How do prejudice and competition for resources pose challenges in a diverse society? Explain your answer. [8]

6 | P a g e Answers to Section A a) Study Source A. Why did the cartoonist draw this? Explain your answer, using details of the cartoon. [5] Level Descriptor Marks L1 Not answering the question, only describing the cartoon 1 L2 Due to context Eg He wants to show his disapproval for CPF/ misinterpretation/ literal meaning 2 L3 Due to message/ or outcome without message He wants to tell Singaporeans that the retirees and the elderly are suffering because their money is tied up in the CPF and they are not allowed to withdraw the money. The evidence is a man is dying of thirst in the desert but he could not drink water from a water container which is full of water but it is locked ( award 4 mks for the evidence) 3-4 L4 Due to purpose L3 + he draws this to urge the government to relook at the