SAJC JC2 Prelim 2024 - P2 Answer Scheme

2024 SAJC JC2 Preliminary Examinations P2 – Suggested Answers Q1: What does the author mean by ‘the shoe has dropped’ (line 1)? [1] From the passage Suggested Answers The shoe has dropped. The big one. China, the most populous country on the planet for centuries, this month reported its first population decline in six decades, a trend that is almost certainly irreversible. By the end of the century, China may have only around half of the 1.41 billion people it has now, according to U.N. projections, and may already have been overtaken by India. A: The author means that a significant / major/ main event has finally/inevitably occurred with regards to declining population (context). Note: the idea of finally / inevitably must be captured for the mark to be awarded. BOD - if the idea of “significant” is captured. Q2: Explain the author’s use of the phrase, ‘the glass is at least half full.’ (lines 6–7) [2] From the passage Suggested Answers But the alarmist warnings are often simplistic and premature. The glass is at least half full. Shrinking populations are usually part of a natural, inevitable process, and rather than focus excessively on concerns like labour shortages and pension support, we need to look at the brighter spots for our world. A : Despite the concerns/panic/ negativity behind the issues of population decline B : There is still reason for optimism/ a silver-lining/there is hope to solve it. Award 1m per point BOD if context is unclear.

Q3: What are three reasons the author argues that lower birthrates might not be completely negative in paragraph 3? [3] From the passage Suggested Answers China, South Korea and Japan are now all in population decline; this is due in part to rapid increases in income, employment and education. The number of South Korean women who went on to postsecondary education rose from 6 percent in 1980 to more than 90 percent by 2020; China and Japan also have seen big gains. Lower birthrates reflects greater personal and reproductive freedom, such as the choice to stay unmarried; higher pay; and A (women’s autonomy): Women now have greater autonomy and choices on when to give birth/whether to have children. B (women in the workplace): women are receiving more wages at work. C (more professional opportunities): women have greater career progression / more likely to be employed. more professional opportunities for women in these nations. Q4: According to the author, how does the increase in life expectancy “reshape lives and open up opportunities” (line 19)? [2] From the passage Suggested Answers Increases of that magnitude reshape lives and open up opportunities unimaginable when life spans were shorter, such as workers remaining productive later in life and growing markets for older consumers in areas like tourism, nutritional supplements and medical devices, among others. A: Increa