TJC 2024 Prelim GP P2 ANS

Temasek Junior College 2024 JC2 Preliminary Examination Paper 2 1 2024 JC2 Preliminary Examination GENERAL PAPER Paper 2 Suggested Answers From Passage 1 1. Explain the use of the phrase ‘extolled as a virtue’ in line 1. [2] From the passage Suggested rephrase • From a child's earliest age, independence has always been extolled as a virtue and proof of maturity. (l. 1–2) • The phrase means that independence is highly praised/ lauded/ exalted/ hailed [1] • as a moral/ethical value worth inculcating. [1] NOTE: • For the 1st point, students need to capture the extent of praise. • For the 2nd point, do not accept answers based on traits/ characteristics that do not capture the context of morality or ethics. 2. How do the examples in lines 5–8 convey the author’s view that independence is not always positive? [2] From the passage Suggested rephrase ● …being required to be ‘independent’ when we are ill and without adequate health insurance coverage is not to be recommended. (l. 5–7) ● And going into debt for simply covering the cost of our own or our children’s college education is far from salutary. (l. 7–8) ● Independence is not always positive because one could end up having to bear high medical costs/ be unable to afford high medical costs when one is unwell and without a medical protection plan to rely on. 1] ● Another example that highlights that independence is not always positive is facing financial burdens just to pay for one’s own/ family's academic pursuits. [1] NOTE: • There should be some reference to being unable/ having no means to be independent which causes some problem. • Answers that simply state that certain actions are not commendable, without highlighting a clear problem will not be credited. TJC

Temasek Junior College 2024 JC2 Preliminary Examination Paper 2 2 OR ● The examples highlight how trying to be independent when one is unable to/ has no means to is not always positive [1] ● because it leads to even more dire/ serious consequences/ problems. [1] 3. From paragraph 2, what are three consequences the author sees arising from the ingrained cultural belief that ‘we must do without support’ (line 9)? [3] From the passage Suggested rephrase ● …we often force ourselves to slog through these – and other crucial human experiences – in solitude. (l. 9–11) ● …when we do get assistance, we may feel we must play down the help we receive from our government, our families or our neighbours (l. 11–12) ● we see even asking for help as something to avoid at all costs , contributing to the rising suicide rates of older men in this country who are some of the least likely to ask for psychological assistance. (l. 12–14) ● We are regularly told by self -help manuals that we need to look only to ourselves to achieve mental well- being, even though that … requires social connection. (l. 14–17) ● [