Bedok View 4E SS PRELIM 2024 ANS

BEDOK VIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2024 HUMANITIES 2260/01, 2261/01, 2262/01 Paper 1 Social Studies 23 August 2024 Secondary Four Express / Five Normal Academic 1 hr 45 minutes ________________________________________________________________________________ MARK SCHEME This answer scheme consists of 17 printed pages, including this cover page.

2 Section A: Source-Based Questions [35 marks] 1. Study Source A. What is the attitude of the cartoonist towards the universal charger law passed in Europe? Explain your answer, using details of the source. [5] Level Descriptors / Suggested Answers Mark s L1 Surface description / No valid interpretation Award the higher mark for unsuccessful attempts of interpreting the cartoon. e.g. The cartoonist thinks the universal charger law passed in Europe requires all electronic devices to adopt a common charging connection. [1] e.g. The cartoonist is against the law passed in Europe because he is showing the Apple brand is in danger of losing profits. He shows the Apple brand being put to rest. [2] 1-2 L2 Valid interpretation of the source but has not answered the question (inference does not mention cartoonist’s attitude or does not address the universal charger law) e.g. The cartoonist thinks the universal charger law will have an impact on Apple’s business. This is seen from a tangled mess of bespoke Apple iphone cords being laid to rest. Apple devices require a different charging connection from all other devices and this law forces Apple to change its bespoke chargers practice to adopt the same charging standard as every other smartphone maker. Apple has no choice but to comply with the new law and change if it wishes to continue selling to the European market. [3] OR e.g. The cartoonist thinks the universal charger law will help reduce electronic waste. Europe’s new law “allows buyers to use one common charger across all devices”, including Apple devices. Thus when people buy new phones, like the man in the cartoon who purchased every new iPhone, they do not need to keep buying new chargers. They can simply rely on the charger they already own. In the long run, this reduces the electronic waste being generated each time people are forced to buy a new charger. [3] OR e.g. The cartoonist has a critical attitude towards Apple. He portrays Apple users poking their tongue out in disgust at the tangled mess of bespoke Apple iphone cords. They are eagerly throwing the iphone charger cords into the grave, happy to be rid of them. They are likely frustrated at having to buy Apple charging cords time and again because the cords are not long-lasting. Yet, they have no choice buy to buy these Apple-exclusive chargers for their Apple devices. [3] 3 L3 Valid interpretation of the source (cartoonist has a positive attitude towards the law) Award the higher mark for more fully developed answers e.g. The cartoonist has a positive attitude towards the universal charger law passed in Europe. He supports the law because it had forced Apple to abandon the practice of having its own bespoke chargers, which he is critical of . The cartoonist portrays a scene at a cemetery where Apple’s bespoke chargers, 4-5

3 represented by a tangled mess of cords, are being laid to rest. The attendees at the funeral, likely representing Apple users, are disrespectfully sticking their tongues out, jeering at the Apple chargers. They also dumped the cords unceremoniously into th e “Apple bespoke chargers” grave, glad to be rid of the Apple bespoke chargers. This shows how critical the cartoonist is of Apple’s practice of forcing their users to purchase Apple chargers, which can only be used for Apple devices. Worse, because Apple chargers are not “long-lasting”, users are forced to keep purchasing new chargers each time one gets damaged. Now that Europe had passed the new law, Apple is forced to comply and fit its devices with the universal charging standard already adopted by every other company. As such, there is no need for Apple users to purchase Apple -exclusive chargers with every new Apple device. Since one common charger can now be used across all devices, it reduces the need for additional spending by buyers and reduces electronic waste. The cartoonist thus welcomes the universal charger law. [5] 2. Study Sources B and C. How far do these sources agree about efforts to reduce electronic waste? Explain your answer. [6] Level Descriptors / Suggested Answers Mark s *0m will be awarded to scripts that fail to address the question focus on efforts to reduce electronic waste. e.g. The sources agree that electronic waste is a problem. [0] L1 False / Invalid Matching e.g. The sources agree about efforts to reduce electronic waste because both sources highlight the issue. [1] e.g. The sources disagree about efforts to reduce electronic waste because Source B mentions repair and secondhand while Source C mentions the right to repair. [1] 1-2 L2 Agree OR Disagree, based on content Award the higher mark for clear support from both sources. e.g. The sources agree about efforts to reduce electronic waste because both believe a key measure is to encourage the habit of repairing faulty devices instead of throwing them away to buy new. Source B talks about the need for legislation “to remove the barriers to repair” and for us to “learn to fix what we own” so fewer electronic devices will be discarded. Similarly, Source C depicts a consumer -led global campaign championing the cause of repairing tech products so that there will be less or “no more disposable products” contributing to electronic waste. [3] Also accept: ● The sources agree that efforts to reduce electronic waste must involve consumers. Both highlight the need for consumers to stop buying new gadgets when their electronic product becomes faulty and to consider repairing it first. ● The sources agree that efforts to reduce electronic waste must involve government legislation. Government legislation is needed to force tech corporations to make repair more feasible, thus extending the lifespan of a product. OR 3-4

4 e.g. The sources disagree about the willingness of consumers to reduce electronic waste. Source B suggests consumers are unwilling to take action whereas Source C suggests consumers are willing. Source B states “consumers, too, are all too happy to move on to the next new thing. So the cycle of constant buying continues.” This shows consumers are contributing to the problem of electronic waste because they do not care to keep using and repairing their old products. They would much rather simply purchase new products once they feel their current device is worn -out. On the other hand, Source C depicts a consumer-led global campaign championing the cause of making the repair of tech products more easy so that there will be “no more disposable products”. This shows consumers are contributing to the solution for electronic waste by actively advocating for measures to make a product longer lasting. [3] L3 Both aspects of L3: Agree AND Disagree, based on content 5 L4 Disagree, based on attitude / tone An elaborate explanation is not needed. Award as long as response shows understanding of the differences in the attitude / tone, makes reference to one piece of evidence from the source and explains how the supporting evidence indicates the attitude / tone of the sources. e.g. The sources disagree in terms of their overall attitude towards the likelihood of efforts to reduce electronic waste being successful. Source B holds a more sceptical and cynical view whereas Source C presents a more hopeful view. Source B has a negative tone when discussing efforts to reduce electronic waste. Sou