ACSBR PRELIMS 2024 4E5A PAPER 2 INSERT

Full NameIndex No.ClassAnglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2024SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS / 5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC)ENGLISH LANGUAGE1184/021 HOUR 50 MINUTES13 August 2024INSERT This Insert consists of 5 printed pages and 1 blank page.

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3 1184/02/PRELIM/2024 Section AStudy the printout of a webpage (Text 1) and the extract from an online article (Text 2) and answer Questions 1 – 4 in the Question Booklet. Text 1 is taken from a website about cyber wellness. Help123, a one-stop cyber wellness info resource for parents to support their childrenBusy parents who have no time to look up information relating to cyber wellness of their children now have access to everything they need at Help123.sg. Parents can arm themselves with knowledge on the various cyber issues their children may face – cyber bullying, gaming, mobile technology and device addiction, access to inappropriate content, social media etiquette and protection of personal information online.Text 2 is taken from an online article about online scams. The act of fraud or tricking someone out of their money, has been around for centuries. Today, the internet offers endless opportunities for fraudsters, and young people areconstantly being targeted. Our teens are always online and have their own social media profile – their trusting nature can leave them open to risk. Frequently, when shown a fake social media profile, most children aren’t able to correctly identify it as a fictitious account. To help your teen be a savvy online surfer, parents should start equipping themselves with key information and terminology.

4 1184/02/PRELIM/2024 Section BText 3 In the text below, the writer describes her experience of moving to a foreign place. Read the text carefully and answer Questions 5 – 14 in the Question Booklet. 1‘Who do I think I am? What gives me the entitlement to leave the only home I have ever known, and waltz right into another’s for the sake of my own benefit?’ My mind had conjured up a rapid surge of unwillingness. A persistent torrent of self-doubt continued to flood my head as I hesitated to click on the acceptance form for enrolment to Notre Dame. The negativity continued to circle my consciousness like a peering vulture would a carcass. I feared becoming an invader – someone unwelcomed in a foreign land.52Time waits for no one, especially not the reluctant. By 1st May, I still had not mustered up the valour necessary to even glance at the conditions for enrolment. In the span of what felt like an eternity, I swung wildly like a pendulum – endlessly analysing every alternative that rose to mind. The clock was ticking, and I knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Finally, my hands involuntarily clicked the button. I was to become Notre Dame’s first human invasive species.103As the days went with the wind, the date of my dreaded departure finally came. The drive to the airport felt excruciating, and every minute spent inside a car felt like only a delay of the inevitable. I stared out the window for what felt like the last time, making sure to record every single detail of the scene before me. The leaves in the trees were blowing softly with the fading summer wind. At that moment, it felt like they were bidding their final goodbyes. Even with that seemingly emotional gesture, I did not find the strength to wave back.154I imagined that my arrival would become a sort of catalyst, one that would set off a chain of despair across Notre Dame campus as everyone took notice of my invasion. My sole comfort in travelling had been the company of my family, who assured me that no journey is ever taken alone. My mother would croon into my ear once she noticed the unease etched into my face. ‘Just breathe,’ she would say. 205To travel solo for the first time feels akin to running blindfolded. The bustling scene before me felt overwhelming in every sense, and I was not a confident navigator to begin with. As I dragged my multitude of suitcases along, I attempted to join the assembly of travellers who marched towards the security checkpoint. For some reason, I had imagined there to be some sort of crisis within me the moment our plane landed.256Why aren’t the sirens going off?7What instead resulted was to be the complete opposite. Here I was in a foreign land, and my mind did not bring forward any speck of resistance. I had previously imagined that people would identify my foreignness, and their demeanour would signal a rejection of my being there. I was instead greeted by the distinct sense of indifference. The feeling of anonymity was a breath of fresh air, as all my trepidation towards not fitting in was melted away by the uneventfulness of it all. The city of Chicago shines brightly at night. Though you cannot see the stars, the skyscrapers adorn the sky in a way that vaguely resembles an array of constellations. ‘Maybe the lights are showing me the way’, I thought to myself, as I left the airport.3035

5 1184/02/PRELIM/2024 Section CText 4 The article below outlines the developments of the theme park industry. Read the text carefully and answer Questions 15 – 21 in the Question Booklet. 1From their modest inception as simple funfairs to the awe-inspiring realms of magic like Disneyland, theme parks have always been emblematic of cultural evolution in entertainment. But just as roller coasters have their ups and downs, so too does the industry that birthed them. Today, theme parks are at an inflection point. The digital era, spearheaded by the tastes and expectations of Gen-Z, is rewriting the playbook of entertainment. Parks now grapple with evolving guest needs, technological advancements, and the ever-present competition from newer, more innovative entertainment avenues. 52The story of the theme park industry is one of dreams made reality for many. Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." It's this ethos that drove the creation of Disneyland in 1955, an entertainment venture that transformed a 160-acre orange grove in Anaheim into "The Happiest Place on Earth." Fast-forward to today, and giants like Disney and Universal have set the gold standard for guests globally. 103Even the towering titans of the theme park industry have faced their share of hurdles. The ebb and flow of the economic landscape mean that during downturns, these luxury experiences often see the first cutbacks in family budgets, resulting in fewer visitors and declining revenues. Furthermore, the transition from the Baby Boomers to Millennials, and now the digitally-native Gen-Z, has ushered in a wave of evolving tastes. Where once simple animatronics and fairy tale depictions held allure, the modern visitor craves technologically immersive, interactive, and shareable moments.15204Operational challenges add another layer of complexity. The sprawling domains of these parks demand relentless innovation, ensuring that attractions remain fresh and engaging. This constant rejuvenation often comes with high maintenance costs, leading to steeper ticket prices that might deter some potential guests. Balancing the thrill and safety is likened to walking on a tightrope. An occasional mishap will magically scare away visitors for extended periods.255Amidst these challenges, the theme park industry's adaptability and resilience have been commendable. When faced with a global health crisis, like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, parks quickly reimagined their experiences. Contactless payments, virtual queues, and augmented reality scavenger hunts became the norm. Many parks used the downtime to invest in refurbishments, ensuring that when they did reopen, guests were welcomed with refreshed and safer attractions.306Furthermore, these giants took the digital realm head-on. Virtual tours, online character meet-and-greets, and behind-the-scenes webinars ensured that the magic was not entirely lost during the pandemic. They recognised the increas