SCSS S4G3 SS PRELIMS 2024 MS

1 S4G3 SS Preliminary Examination 2024 Answer Scheme SECTION A 1 Study Source A. What can you learn from Source A about the impact of the release of the Fukushima wastewater on China? Explain your answer. [5] LEVEL DESCRIPTORS MARKS L1 Lifting/ Provenance E.g. I can learn that the release of the Fukushima wastewater would have a negative impact as it has cost Japan a hefty sum to recover. 1 L2 Inference unsupported Award 2m for one inference, 3m for 2 inferences E.g. I can learn that China was angry over the release of the Fukushima wastewater as it would lead to a disastrous impact on China since the surrounding waters would be polluted. AND/OR I can learn that the release of the Fukushima wastewater would have a negative impact on the seafood source of China as they would have to source for alternative supply after their ban on all imports of fish from Japan. AND/OR I can learn that the release of the Fukushima wastewater would have a detrimental impact on China’s relationship with Japan as the action had one- sided action had resulted in Chinese protest as well as the Chinese belabeling the Japanese as irresponsible. 2-3 L3 Inferences supported Award 5m for well-supported answers. E.g. I can learn that the release of the Fukushima wastewater would have a disastrous impact on China as the surrounding waters would be polluted. This is seen from the source, ‘ It's polluting oceans and creating known long- 4-5

2 term risks that we don't quite understand.’ This shows the Chinese concerns for environmental damage that they will also incur with the release of wastewater into the surrounding waters. 2 Study Sources B and C. How far does source B agree with source C? Explain your answer, using details from the source. [6] LEVEL DESCRIPTORS MARKS L1 Similar/Different based on provenance E.g. Both sources would agree as they are both published by China. 1 L2 Similar/Different based on content, unsupported Award 3m for both similar and different, unsupported. E.g. The sources would agree as they both portray the Japanese in a negative way – that they lack responsibility in their action in the release of the Fukushima wastewater. OR Source B would not agree with source C as they differ in portraying the responsibility of the Japanese government. 2-3 L3 Similar/Different based on content, supported Award 5m for both similar and different, supported. E.g. The sources would agree as they both portray the Japanese in a negative way – that they lack responsibility in their action in the release of the Fukushima wastewater. This is evident in Source B where the giant arm stretches above the protestors’ heads, pouring radioactive waste into the ocean, ignoring the pleas from them not to do so, as well as harming the marine life that is inhabiting the ocean. Similarly, Source C shows TEPCO workers painting ‘safe, reliable and transparent’ onto the contaminated water tanks, aiming to convince the world of the safety of the wastewater in which the onlooker commented ‘my distrust of TEPCO runs deeper than the water tank’, suggesting that he doesn’t believe that the water is indeed safe. However, source B would not agree with source C as they differ in portraying the responsibility of the Japanese government. Source B shows the giant arm stretches above the protestors’ heads, pouring radioactive waste into the ocean. The provenance also stated that it was the “Japanese 4-5

3 government’s decision”. This shows that it was the Japanese government who took the selfish decision to release the wastewater, harming marine life as well as affecting the lives of the people around it. However, Source C shows that the plant operator is painting over the power plant with words like “safe, reliable, transparent”. The bystander is also commenting “my distrust of TEPCO runs deeper than the water tank!”. This suggests that the Japanese government could have been misguided by TEPCO who was dishonest about the safety of the wastewater and hence, is not the responsible one. They were simply given false information. L4 Similar in intention/outcome E.g. The sources would agree as they have similar intentions. Both cartoonists want to criticise the Japanese for being inconsiderate/irresponsible in their decision to release the wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant. In doing so, the cartoonists hope to pressure the Japanese government into seeing the dangers and then reconsider its decision and halt the release of wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. 6 3 Study Source D. How useful is this source as evidence that the risk of contamination from the release of Fukushima wastewater is low? Explain your answer. [7] LEVEL DESCRIPTORS MARKS L1 Useful/not useful based on undeveloped provenance or general understanding of the source (i.e. not focused on addressing whether the risk of contamination is low) Note that answers that do not address utility of source at all will be awarded 0m. E.g. Source D is useful in showing that how the release of Fukushima wastewater is done. OR Source D is not useful as it is by TEPCO. 1 L2 Not useful based on typicality E.g. 2

4 Source D is not useful as it is only from TEPCO and cannot represent the locals’ or neighbouring countries’ evaluations/assessment of the safety of the Fukushima wastewater. L3 Useful/Not useful, with reference to source content Award 3m for support. E.g. Source D is useful in showing that the risk of contamination from the release of Fukushima wastewater is low (2m) as the infographic shows how the ALPS ensures the removal of radioactive materials from the contaminated water before releasing it into the ocean. (3m) OR Not useful / limitation of source (implicit use of source content) Source D is not useful as it does not provide evidence of any impact of the release of the wastewater for us to establish/conclude whether the risk of contamination is low. (3m) 3-4 L4 Both useful and not useful 5 L5 Useful/not useful based on cross-referencing Note that answers that don’t establish the reliability of Source C in proving its utility will not be awarded at this level. Award 6m for well-supported answers. E.g. Source D is useful in showing that the risk of contamination from the release of Fukushima wastewater is low as the infographic shows how the ALPS ensures the removal of radioactive materials from the contaminated water before releasing it into the ocean. Source D is reliable and hence useful, as it is supported by Source F which also supports that the risk of contamination from the release of Fukushima wastewater is low. As evident from Source F, ‘the IAEA had endorsed the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment.’ This shows that people don’t have to worry as safety precautions have been put in place. OR Source D is unreliable and hence not useful, as it is contradicted by Source A which shows that there is a substantial amount of contamination risk from the release of Fukushima wastewater. As evident from Source A, ‘It's polluting oceans and creating known long -term risks that we don't quite understand.’ This shows that there will be environmental damage as well as perceived dangers to people in the long-term. 6-7

5 L6 Not useful based on evaluation of provenance E.g. Source D is not useful as it is by TEPCO, the operator behind the Fukushima nuclear plant who is bound to safeguard its reputation. T