2025 ACJC JC2 Prelim Exam P2 Ans Scheme (vetted)

1 8881 H1 General Paper 2025 Anglo-Chinese Junior College Preliminary Examination Paper 2 Answer Scheme From Passage 1 1. According to the author in the first sentence, why does respecting authority feel unfashionable? [2] From Passage 1 Pt Paraphrased / inferred Marks In a world where independence and rebellion seem sacrosanct the idea of respecting authority feels unfashionable… (lines 1-2) a Respecting authority feels unfashionable because … … going one’s own way / defying authority seems revered / doing as one pleases is so highly valued … Note:  Students only need to paraphrase either ‘independence’ or ‘rebellion’.  Intensity of ‘sacrosanct’ must be captured. 1m … — an antiquated virtue … b … it is seen as outdated / obsolete / backward … 1m … marooned in the collective rush for autonomy. (lines 2-3) c (inferred) … and most people / everyone / the masses are pursuing autonomy instead (and leaving respect for authority behind). Note:  Accept a holistic understanding of ‘collective rush’. Students do not need to capture the speed aspect of ‘rush’.  Accept the lift of ‘rush’. Any 2 points for 2m 1m Question Type: Literal 2. According to the author, why is it important to respect ‘scientific and academic authority’ (lines 18-19)? [2] From Passage 1 Pt Paraphrased / inferred Marks More broadly, engendering respect for authority extends outside the classroom, to acknowledging and respecting scientific and academic authority, building a society founded upon the established knowledge of trusted experts, … (lines 17-20) a It is importa nt to respect scientific and academic authority because it builds a society founded upon verified / well-supported knowledge from authoritative / accredited / credible experts … Note: Students only need to capture either ‘established’ or ‘trusted’. 1m … rather than the capricious whims of ignorant laymen. (line 20) b … as opposed to the arbitrary / fickle beliefs / flights of fancy of those who do not know better / who do not understand the matter. Note: 2-part answer 1m Question Type: Literal 3. Explain the paradox in lines 27-29. [2] From Passage 1 Pt Paraphrased / inferred Marks The binding shackles of authority … (lines 27-28) a On one hand/ While authority severely / harshly / oppressively limits / restrains / constrains what workers can do, Note: Students must capture the intensity of the negative effect. 1m … paradoxically, allows people to confidently take ownership of the work they have been assigned. (lines 28-29) b …on the other hand this / this (these very limits) also permits / enables workers to take charge of / be empowered in their work. Note: To best capture the paradox, students need to use discourse markers to show that the ideas are also/ simultaneously true, even though they appear to be contradictory. 1m Question Type: Use of language / Stylistic device

2 4. In paragraph 4, how does the author illustrate what happens when ‘democratic norms fall under siege’ (lines 39-40)? [3] From Passage 1 Pt Paraphrased / inferred Marks Unfortunately, the breakdown of authority in the 6 January Capitol Riot, where Donald Trump incited an unruly mob to descend upon the Capitol (lines 37-39) a The author illustrates this by using the example of the 6 January Capitol Riot,… Note: Examples do not have to be paraphrased. 1m … in defiance of an election (lines 38-39) OR that was allegedly ‘stolen’ … (line 39) b … where people refused to s ubmit to / accept the results of the election OR … because Donald Trump / they believed that the election was supposedly / purportedly fraudulent / illegitimate / conducted unfairly … Note: Students only need to capture either ‘in defiance of’ or ‘allegedly stolen’. 1m … demonstrates what occurs when democratic norms fall under siege. (lines 39-40) The United States’ longstanding tradition of peaceful transitions of political power bears testament to the power of respecting authority (lines 35-37) c … to demonstrate how the civilised / orderly / non-violent handing over of political authority / change of government was disrupted. OR …to demonstrate how the handover of power would be chaotic / violent. Note:  Allow lift of ‘political’  Students need to show how the democratic norm was attacked. 1m Question Type: Use of example / inference 5. Why does the author conclude the passage with the sentence ‘In the rhythm of daily life, respect for authority is the steady beat that keeps everything in time’ (lines 43-44)? [2] From Passage 1 Pt Paraphrased / inferred Marks a Function The author (is using a figure of speech / metaphor) to highlight / underscore / emphasise / reinforce (his main idea) that… OR The author is (using an illustration) to make it more relatable to the reader that… Note: Do not accept ‘show’, ‘state’. 1m Respecting authority means recognising that for freedom to thrive, order must prevail. In the rhythm of daily life , respect for authority is the steady beat that keeps everything in time. (lines 42-44) b Context … for our daily lives to work predictably / regularly / smoothly / normally, respecting authority is necessary (to provide a sense of structure). 1m Question Type: Inference / Use of language

3 From Passage 2 6. Summarise the disadvantages of blind obedience. [8] Allocation of Marks No. of points 1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9 10-11 12-13 14+ Marks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 From the Passage Paraphrased/ Inferred 1 … turn ordinary people into agents of extraordinary harm. (lines 1-2) 1 Blind obedience can… lead ordinary people to cause significant / severe / extreme suffering / damage. 2 An insidious consequence of excessive obedience is the erosion of individual moral responsibility. (lines 2-3) 2 Blind obedience weakens / compromises their personal ethical accountability / sense of accountability for their actions 3 When individuals blindly follow orders, they often abdicate their personal moral compass, (lines 3-4) OR effectively outsourcing their ethical decision -making to authority figures. (lines 4-5) 3 Blind obedience causes them to lose sense of what is right and wrong / fail to take accountability for their decisions. OR They push the responsibility of making morally right choices / judgments to others. Note: Allow lift of ‘make’ 4 The diffusion of responsibility… allows them to distance themselves from the consequences of their behaviour. (lines 5-7) 4 They detach / remove / dissociate themselves from the impact / implications of their choices. Note: Different from Point 2 – the focus here is on distancing themselves from the consequences 5 History is replete with examples of atrocities committed in the name of obedience … 5 Many cruel / wicked deeds were done in under the guise / excuse of obedience … 6 Progress, by its very nature, requires challenging the status quo and questioning established norms. (lines 12-13) OR Rigid compliance can stifle innovation and progress (line 13) 6 (Inferred) Blind obedience impedes development / improvement / advancement, Note: Different from Point 14, which is about the fear of challenging the prevailing narrative itself 7 Rigid compliance can stifle innovation and progress (line 13) OR where adherence to outdated procedures hinders efficiency and creativity (lines 15-16) OR the relentless pursuit of confor mity creates a culture where novel ideas are dismissed. (lines 13-14) 7 and curbs / impedes originality / inventiveness / imagination. OR and rejects / disregards fresh / new perspectives . 8 In contemporary society, the pressure to conform can manifest in bureaucratic inertia, (lines 14-15) OR … hinders efficiency (line 16) 8 This can lead to slow / inflexibl