2025 ACJC JC2 Prelim Exam P2 Insert

This document consists of 4 printed pages. GP 8881_2 ACJC 2025 Anglo-Chinese Junior College General Paper Department [Turn over ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2025 GENERAL PAPER Paper 2 INSERT 8881/02 August 2025 1 hour 30 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST This Insert contains the passages for comprehension.

2 Passage 1. An author presents the benefits of obeying authority. 1 In a world where independence and rebellion seem sacrosanct, the idea of respecting authority feels unfashionable — an antiquated virtue marooned in the collective rush for autonomy. But beneath its traditional exterior lies an essential principle. Respecting authority is not about passive submission or blind obedience; it is about recogni sing the structures that preserve order, enable progress and foster mutual trust. Just as architecture depends on foundations to stand, societies and institutions rely on respected hierarchies to function. The global response to COVID -19 highlighted this clearly: in countries where public health officials were heeded — like New Zealand and South Korea — outcomes were markedly bet ter. Where such authority was ignored, or flagrantly disregarded, systems buckled under the weight of disarray and mistrust. 5 10 2 Authority acts as a pillar of learning. A teacher ’s presence in a classroom is not only instructional but also stabilising. When students respect the authority of their educators, they create space for discipline, focus and academic achievement. Conversely, where such respect has been casually undermined or intentionally eroded, chaos creeps in. Teachers find the mselves managing not only unruly student behavio ur, but also the variegated demands of know -it-all parents. Consequently, instead of learning and maximising their potential, students are left navigating uncertainty. 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, rather than the capricious whims of ignorant laymen. 15 20 3 In the workplace, respect for authority exists not to dictate but to direct, ensuring that teams align around common goals. Today’s zeitgeist of collaboration and empowering individual employees has much merit to it, but when taken too far, it can lead to dysfunctional teams where multiple hands vie for control over a single steering wheel. A healthy dose of authority offers a steady hand to guide a drifting ship. Even those with good ideas must, from time to time, defer to authority for the sake of unity. Furthermore, a healthy culture of authority not only empowers the leader to direct — it also allows its followers to flourish. The binding shackles of authority, paradoxically, allow people to confidently take