HCI 2025 Prelim P2 Ans

Hwa Chong Institution2025 General Paper Preliminary Examination Paper 2 Suggested AnswersFrom Passage 11.How does the author illustrate their view that ‘the struggles of individuals across time and space are not so unique after all’ (line 4) ? [2] PassageAnswer (1 mark per point to a max. of 2 marks)A song FROM 1972 describing RIO DE JANEIRO’S RAINIEST MONTH seems incongruous for a movie about A YOUNG NORWEGIAN’S TURBULENT LIFE IN 2021, but it illustrates the scene perfectly. The struggles of individuals across time and space are not so unique after all. a)A song/music can evoke/convey the feelings/emotions of a protagonist who lived in another era and societyb)showing that the same/similar issues take centre-stage/happen today.2.How does the use of language in paragraph 2 support the author’s view that the 1970s was ‘a golden age for Brazilian culture’ (lines 5-6)? [3]PassageAnswer (1 mark per point to a max. of 3 marks)Songs such as “Águas de Março” BLOSSOMED in Brazil in the 1970s, a golden age for Brazilian culture when poets, musicians and producers CROSS-POLLINATED international ideas with local traditions to create a national identity. As various genres THRIVED, it became apparent that these risk-takers were doing more than creating art: at a time when songs had to be submitted to the censors and the dictatorship was known to imprison hostile artists, they still made political satire their mission and EXCITED the public with their ARTISTRY. a)‘Songs such as … blossomed in the 1970s’ means that well-composed/moving music was produced then.b)‘Cross-pollinated international ideas with local traditions to create a national identity’ reveals how the right/best mix has been put together to produce Brazilian uniqueness.c)‘As various genres thrived’ shows that national identity was developing well.d)If the artistes ‘excited the public with their artistry’, their output must have been of an outstanding/superior quality.3.From paragraph 3, suggest why musicians in the United Kingdom recorded a silent album. [2]PassageAnswer (1 mark per point to a max. of 2 marks)Instead, they may recognise more easily the GRIEVANCES of the 1000-odd UK artistes who released a silent album entitled “Is This What We Want?” to PROTEST AGAINST proposed legislative changes that ALLOW COMPANIES TO USE MATERIAL FOUND ONLINE TO TRAIN THEIR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WITH NO REGARD FOR THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS. a)The musicians are making a complaint about/criticising ill-advised lawmaking.b)As the proposed law fails to safeguard their financial interests/allows businesses to not pay them, they might as well not make any music.

4.State three reasons why the author believes that music’s ability to transform society is ‘debatable’ (line 22). [3]PassageAnswer (1 mark per point to a max. of 3 marks)While it is an infinitely creative tool with which to chart the ebb and flow of political and social trends, music’s ability to transform society or solve problems is de