TJC 2025 Prelim P2_insert

TEMASEK JUNIOR COLLEGE2025 JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONHigher 1 GENERAL PAPER 8881/02Paper 2 Insert27 August 20251 hour 30 minutesREAD THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST This Insert contains the passages for comprehension. This document consists of 4 printed pages.[Turn over

2Passage 1. An author warns us about the harmful effects of online shopping.1In an age where we can shop in our pyjamas and order anything from exotic fruits to a new sofa without leaving our couches, there is something deeply disorienting about the lack of interaction and loss of human touch in the transaction. Now, the closest thing to a face-to-face encounter is an automated recommendation telling you, “Others who bought this also liked…”. We lose the ability to judge the quality of an item beyond a well-edited image or a handful of reviews. Many shoppers are increasingly disillusioned. Online shopping promises variety, but often delivers frustration in the form of misleading images, vague descriptions and unpredictable sizing. 52Shopping online can become addictive. We constantly believe that if we have this or that product, our lives will be infinitely better. As online shopping grows, so too does the pressure to keep up with the latest trends, often leaving people feeling the need to buy more even after their latest purchase arrives. Many shoppers find themselves trapped in a loop of impulse buying, only to discover a growing problem of personal debt and that the satisfaction of owning more stuff is fleeting at best. And the process of returning the item is a cumbersome chore in itself, which seems ironic given the promise of convenience.10153The shift to online retail has created a hyper-competitive environment where standing out requires more than just offering great products. It requires a constant churn of advertising, promotions and discounts. In this race to the bottom, businesses are often forced to undercut their profit margins just to keep up with competitors. Consider the ever-increasing number of discount days like Black Friday where businesses slash prices to the bone, all in the name of attracting online shoppers. The result? An unsustainable business model for many. These short-term wins can lead to long-term losses, as businesses find themselves in a never-ending cycle of sales events that make it difficult to turn a profit. Like a hamster wheel of discounting, it is fast, furious and ultimately exhausting.20254Brick-and-mortar shops are becoming the endangered species of the retail world. Empty storefronts are now a common sight in city centres, as independent shops struggle to compete with global giants like Amazon. Small stores – those quirky little gems that give neighbourhoods character – are struggling to compete. As people increasingly opt for the ease of shopping from their couches, we witness the demise of that all-important ‘mom-and-pop’ store down the road. As these small busin