HCI 2025 C2 H2 History Prelims Paper 1

This document consists of 4 printed pages. Excluding cover page. HWA CHONG INSTITUTION PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION Higher 2 CANDIDATE NAME CT GROUP INDEX NUMBER HISTORY Paper 1 Shaping the International Order (1945 – 2000) Additional Materials: Answer Paper 9 174 /01 August 202 5 3 hours INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your name and CT class clearly in the spaces at the top of this page. Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. Section A Attempt Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. Please start every question on a fresh page and label each question clearly. If you did not manage to attempt a question, write down the question number you would have attempted on the cover page of the booklet. At the end of the examination, insert any additional 4-page booklets used for responses into the 12-page booklet. This document consists of 5 printed pages, including the coverpage . The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

9 174 /HCI/ Preliminary Examination/ 202 5 1 Section A You must answer Question 1. COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM IN EASTERN EUROPE 1. Read the sources and then answer the question. Source A A fter the Second World War we were saddled with a system, a communist system, which we did not accept. T here was not a single moment when the struggle had subsided for the overthrow of the yoke of the communist regime. And that is why any discontent was used and led us in the direction of overthrowing the system of communism. T his was all about people clamouring for freedom. People wanting to overthrow Communism as a system. Now, the greatest struggle in many ways took place in 1970 as anti-government demonstrations in response to rising prices . It was in fact at the Gdansk Shipyard where I was a leader and was involved in directing this fight at the time. But after the second day of our struggle of that strike it became clear to me that we didn ’t have so much as a prayer of victory; we weren ’t organized at all. We start ed preparing for a serious and smarter struggle. W hat you have here is a chain of subsequent events, which led us to August of 1980 ; the strike organized by workers from the Lenin Shipyard that led to the formation of Solidarity. Extracts from an interview with Lech Walesa, leader of Solidarity in Poland Source B “Communication between the state and society has obviously broken down in our country. Evidence of this is widespread disillusionment, to the point of withdrawal into the private sphere or mass emigration. Elsewhere, refugee movements of this size are caused by poverty, hunger, and violence. None of that exists here. This disturbed relationship between state and society is paralyzing our creative potential … We want protection from violence without having to put up with a state full of henchmen and spies. We want effective health care for everyone but do not