AHS Prelim 2025 SS QP+MS

Section A (Source-Based Case Study) Answer all Questions Exploring Citizenship and Governance Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the question, in addition to the sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use the knowledge of the issue to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1. Study Source A. Why was this article published? Explain your answer. [5] 2. Study Sources B and C. How far would the cartoonist in Source C agree with the journalist in Source B? Explain your answer. [7] 3. Study Source D. Does this source prove that efforts to reduce plastic use are sufficient? Explain your answer. [7] 4. Study Sources E and F. Does Source E make Source F surprising? Explain your answer. [6] 5. “Waste management efforts are effective.” Using sources in this case study, how far would you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

2 How is waste managed in different societies? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. The world faces a rapidly escalating waste crisis. Projections indicate a staggering 73% increase in global waste generation by 2050. This can lead to severe environmental damage, water pollution and health hazards. Proper waste management is crucial to address these problems. Many countries promote reducing, reusing and recycling to manage waste. In Singapore, the Zero Waste Masterplan, part of the SG Green Plan 2030, was implemented to foster sustainable living and minimise waste sent to the Semakau Landfill. Similarly, Japan enforces strict recycling laws to handle waste effectively, with local communities educating residents on proper waste segregation. Despite these efforts, environmentalists warn that recycling alone is insufficient. They emphasize the need to reduce overall waste generation and encourage more sustainable lifestyles to truly tackle the growing waste crisis and protect the environment for future generations. Study the following sources to find out how waste is managed in different societies. Source A: An online article about eco-friendliness, written by a journalist, for a well-known international newspaper. When my daughter was in preschool, we played a clean-up game on the iPad together. We looked at an object and sorted it into the correct bin: trash, recycle, reuse, compost. The mindset of "do your part, recycling is smart," misleads us into believing that recycling alone is enough. More than 90% of recycling ends up in landfills, rather than being converted to new material. Now, my daughter has learned modern eco-friendly practices from school, television, games and songs. She'd like to reuse every bottle, can and carton for crafts. Wanting to encourage her, I picked up a book on crafting with recycled materials. Now, thanks to my kids, we craft with cartons and recycle bottles left on the ground. © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2260/01, 2261/01, 2262/01, 2263/01/S4Prelims/25

3 Source B: Adapted from a newspaper article on recycling efforts in Singapore, published by the Straits Times. Conducted from April to June 2023, a survey of 2,180 respondents found that 89 per cent were aware that common items like rinsed plastic shampoo or detergent bottles can be placed in recycling bins and chutes, up from 71 per cent in 2021. However, contamination remains a major challenge for domestic recycling in Singapore. When non-recyclables like food are thrown into the bins, they spoil the entire batch, which must be discarded into landfills. The National Environment Agency estimates the contamination rate at about 40 per cent. Zero Waste SG executive director noted that while more households are recycling, doubts remain about whether recyclables in blue bins are properly processed. She added that the high contamination rate has discouraged some from recycling, based on feedback from residents, companies and schools. Source C: A cartoon by a New Zealand cartoonist, depicting a businessman presenting his company’s recycling efforts to the government agency. Source D: A cartoon by an award-winning Canadian cartoonist. This cartoon was published on many international websites discussing plastic use. © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2260/01, 2261/01, 2262/01, 2263/01/S4Prelims/25

4 © Anglican High School Humanities Department 2025 2260/01, 2261/01, 2262/01, 2263/01/S4Prelims/25

5 Source E: From an online article published by a non-profit organization who believes in creating a better world. The Zero Waste Center in Kamikatsu, Japan, resembles a unique flea market, with everything from bottle caps to thermometers neatly sorted into rows of yellow baskets. Residents carefully separate waste into 45 categories — a challenging task, but one they’re committed to. The town of less than 2,000 people has become a world-leading example of how a community can eliminate waste. Today, only a few types of waste, like PVC* and disposable diapers, are incinerated. Even that is changing, as since 2017, the town has provided reusable cloth diaper starter kits to families with infants to further cut waste. Japan has made progress in recycling laws, waste sorting and thermal recycling technology. However, it remains the world’s second-largest producer of plastic packaging waste, with high consumption of disposable items. A shift in mindset is needed to reduce unnecessary waste. *PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a common, strong plastic used in many everyday items like water pipes and flexible materials such as raincoats and electrical wire coatings. Source F: From an online article highlighting waste management measures adopted by some countries. This was published by a group of companies who specialise in waste management solutions throughout the United Arab Emirates. Germany has no match when it comes to implementing robust waste management and plastic reduction practices. The country recycles about 67% of its waste owing to its mandatory waste sorting as well as impressive deposit refund schemes. Germany implemented the Packaging Act in 2019 which was aimed at reducing excessive packaging. This law requires manufacturers to contribute to the cost of recycling their packaging which incentivizes the less use of plastic-based packaging materials. Another innovative policy that Germany