zss ss prelim 2025

NAME : ______________________________ INDEX NO : ______ CLASS ___________ 1 hour 45 minutes 26 August 2025 2260/01 2261/01 2262/01 Additional materials: Writing papers and thread _____________________________________________________________________________________ ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your Name, Class and Register number on all the work you hand in. 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 Answer all questions. Section B Answer both questions. Write all answers on the writing papers provided. At the end of the examination, fasten all work securely together. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES This Social Studies component is worth 50% of the Humanities subject. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. The total marks for this paper is 50. ____________________________________________________________________________ Setter: Ms Jency Gracia This document consists of 8 printed pages including this cover page. ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2025 SECONDARY FOUR EXPRESS/FIVE NORMAL ACADEMIC HUMANITIES SOCIAL STUDIES 50

2 SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) Answer all questions. 1 Living in a Diverse Society 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 questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the issue to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 Study Source A. What is the message of this source? Explain your answer. [5] 2 Study Sources B and C. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7] 3 Study Source D. Is Source D useful in telling me about racial stereotypes and discrimination in Singapore? Explain your answer. [6] 4 Study Sources E and F. Sources E and F say different things. Does Source E prove that Source F is wrong? Explain your answer. [7] 5 ‘Individuals play an important role in maintaining racial harmony in Singapore.’ Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10]

3 How successful is Singapore in maintaining racial harmony? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. Although racial harmony is a cornerstone of Singapore’s national identity, there are still differences in how people of different races are treated in society. For example, 2024 findings from the Institute of Policy Studies-OnePeople.sg Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony study showed that racial stereotyping has risen, with 43.5 per cent agreeing or strongly agreeing that they form assumptions about someone’s behaviour based on their race. The negative effects of this are felt most strongly by minority groups, especially when it comes to gaining equal access to jobs, opportunities, and long-term economic progress. Over the years, the government has introduced various measures aimed at supporting disadvantaged groups and improving access to opportunities for all. Despite these efforts, some Singaporeans still feel that more persistent challenges continue to affect minority communities and feel that there needs to be more done to build a truly inclusive society. Study the following sources to find out how racial inequalities in society continue to shape the experiences of minority groups in Singapore.

4 Source A: An online article about a multiracial friend group and their experience watching a Tamil language film, published by Today, September 2024. In a TikTok video, Mr Abhimanyu Selvakumar, 22, documented the reactions of his Chinese Singaporean friends watching the Tamil language film, ‘The Greatest of All Time’, which had English subtitles. With over 450,000 views and 40,000 likes, the video showed the group having the time of their lives, laughing and enjoying the film. Many viewers were surprised to see the Chinese youths embracing a Tamil language movie with such enthusiasm. Mr Selvakumar said, “Given my friends’ willingness to explore new cultural territories, I promptly secured tickets and planned to record the experience for memories.” Netizens found it refreshing and heartwarming to see Chinese youths thoroughly enjoying a film of a different language and culture. One user commented on the video saying, "Now, THIS is how we should celebrate Racial Harmony Day in Singapore!". Mr Selvakumar agreed with this comment and emphasised that everyday interactions are important in strengthening racial harmony. Source B: An online article titled ‘Economic Roots of Racism in Singapore’ by a Human Rights Defender who writes on social issues and equality, July 2021. Ethnic minorities have become victims of rising economic inequality in Singapore. Singapore’s ethnic Chinese population enjoys the most economic wealth and social status in this small country, and this manifests itself in political and material privilege. These advantages are bestowed upon Chinese Singaporeans, regardless of any other intersectional identity* they carry. By being Chinese in Singapore, they start life on a higher place in the scale as compared to minorities. Many see Chinese privilege in Singapore as the root cause of Singapore’s economic strength. Chinese privilege cannot exist in the U.S. or in Europe because Chinese lack economic, social and political power that is engrained in those places. In Singapore, Chinese Singaporeans have power in every facet of life; it’s deeply built into the way things work and is done in an organised way." *The idea that individuals' identities consist of overlapping factors, like race, gender, and class Source C: An extract taken from the speech by former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at National Day Rally, August 2021. It is “entirely baseless” to claim that there is “Chinese privilege” in Singapore, said former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, noting that Singapore treats “all races equally, with no special privileges.” Mr Lee added, “the Government was impartial when drafting our laws and administrative measures, and did not favour any race. This fundamental founding policy was supported by the Chinese community and became the foundation of our multiracial harmony.” On the other hand, he also emphasised how ethnic minorities face more difficulties during job searches with some employers preferring to hire Chinese employees. While some jobs require proficiency in Mandarin, it is not a must for others. If employers still state Mandarin as a requirement, the minorities will find this unreasonable and unfair, said Mr Lee. He concluded that the country’s racial harmony remains a work in progress and that racial emotions still exist despite different communities becoming closer.

5 Source D: From an article published by The Straits Times, a Singapore newspaper, about a Hari Raya short film, May 2022. The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) took down a Hari Raya short film, Messages for Syawal, following criticism for portraying stereotypes of the Malay community. The film features a father who works as a mover and a mother who is a housewife. The