2019 XMSS Prelim QP

______________________________________________________________________________ This document consists of6 printed pages. 2019 XMSS Prelim Section A (Source-Based Case Study) Question 1 iscompulsory for all candidates. 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 you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 Exploring Citizenship and Governance (a) Study Source A. DoyouthinktheauthorisasupporterofCPFLife?Explainyouranswer. [5] (b) Study Source B. Why do you think this poster was published? Explain your answer using details from the source. [6] (c) Study Sources C and D. How different are the two sources? Explain your answer. [7] (d) Study Sources E and F. Having read Source E, are you surprised by Source F? Explain your answer. [7] (e) ‘The existing CPF Life scheme benefits Singaporeans.’ Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10]

2 How adequate have goverment policies been in safeguarding Singaporeans’ retirement needs? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. One way in which the government safeguards the interests of Singaporeans is by helping them prepare for retirement through the Central Provident Fund (CPF). In Singapore, the CPF is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare, and housing needs. Under the CPF Retirement Sum Scheme, when a member turns 55, money from his Special and Ordinary Accounts will be transferred into a newly-formed Retirement Account (RA), which has a Minimum Sum (a compulsory amount of money that has to be kept in one’s RA in order to qualify for CPF Life). In return, CPF will provide individuals with a monthly pay-out to support his or her standard of living during retirement for 20 years. This scheme is further enhanced in 2009 with the introduction of ‘The CPF Lifelong Income for The Elderly (CPF LIFE) Scheme’ in view that the average life span of Singaporeans is increasing and many would live beyond 20 years after retirement. The enhanced scheme would provide members with monthly pay-outs till they die. Some Singaporeans are critical about CPF Life upon realising that they are unable to withdraw any significant amount of money upon turning 55 years old as the ‘CPF Minimum Sum’ is a hefty sum, which stands at $171,000 as of 2019. Setting aside that sum of money would mean that there are not much funds left to be withdrawn. They oppose the CPF Life scheme as they feel that the money in CPF belongs to them so they should have the right to manage their own finances and that their money should not be ‘locked up’ in the ‘CPF Minimum Sum’. Study the following sources to assess the extent to whi