MGS 2026 SS QP+MS

Class Index Number Name : __________________________________________ METHODIST GIRLS’ SCHOOL Founded in 1887 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2026 Secondary 4 Humanities Paper 1 Social Studies Wednesday 2260/2261/2262/01 12 August 2026 1 hour 45 minutes _____________________________________________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your class, index number and name 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. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question. This question paper consists of 7 printed pages and 1 blank page.

2 SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study) Answer all questions. Being Part of a Globalised World 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 using details from the cartoon. [5] 2. Study Sources B and C. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [6] 3. Study Source D. How useful is this source as evidence about the challenges of implementing tariffs? Explain your answer. [7] 4. Study Source E and F. Having read Source E, was Source F unexpected? Explain your answer. [7] 5. “Tariffs bring more harm than good.” Using the sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10] Methodist Girls’ School Social Studies Secondary 4 Preliminary Examinations 2026

3 What is the impact of tariffs? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. Globalisation has led to increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries through international trade and investment. However, while global trade can bring economic growth, it can also create challenges, such as large trade deficits and a decline in domestic manufacturing bases. In response, some governments adopt protectionist policies, such as introducing higher tariffs—which are taxes on imported goods. The main goal of these tariffs is to protect local industries, secure domestic supply chains, and save local jobs from foreign competition. However, protectionism has sparked intense debate. Critics argue that tariffs create new economic vulnerabilities. Study the following sources to examine whether protectionist policies are beneficial to a country. Source A: Adapted from a cartoon published on an online platform, 4 March 2026. Methodist Girls’ School Social Studies Secondary 4 Preliminary Examinations 2026

4 Source B: Adapted from a statement issued by the United States government regarding its trade policies., 2 April 2025. President Donald J. Trump has declared that foreign trade practices have created a national emergency. To protect American workers and strengthen the economic position of the United States, his government has introduced new tariffs on foreign goods. For years, the U.S. has faced a massive trade deficit, meaning it buys far more goods from other countries than it sells to them. This has severely damaged the country’s manufacturing sector and reduced the incentive to develop advanced domestic industries. Furthermore, this reliance on foreign trade has weakened critical supply chains. As a result, America's defense industry has become dangerously dependent on foreign competitors for essential resources. Source C: Adapted from an article published in an American news magazine, discussing the impact of government trade policies., 3 June 2024. Although higher tariffs are introduced with the objective of protecting local industries and securing domestic jobs, they can create unintended economic challenges. Even though these new import taxes initially caused only small price increases, businesses have recently started passing these extra costs onto consumers. Furthermore, financial experts note that massive increases in tariffs historically lead to higher unemployment rather than job protection. This happens because businesses grow deeply uncertain about how to manage sudden changes in their operating costs. Due to a lack of clarity regarding government trade policies, many companies have indefinitely paused their hiring plans, while some have even laid off workers to cut expenses. Source D: Adapted from an economic commentary on the U.S. tariff policy published on a renowned news portal, 3 June 2026. Despite claims that foreign countries pay for the tariffs, these taxes on imports are actually paid by American importing companies. These businesses must then decide whether to bear the extra costs themselves or pass them on to local consumers through higher prices. However, price increases are only part of the problem. Evidence shows that to handle the heavy financial burden of tariffs, companies have also frozen or cut down on workers' wages. Financial reports from Morgan Stanley* confirm that overall labour costs remained stagnant for a year after the tariffs were introduced. Economists noted that businesses successfully protected their profit margins by doing two things simultaneously: restricting worker pay and raising prices for consumers. Methodist Girls’ School Social Studies Secondary 4 Preliminary Examinations 2026

5 * Morgan Stanley is a premier global financial services firm renowned for investment banking, wealth management, and institutional securities. Source E : Adapted from an official statement issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding global trade barriers, April 2025. The unilateral imposition of sweeping tariffs by other governments is a destructive practice that violates international trade rules. It severely damages the legitimate rights and economic interests of our country, harming global industries and supply chains. We strongly urge these governments to immediately correct their erroneous actions and lift these unfair trade measures against us. No nation should mistake our patience for weakness. If other countries choose to continue escalating this economic aggression, our government will not stand by idly. To safeguard our national interests and protect our domestic industries, we are fully prepared to fight back. We will firmly implement decisive, equal, and forceful retaliatory tariffs on their goods until fair trading conditions are fully restored. Sour