CGS 2026 HIST PRELIM P2 QP+MS

Class: Register No: Name: CRESCENT GIRLS’ SCHOOL SECONDARY FOUR PRELIMINARY EXAM 2026 HISTORY Paper 2 Developments in the post-World War II world: The ________ Cold War and decolonisation in Southeast Asia, ________ 1940s – 1991 Additional Materials: Answer Paper 2174/02 20 August 2026 1 hour 50 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, register number and class in the spaces provided at the top of this page and on all separate sheets of paper used. Write in dark blue or black pen. You may use a soft pencil for any rough working. Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. A digital answer booklet will be provided with this question paper. You must answer in the digital answer booklet. Follow the instructions on the cover page of the digital answer booklet. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. ___________________________________________________________________ This document consists of 7 printed pages, including the cover page. [Turn Over

2 Section A: Source-Based Case Study Question 1 is 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 (a) Study Source A. Why do you think this article was published on 29 December 1955? Explain your answer. [5] (b) Study Sources B and C. How similar are these two sources as evidence about the Malayan Communist Party? Explain your answer. [5] (c) Study Sources D and E. How far does Source E prove Source D to be wrong about the Malayan Communist Party? Explain your answer. [6] (d) Study Source F. Source F was written in 2013 by Chin Peng before his death. Does it make the source useless as evidence about the Baling Talks? Explain your answer. [6] (e) Study all the sources. ‘The failure of the Baling Talks was mainly due to Cold War tensions in the 1950s.’ How far do the sources support this view ? Use the sources and your knowledge to explain your answer. [8]

3 [Turn Over The Baling Talks, 1955 Background Information Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. The Malayan Emergency began in 1948, as British and Malayan forces fought the Malayan National Liberation Army (MLNA) of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), led by Chin Peng. By July 1955, the newly elected Alliance government, led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, sought to end the conflict which had resulted in thousands of deaths and had caused considerable disruption to Malaya's economy and security, He was committed to advancing Malaya towards self -government and independence. In the same year, the MCP expressed willingness to negotiate, and Tunku agreed to meet Chin Peng at Baling on 28 –29 December 1955. David Marshall, Chief Minister of Singapore, also participated. The Talks aimed to explore a ceasefire and possible political settlement. However, they took place amid Cold War tensions, as Britain and its allies sought to contain communism in Southeast Asia. At the same time, the Malayan Government and MCP had conflicting political aims and demands. The Talks failed to reach an agreement. Was the failure of the Baling Talks mainly a result of Cold War tensions or the conflicting aims of the Malayan Government and the communists? Source A: An extract from a newspaper article from London published in the Straits Times on 29 December 1955. The newspaper also published articles from the United Kingdom and was accessible to the readers there. London, Wed. Today’s “peace” talks in Malaya evoked a good deal of interest in this morning’s British press. The Daily Mail claimed: “The measure of his failure is considerable. Chin Peng is forced to bargain. His price for peace in the jungle will most probably be the recognition of the Malayan Communist Party. That price is too high. Both Tengku Abdul Rahman and Mr Marshall must surely be aware of this. Both admit an intense dislike of Communism and are well-meaning democrats. But to be well-meaning is not enough when it comes to dealing with the Reds. Their promises are worthless. If the Ministers try to appease the tiger (referring to Chin Peng), they may well be among the future victims. They should take heart of the knowledge that communism is not getting unchecked among the people of Asia.

4 Source C: Adapted from an extract of a historian’s perspective of the Baling Talks, 2011. The Baling Negotiations were a case of one -side – the MCP – genuinely desiring peace and willing to make substantive concessions to achieve it, provided they could emerge with dignity and a right to participate in politics. The weak position which induced them to negotiate, however, also encouraged the Alliance Party to refuse sufficient concessions. Underlying that refusal was a belief that contrasting ideologies meant that any reintegration would have to be heavily controlled. From the viewpoint of the Alliance Party and Britain, any reintegration sufficient to secure peace – let alone power sharing – was as good as a state suicide. Of extreme importance are the contextual factors in various levels of engagement with the MNLA, including state of battle, nuances of ideological thought and encouragement from outside ideological allies. Source B: Adapted from an extract by experts in Cold War History, 2019. China’s hesitance to assist the MCP was that after the Korean War ended, the UK assumed greater importance in China’s foreign strategy as the British was seen as a bridge to improve China’s relations with the West. The British government adopted a more flexible policy towards China compared to America. To leverage this, the Chinese government agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives with the UK in Geneva in June 1954, to negotiate the establishment of diplomatic relations and to manage the issues of overseas Chinese affairs and trade. Improvements in China -UK relations naturally affected China’s attitude toward Malaya, a colony of Britain. Bearing in mind their own interest, China viewed Malaya’s struggle for independence more holistically than merely focusing on MCP campaign.

5 [Turn Over Source D: From an extract of Chin Peng’s memoirs on his recollections at the Baling Talks, published in 2003. We will never allow ourselves to be forced by others to give up our ideology but wish to put our ideology to the people to decide, if that is possible. I agree that citizens of nations had obligations but at the same time they must have freedom of thought. The Tunku responded with, “Now, speaking for myself, I have no doubt whatsoever, that if they were allowed to take part in free elections, the people would choose our system.” I agreed with the Tunku and said so. Yes, the people would likely vote against us. That was not so much my concern. The princip