NJC 2026 Prelim P2

Name GP Class Reg No. NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE Senior High 2 Preliminary Examination Higher 1 General Paper 8881/02 Paper 2 20 August 2026 INSERT 1 hour 30 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST This Insert contains the passages for Paper 2. ___________________________________________________________________________ This document consists of 4 printed pages.

2 © NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE 8881/02/NJC/26 Passage 1. An author considers why quitting is sometimes the right and healthy decision. 1 Society glamorises persistence. We romanticise stories of entrepreneurs who failed before succeeding, athletes who pushed through injury, and couples who weathered decades of adversity. The message is clear: quitting is for the meek. Quit, and you face jud gment from others, and worse, from yourself. But this cultural glorification of perseverance ignores a critical neurobiological reality. Sometimes, the best thing for your well -being is to walk away. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the decision to quit is not about weakness. It is about self- regulation, and the evidence shows that strategic disengagement is essential for long -term well-being, not to mention day-to-day sanity. 5 2 Your brain is constantly calculating whether continued effort is worth the investment, and its signals are worth heeding. When results exceed expectations, your brain triggers dopamine and serotonin1, increasing drive, and improving your sense of purpose. This does not happen only when you receive a positive outcome but also occurs when your brain calculates the difference between expected and actual results. The reverse is equally true. When reality consistently falls short of expectations, you experience a negative emotion. This is not just disappointment. It is your brain recalibrating, suggesting that your current course of action is not worth the effort. Repeatedly overriding these signals does not make you resilient. It makes you less able to direct your energy where it can actually do good. 10 15 3 The good news is that disengaging from unattainable goals has measurable benefits. Disengaging from perpetual dissatisfaction, and subsequently reengaging with meaningful alternatives, is positively related to higher subjective well -being, reduced psycholo gical distress, and even better physical health indicators like reduced cortisol levels. Quitting, in other words, is not an ending but a redirection. This reframing matters. A goal abandoned is not necessarily a life diminished; it may, in fact, be a life reclaimed. The key lies in recognising when a goal is genuinely unattainable versus merely challenging. 20 4 Knowing when to quit requires two candid assessments. First, honestly assess the gap between expectations and outcomes. If frustration is predictable and persistent, it is time to change the course. Second, critically evaluate whether you are staying due t o sunk -cost thinking; the flawed belief that past investment justifies continued future effort regardless of realistic prospects. Neither assessment is easy, but both are necessary. 25 5 Ultimately, the cultural celebration of persistence is a compelling but unsupported narrative. Our brains operate continuously, helping us determine where to invest our effort. Ignoring these signals invites frustration, anxiety, and, in the worst case, de pression. Sometimes the best remedy for well -being and motivation is recognising when a fight should end. Strategic quitting is not surrendering; it is self -regulation in action, freeing you to redirect your energy towards goals that are genuinely within reach and worth pursuing. 1Dopamine and serotonin are chemicals produced naturally by the brain that regulate mood, drive, and the sense of reward and well-being. 30 35

3 © NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE 8881/02/NJC/26 Passage 2. Another author explains why you should push through and never give up. 1 Any worthwhile goal demands perseverance because meaningful achievements rarely come easily. Difficulties, setbacks, and slow progress are normal parts of the journey rather than signs that you should stop. Many people abandon their ambitions not because s uccess is impossible but because fear of failure, fear of judgement or temporary discouragement convince them to quit too soon. Yet, history is filled with examples of individuals who only succeeded because they persisted beyond repeated disappointments. If you give up at the first sign of hardship, you may never discover what you were capable of achieving. The gap between those who succeed and those who do not is often not talent or circumstance, but the willingness to remain in difficulty long enough for it to yield. 5 2 When the urge to quit arises, resist the temptation to make a permanent decision based on fleeting emotions. Instead, commit to continuing for just one more day. Breaking a daunting goal into manageable steps makes it feel less overwhelming and allows progress to continue. Rather than worrying about the final outcome, concentrate on completing the next task well. Small, consistent actions maintain momentum, and once momentum is lost, restarting often becomes much harder than simply continuing. Discipline, i n this sense, is not about feeling motivated. It is about acting in spite of not feeling motivated. 10 15 3 It is equally important to recognise the progress you have already made. Many people focus excessively on how far they still have to go and overlook how much they have already accomplished. Reflecting on past improvements builds confidence and reminds you that your efforts have not been wasted. Every obstacle overcome is evidence that you have grown stronger and become better equipped to face future challenges. Progress, even when it feels invisible, is rarely absent. Sometimes it simply requires a longer view to see. 20 4 Instead of abandoning a goal when progress slows, look for ways to improve your approach. Obstacles often signal the need for adjustment rather than surrender. Seeking advice, learning new skills, experimenting with different methods, or modifying your plan can reignite progress without requiring you to abandon your ambitions. Flexibility allows you to overcome setbacks while remaining committed to the same destination. The goal, in other words, needs not be fixed in its form, only in its direction. 25 5 Finally, remember why you started. Goals that are rooted in personal values and long -term purpose provide motivation that lasts beyond moments of frustration. Temporary discomfort often fades, but the satisfaction of achieving something difficult remains. Those who persevere not only increase their chances of success but also develop resilience, confidence, and discipline, virtues that continue to benefit them long after the original goal has been achieved. In this sense, persistence is never purely about t he outcome. The person you become in the process is often the most lasting reward. 30 35

4 © NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE 8881/02/NJC/26 Passage 3. An author explores why quitting is so often misunderstood. 1 Last month, I watched a colleague clear out his desk after resigning from a job he had held for eleven years. He didn't look defeated. He looked relieved. And yet, almost everyone around him whispered the same thing: such a waste. That moment stayed with m e. Why do we instinctively treat someone walking away as though they have lost something, rather than chosen something?