Queensway SS 2021

1 NAME:CLASS:INDEX NO: QUEENSWAY SECONDARY SCHOOLPRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2021SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS / 5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC)Humanities 2272/01, 2273/01Paper 1 Social Studies 2 September 20211 hour 45 minutesAdditional Materials: Writing PaperREAD THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRSTWrite your name, index number and class on all the work you hand in.Write in dark blue or black pen.Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction tape.Section AAnswer all questions.Section BAnswer both questions. Write all answers on the writing paper provided.At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.Submit Sections A and B separately.For Examiner’s UseParent’s Signature50This document consists of 7 printed pages and 1 blank page.Setter: Mr Ng Ching Siang[Turn over

2 SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study)Answer all questions.Citizenship and GovernanceStudy 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. Does the cartoonist agree that the cost of bringing up a baby is high? Explain your answer.[5]2Study Sources B.Why was this source published? Explain your answer.[6]3 Study Sources C and D. How far would the author of Source C agree with the author of Source D? Explain your answer[7]4Study Sources E and FDoes Source E prove that Source F is right? Explain your answer.[7]5““Reducing the cost of raising a child is the best way in order to increase the fertility rate.”Using sources in the case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement.[10]

3 Why are fertility rates decreasing in developed countries?BACKGROUND INFORMATIONRead this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.The fertility rate is the average number of children that a woman would have over her childbearing years. A fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman helps to ensure a stable population for a country. However, according to a report by United Nations, many developed nations, including Singapore, have fallen short of the ideal fertility rate of 2.1. For instance, Singapore’s fertility rate in 2020 is at 1.1. A low fertility rate will lead to issues such as a worsening old-age dependency ratio, which means that a smaller base of working-age citizens will have to support more elderly citizens. This has led to many governments of developed nations trying to identify the cause or causes of low fertility rates, and to come up with policies to address these causes, in order to improve the fertility rates in their countries.Study the following sources to consider the causes of low fertility rates in developed countries.

4 Source A:A cartoon published online by an American, 2012. * Premium *Cashmere is a type of high-quality wool that is made from specific breeds of goats.Source B:A poster from I Love Children, a voluntary welfare organisation in Singapore, 2021. I Love Children strives to advocate for having children and educating parents on fertility wellness. Pledge to have kids and receive gifts worth up to $200

5 Source C:From an article written by an American scientist at University of Texas (UT) at Austin's Centre for International Energy and Environmental Policy (CIEEP), 2014. CIEEP conducts research on environmental policies, and influences government decision making on environmental matters.The book, Population Bomb, warned that there would not be enough food to support humans in the coming decades. When the book became popular, overpopulation was seen as the leading environmental crisis, and couples began to reconsider whether they should have children. These dire predictions didn’t come to pass. Fifty years later, average calories consumed per person have risen in populous countries such as India. Nonetheless, global birth rates have decreased dramatically since the 1960s. This is because more women are educated, joined the labour force, and had access to birth control. Scientific innovations like antibiotics and vaccinations have also made families healthier, so families do not have to worry about child mortality. As a result, women all over the world chose to have fewer children.Source D:From an online post made by an Australian blogger who advocates for environmental conservation, 2021.With the world’s current population at 7.6 billion and the number of resources and money it takes to raise a child, we don’t think that it’s necessary for us to bring more humans into the world. I understand that it’s a human instinct to reproduce, and it totally made sense to grow the population and your family in the past, when healthcare was not as advanced and child survival was more uncertain. However, with the future looking scary with fish-less oceans predicted by 2048, and the degradation of the environment, the future for our children and our grandchildren, is not looking bright.Source E:From a speech made in Parliament by Singapore’s Manpower Minister Josephine Teo, 2019, in response to concerns raised about raising children.Parents now benefit from greater support for child-raising. When their first child is born, they receive up to $18,000 through the MediSave Grant for New-borns, Baby Bonus Cash Gift, and the Child Development Account (CDA). In their child’s preschool years, the couple would also find it easier to enrol their child in an affordable and good quality preschool.

6 Our efforts over the last 5 years are significant, even if they may take more time to work. We also need deeper changes of mindset to reduce stresses in parenting. Ultimately, marriage and parenthood are personal decisions, shaped by the values that each person holds dear. But they are also influenced in no small part by social norms, our families, employers and the wider society. There are strong cultural and societal factors at play.Source F:From an article on a Korean news site, 2020.The Korean government has spent a lot of money and resources to improve the childcare system. This has led to the improvement of the country's childcare environment, such as an increase in the number of public day-care centres, the provision of childcare allowances and expanded chances for childcare leave. But Cho Young-tae, a public health science professor, said improving the childcare environment and expanding cash-based support for married couples has not encouraged people to marry or have children as the continued decreasing birth-rate shows.For many married women, they mostly fear that they would be forced to sacrifice their careers if they choose to have children. "What I'm worried about most is that I might have to give up my job. My students would leave for other academies if I take months of maternity leave" said a 31-year-old woman living in Korea who runs a piano academy. SECTION B (Structured-Response Question)Answer both questions.Being Part of a Globalised WorldStudy the extracts carefully, and then answer the questions.Extract 1

7 At the 40th anniversary celebration of the Speak Mandarin Campaign in 2019, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the declining use of one’s Mother Tongue. He cited survey results from the Ministry of Education showing more Chinese, Malay, and Indian families using English to communicate at home compared to the past. This may cause a decline in the proficiency of using Mother Tongue, and cause Singapore to lose her bilingual competitive advantage. As such, the government, families and individuals can all play a role in encouraging the use of Mother Tongue.Extract 2In a globalised world, cultural homogenisation and hybridisation can lead to new experiences from around the world and exposure to different perspectives.Extract 3In a globalised world,