Serangoon Junior College
JC2 General Paper 2011
Passage One
1. What does the author mean by the cheerleaders are policing the game with an iron fist (line 6)?
Lifted
2. According to the author, explain why itchy narcissists are the best consumers (line 10 -11). Use your own words as far as possible.
[2m]
Lifted
The best consumers are itchy
narcissists who move from one
fleeting desire to the next,
always in the process of
satisfying themselves, but
never deeply satisfied.
Preliminary Examination Paper 2
[2m]
Answer
The author means that proponents / supporters / advocates of the pursuit of happiness [#1] are
dictating / enforcing [#2] with very strict rules [#3] what it means to be happy / how to be happy.
[#4]
3 points = 2 marks
2 points = 1 mark
1 point = 0 mark
4 points = credit for language
NOTE:
The answer requires the following points
(1) Who: cheerleaders
a. Advocates of happiness
(2) What: policing the game
a. Enforcing the ideology
b. Making sure that people see happiness as a possible goal
(3) How: with an iron fist
a. Forcefully
b. Dictate
c. Authoritatively
1 point 0 m Subject must be
2 points 1 m present before any
3 points 2 m mark is rewarded
Answer
It is because these people are concerned only with fulfilling their own short-lived / ever-
changing wants and they are constantly seeking such self-gratification but never being truly
fulfilled [1]
Therefore they keep buying to satisfy their needs and desires. [1m]
The first part has two components:
(a) What makes them itchy
(b) What makes them narcissistic
The second part has to provide the context
- As to why they are the best consumers
Where there is one point from the first part and another from the second part, 1m is rewarded
Where there are two points from the first part and one from the second part, 2m is rewarded.
Lifting of satisfy will not be rewarded any marks.
1
3. What is the authors intention in the use of the word even in the line even depressed people end up happy when personal
satisfaction is the yardstick (lines 14)? [2m]

Lifted
Even depressed people end up
happy when personal
satisfaction is the yardstick.
Answer
He wants to emphasise /show that personal satisfaction is such a misleading / inaccurate gauge
of happiness, [1m]
so much so / to the extent that when it is used to measure happiness, everyone would seem
happy, including those who are extremely unhappy. [1m]

NOTE:

Intention + () Explanation 2m

Explanation 0m
(Even if the explanation is correct, no marks are rewarded)

Intention 1m

Some answers we would accept:

(1) Intention: The intention is critical i.e. to show how shallow / ridiculous / inaccurate /
misleading / superficial / unreliable the definition of happiness is.
(2) Explanation: Depressed people are supposed to be unhappy but using this yardstick,
even these people would be considered / categorized / termed / perceived to be happy.

4. A happy and meaningful existence depends on the ability to feel emotions...that compete with happiness. (lines 16-18)

What one emotion may the author be thinking of, and suggest how it makes our existence happy and meaningful? [2m]

Lifted Answer
Students own suggestions. Emotions must be opposite of happiness.
E.g. Anger, frustration, grief, anguish... [1m]

Overcoming these emotions will allow us to appreciate more whatever happiness we have. The
events that give rise to these emotions provide meaning to our lives. [1m]

Note:
As long as the response to the second requirement of the question is logical, 1m should be
rewarded.

As long as the alternate emotion identified is not what is logically expected, 0m should be given
for the entire question.

5. ...one of the best-documented examples of a happy society. (line 30)

Why does the author place inverted commas around the phrase happy society? [1m]

Lifted Answer
Inference It is because they do not fall within the conventional understanding of
what makes a society happy, which is associated with material well-
being.

Simply stating that the society is not actually happy is not enough for
any mark to be awarded.

2
6. From paragraph 5, state three ways in which Ladakh today is different from what it was before 1980. Use your own words as far as
possible. [3m]

Lifted Answer
a) THEN: people who lived in harmony with their a) Before, they had respect for their environment and
harsh environment / reverence for nature and love surroundings, but now there is pollution and abuse of the
of life land.

NOW: land degradation b) Everyone used to have friendly and close relationships with
each other, there is now strife in their homes and increasing
b) THEN: mutual respect, community-mindedness, economic differences drives them apart.
an eagerness to share
c) In the past, people were never unhappy or weary of life, but
NOW: family breakdown / a widening gap now they are generally psychologically troubled / increasingly
between rich and poor facing psychological problems.

c) THEN: while depressed, burned-out people were Note:

nowhere to be found 1m to be rewarded if students were to present the following
answer: Before they were willing to share whereas today, there is
NOW: declining mental health a widening income gap.

Characteristics of then and now must be specified.

If there is lifting, 0m will be rewarded.

Responses that simply state what is present now and what was
absent before, 0m will be rewarded.

No double marks for students who identify two separate changes

that occur from a similar situation in the past.

7. Explain the paradox as stated by the author in lines 40-41 [1m]

Lifted Answer
What the Ladakhis of the pre 1980s show us is a great On the one hand, the search for happiness should be about the self, but
paradox: the search for personal happiness is never strictly at the same time you cannot achieve it without reaching out to others.
personal.

8. What does the word zealously (line 3) suggest about the governments attitude towards protecting the rights of man?
[1m]

Lifted Answer
...which holds these as part of the unalienable rights of man. It suggests that governments are extremely serious / enthusiastic
While laws and governments around the world zealously about protecting these rights.
protect the former two...
NOTE:

Acceptable answers must highlight the intensity of the

governments attitude

Accept religiously.

3
 9. From Paragraphs 2-5, summarise the different views about how happiness can be obtained and the criticisms of these views.

Passage
No Paraphrased

VIEW Having more money makes us happy.

a
Science tells us that getting a raise lights up the pleasure
centre of our brains (line 6)

b RESPONSE Only if our fundamental needs are unfulfilled.

but research has also shown that once our basic needs are met
additional income does little to raise our sense of satisfaction
with life. (line 7)

c RESPONSE We tend to have short-lived memories of

mans nature to easily and quickly forget (line 8)

d and overestimate joys and pain (line 9) and we overrate happiness and suffering,

e RESPONSE Thus we eventually become dissatisfied with what once

means that our pleasure at owning what we desire, eventually brought joy.
turns into a quiet disappointment. (lines 8-9)

f RESPONSE To sustain our happiness, we unceasingly collect

constant accumulation of material possessions in order to material goods.
repeatedly refill the endorphin tank in our brains each time it
runs low (line 11-12)

g RESPONSE People who value possessions are not joyful for

those who elevate material possessions frequently find their long.
happiness short-lived (lines 12-13)

h RESPONSE For them it is not the quality that counts

It does not matter what the nature of the happiness-bringing
experience is, (lines 13-14) (requires point 8 to be credited)

i RESPONSE but how long the happiness lasts.

it is the duration that counts. (lines 13-14)

j VIEW Another view is that being smart will make you

the more intelligent you are, the happier you will be (line 15) happy

k VIEW So will being admired by others for your

...and successful you are... honour, by which he means being achievements.
held in esteem by ones peers and fellow citizens. For us, this
might mean being recognised by many for ones
accomplishment (lines 16-17)

The point is about people admiring the individual for their

achievements

l RESPONSE Education does not necessarily promise happiness

Yet a good education does not guarantee bliss, (line 19)

m and in fact depression rates are suggestively correlated with And being smart might make you sadder
education levels (line 20)
Note: Allow lift for depression

n RESPONSE As you discover what is missing in your life.

the more knowledgeable one becomes, the more acutely one is
aware of the lack in ones life (line 21)

o RESPONSE Celebrities also show that being well-known does not

And one needs look no further than Michael Jackson to recognise guarantee happiness.
how deluded we are to equate fame with happiness. (lines 21
23)

p VIEW Religion/spiritual belief may bring us true happiness

religious faith seems to genuinely lift the spirit (line 26 27)
Note: Belief alone is inadequate.

4
 Passage
No Paraphrased

q VIEW Through either knowing there is a God or through mixing with

although it is tough to tell whether it is the God aspect or the fellow believers.
community aspect that is doing the work. (lines 26 27)

r VIEW Selflessness
Charity, sacrifice to help others achieve their goals,

OR
OR
it is in the pursuit of virtues and the honing of ethical
behaviour that the good life can be found. (line 30)
As will becoming more moral

s VIEW And quality relationships

and having meaningful engagements with others

t VIEW Could make our happiness more enduring and

are also good candidates for longer-lasting, more genuine authentic.
happiness (line 27-28)

u RESPONSE Yet it is shallow to assume living virtuously will bring happiness

it is rather facile to equate a meaningful life with happiness. (line
31)

v RESPONSE As it is not as easy as just being moral

is the secret to happiness really as simple as giving oneself up
to virtues, (line 36)

w RESPONSE And is just as difficult to attain as other methods.

and is that any less unachievable than whatever we have been
used to thus far (line 36)

x RESPONSE Being happy is ultimately difficult and eludes us still.

The pursuit of happiness is still a wild goose chase, the result is
that happiness is still sadly out of reach. (line 37 38)

Mark Allocation:

1-2 points = 1 mark

3-4 points = 2 marks

5-6 points = 3 marks

7-8 points = 4 marks

9-10 points = 5 marks

11-12 points = 6 marks

13-14 points = 7 marks

15 points and more = 8 marks

5
10. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passages. [5 marks]

1m 0m
unalienable cannot be given up indispensable sacred and inherent
undeniable cannot be parted / something we cannot run
not deniable (mark for language) separated / inseparable away
cannot be deprived non-excludable vital and unabandoned
not able to be removed something that cannot be fundamental
irremovable ignored sacred
irrevocable indubitable must-have
cannot be taken away unostracisable unquestionable
essential
downright thoroughly extremely ultimate
absolutely to the core greatly
- there is no out-and-out certainly ultimately
extent in the word utterly indisputedly outrightly
- there is a need simply very deeply
to show an completely just definitely
absoluteness to totally utmost really
how happiness entirely way too wholly
can be in every sense obviously
depressing highly
spawn breed develop produce quickly
create gives birth to cultivate
produce mass produce replicate
gives rise to nurture duplicate
generate increase perpetuate
create in large amounts reproduce
dwindled been reduced to diminished to become smaller downgraded greatly
reduced to sharply reduced shrinked downgraded
- element of reduced degenerated rapidly declined cheapened
negative need been reduced simplified plummeted dropped
not be present in deteriorated debased fallen decreased
the definition devalued degraded dropped down to depleted
- accept those whittled down to decreased to small fallen
that comment on whittled down proportion
quantity declined
- do not accept
those that
comment on
quality

backlash strong opposing reaction/response unfavourable outcome recoiling effect

outcry countereffects counter argument
- there is no need strong protest counterattack rebuttal
to present the uproar aftereffects criticism
opposing strong retaliation repercussions adverse/negative
- degree must be adverse reaction protest consequence
highlighted reaction opposite view
- answer must backfire counter
present a opposing view(s) rebounding consequence
reaction harsh criticism unexpected retaliation
strong opposition side effect
11. Schumaker questions the conventional notions of happiness and suggests how true happiness can be achieved. Smith, on the other hand, suggests that happiness is sadly out of reach. Which
authors views do you find more persuasive? Support your answer with examples drawn from your societys experience. [8m]

Evaluation cannot be similar to the authors reasoning.

Examples are part of evaluation.
This question requires for references to BOTH passages
1m to be rewarded when authors arguments are wrongly paraphrased / explained
2m to be rewarded when there are many weak evaluations + correctly identified authors arguments
Max 3 m when there is no balance i.e. there is absolutely no mention of how the alternate author is not more or less persuasive

Argument
Passage One

1. A happy and meaningful existence
depends on the ability to feel emotions
other than happiness, as well as ones that
compete with happiness.
Agree with author: Just like feasting on a grand buffet each day Disagree with author: Happiness can be said to be an absolute emotion
dampens the novelty of a buffet, so it is with the issue of happiness. that exists no matter the situation hence not being dependent on whether
With happiness being in some sense a contrasting emotion as there are other emotions that compete with happiness or not.
opposed to sadness or frustration, indulging oneself with feeling only
happiness, only serves to dull the eventual experience because of
the lack of contrast with other emotions.

2. As higher systems of meaning have
withered, lifes purpose for many has also
dwindled to simply feeling good about
themselves.
Despite being one of the richest Asian nations with $181.9 billion
dollars in GDP, Singaporeans are one of most unhappy people in the
world standing at 131 out of 178 countries. This shows that being
in a privileged position, hence having no logical need to feel sadness
etc, does not necessarily correlate to actually being happy. In fact,
the converse might be true, as evidenced by Bhutans performance
in the same ranking as top country despite its relatively lower level of
development.
Agree with author: As Singaporeans become increasingly Disagree with author : Higher systems of meaning like religion have not
consumed with materialism, evidenced by the growing call for higher withered in Singapore. In fact, it was reported in the Straits Times in 2010
salaries to match standards of living, Singaporeans are finding ways that Singapore appears to be going through a wave of religious revival as
and means to satisfy their needs and desires through consumerist even youths are turning to religion as full-time callings. This illustrates very
leisure activities. According to PayPals research statistics, clearly that these higher systems are still alive and well in our society and
Singapores online shopping market reached $1.1 billion in 2010 and more than that, given Singaporeans purpose in life as evidenced by the
is forecasted to hit $4.4 billion in 2015. Observe any travel fair like growing numbers of people embracing such systems of meaning.
that organized by popular travel agency, NATAS and note the
growing crowds that mill around for a good holiday deal and we can
easily deduce that Singaporeans, while growingly affluent are also
looking for more avenues for leisure, purportedly to feel good about
themselves.
 Passage Two
3. Science tells us that getting a raise lights
up the pleasure centre of our brains, but
research has also shown that once our
basic needs are met, additional income
does little to raise our sense of satisfaction
with life
4. our pleasure at owning what we desire,
eventually turns into a quiet
disappointment
OR
those who elevate material possessions
frequently find their happiness short-lived.
5. It does not matter what the nature of the
happiness-bringing experience is, it is the
duration that counts.
6. Another common belief is that the more
intelligent and successful you are, the
happier you will be
Agree with author: There have been many examples of people who retire
early after they decide they have made enough money to last them
through their lifetime. These people believe that quality time spent doing
the things they truly enjoy and love is more important than earning more
money. Mr Tan Kin Lian a candidate for the Presidential elections this year
has promised, if he were elected, to donate half of his salary to charity. He
believes that $4 million dollars is excessive and he does not need so much
money.
Agree with author: Shopping is one of Singapores great pastimes. Many
Singaporeans women spend their weekends shopping in the various malls
along Orchard Road. Increasingly, a lot of women are shopping online too,
buying from the many blog shops that have sprung up. This occurs very
regularly and very often, a new dress may be worn only once before it is
stowed away in the wardrobe when new purchases arrive. The act of
buying new clothes becomes a habit but the happiness the women derive
from a new dress is short-lived and they find that they constantly need to
buy new dresses just to feel good about themselves, just to stay
fashionable.
Agree with author: To many people, it is not a question of what makes
them happy, it is a question of how long the happy feeling lasts when they
are doing something that is emotionally rewarding. For example, some
people find simple acts like giving to charity bring them joy, whether they
are philanthropists who have great wealth to share, or just the man in the
street who takes pleasure in making others happy. If giving provides an
enduring sense of happiness to the individual, that is what matters, not the
happiness-bringing experience itself. These individuals do not have to
frantically look for new experiences each time to keep their spirits up.
Agree with author: It is generally true that the smarter one is, the happier
he is because he is able to lead a more comfortable life. The smarter
Singaporeans are the ones who get the higher paying jobs, and in a
society like Singapores, which has a cost of living as high as the top cities
in Asia, the higher income earners are a happier lot because they are not
burdened with difficulties in making ends meet. Those who are not as well-
educated or bright face financial issues. For some, their small pay cheques
are insufficient to meet even basic household expenses. Many are asking
for government handouts and other forms of financial assistance. Various
assistance programmes, in the form of education and housing and medical
subsidies and food rebates, are in place to help the needy who wrestle
with this problems on a daily basis, As for the brighter group, having their
basic needs met, many are able to live in relative comfort, finding
happiness in enjoying a good quality of life, through regular holidays
abroad, dining in fancy restaurants and other creature comforts.
Disagree with author: The authors statement is only true if we
assume the additional income is spent on the individual himself. But
if an individual uses his additional income for charity or to buy gifts
for his/her friends, the additional income can bring about greater
happiness. It all depends on how one makes use of money.
Disagree with author: The assumption does not hold true if the
material possession are things which hold sentimental value, such
as a watch given to you by your parents. Our Prime Ministers sister,
despite being well-to-do, still continues to don the watch her late
mother had presented to her as a gift.
Disagree with author: What matters is not just how enduring the
feeling is, but the nature of the happiness itself. It could be a simple
momentary feeling of joy when one watches the fireworks on
National Day or a movie that engages the spirit, or listens to music
that fills the senses. It may just be a fleeting few minutes, but that is
sufficient to make one very happy and fulfilled because it touches the
core of ones being in some magical way. That feeling may not last,
but that happiness-bringing experience is all that is necessary.
Disagree with author: The mentally handicapped and the
underprivileged, due to their condition, are generally seen as being
not intelligent or successful because they do not pursue a higher
education. As a result, many are not able to get high-paying jobs. In
a highly-stratified society like Singapores, highly educated people
are held in higher esteem because they are likely to earn more
money and pose fewer social problems. However, that does not
necessarily make the less intelligent and less successful any less
happy. Many of them, especially if they who come from loving and
close-knit families, find happiness in their own simple ways. They do
not live by the social norms that the rest of society do. Many find
happiness in living simpler lives and not subjecting themselves to the
complexities and pressures of the rat race that the rest of their
countrymen pursue.
7. Yet a good education does not guarantee
bliss, and in fact depression rates are
suggestively correlated with education
levels, perhaps because the more
knowledgeable one becomes, the more
acutely one is aware of the lack in ones
life
8. And one needs look no further than
Michael Jackson to recognise how
deluded we are to equate fame with
happiness.
Agree with author: Singapore spends about 20% of the annual national
budget on education, which contributes to providing subsidies and funding
the Edusave programme. The Compulsory Education Act legally requires
parents to enrol their children in school. Failing to do so would be a
criminal offence. Such are the attributes of the local education system. It
does not help either that the education system is increasingly competitive
and more parents are imposing high expectations on their childrens
educational prospects.
All of these have potentially resulted in a highly stressful education system.
When children of such environments graduate from their various
educational institutions, they carry with them similarly grandiose
expectations of their job prospects. Risk of depression occurs when the
educated individual struggle to gain employment or remain employed.
According to statistics from the Institute of Mental Health, 2007 saw 1,385
new outpatient cases diagnosed with depressive disorder, an increase
from the 1,077 new cases reported in 2006.
50% of university students showed signs of clinical anxiety and more than
one in 10 suffered from clinical depression. Repaying student loans,
juggling finances are believed to contribute to worries, along with sudden
pressures and the competitive job market.
In 2001, more than 20,000 children received psychiatric treatment in
Singapore as a result of school and exam stress, exacerbated by high
expectations from their parents to obtain top grades.
Agree with author: Ris Low participated in Miss Singapore World 2009
and was crowned Miss Singapore World on 31 July 2009. In addition to
winning the crown, she was also named Miss Community Ambassadress,
Miss Lumiere Ambassadress, Miss Best Dressed, Miss Dazzling Eyes,
Miss Photogenic, Miss Crowning Glory, and Miss Best in Catwalk.
Her pursuit of fame may have brought her happiness and contentment but
they were soon snuffed out as she became an object of ridicule after a
video interview posted on the Internet showed her speaking fractured
English.
Her fifteen minutes of fame was quickly dashed as the fame she had
lapped up fervently ended up resulting in her being parodied and criticised
for not deserving the title or representing Singapore in the Miss World
competition.
Disagree with author: While it may be true that education and its
process and outcomes have contributed to depression, one cannot
deny that there is no single cause for depression. Many factors play
a role including genetics, chemical imbalance, stress, physical illness
and negative thinking patterns which affect a persons reaction to
events. Depression runs in families, and the more closely related
one is to the depression sufferer, the higher the chances of
developing depression.
The more educated individual would be more informed about various
risk factors, and so, would be more likely to seek treatment and more
likely to follow the treatment.
Minister of Health Khaw Boon Wan has allowed depression and
schizophrenia to be added to the list of chronic illnesses managed
under the Chronic Diseases Management Programme (CDMP).
CDMP allows patients to get outpatient treatment from their general
practitioners (GPs) (usually a family physician) and have the fees
paid from their Medisave accounts.
Disagree with author: Taufik Batisah was a hopeful contestant who
wished to gain fame in the music industry back in 2004. He went on
to be crowned the first Singapore Idol where he scored a recording
deal with Sony BMG and a management deal under Hype Records
artiste management arm, ArtisteNetworks.
Rather than revel in his musical achievements, Taufik has
been a role model to youths through his various ambassador
roles and also put his influence to good use by leading his
fans on a volunteering visit to the Jamiyah Childrens Home
and has lent his voice to various fundraising efforts such as
the President Star Charity in 2007. He has received special
mention from Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong for being an
inspirational and musically talented Malay/Muslim youth.
Instead of frolicking in the wealth he has gained through his
fame, he has used his fame to spread the good and bring
about happiness.
9. the quality is more paramount than the
quantity... Charity, sacrifice to help others
achieve their goals, and having meaningful
engagements with others are also good
candidates for longer-lasting, more
genuine happiness, according to this
philosophical framework. Mill believed that
it is in the pursuit of virtues and the honing
of ethical behaviour that the good life can
be found
Agree with author: As Singapore celebrates 46 years of independence Disagree with author: As Singaporeans become increasingly driven
this month, it takes pride in its transformation into one of Asias societies, to succeed, not all of them may find contentment in helping others.
and the idea of sharing wealth is gaining broader support. Even a simple act of graciousness may be a hard act to emulate.
Observe any crowded public transport and note how many
According to the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), inconsiderate and selfish commuters are more than happy to hog the
donations to charitable organisations have grown from $381 million in 2001 reserved seats.
to $687 million in 2009. The volunteerism rate has been rising over the
past decade from 9.3% in 2000 to 16.9% in 2008.
Youth volunteering in particular has improved the most over the years. At
23%, which excludes compulsory community service required by schools,
such numbers are indicative of how there is an increasing trend of more
Singaporeans engaging in such selfless acts to help others achieve their
goals.