2T17
2008 ‘A’ Level GP P2
Answer Scheme
Q1
What is the difference between history and what historians study, according to paragraph 1? [1]
Question Analysis
Type
List clues
Direct – Identify and Re-express
- “What is the difference”
- “according to paragraph 1”
Requirements
Specific steps
1 mark for “the difference between history and what historians study”
- Refer to paragraph 1 for answer
- Identify “history” and “what historians study” in paragraph 1
- Identify 2 separate components near respective quotes:
(a) description of “history”;
(b) description of “what historians study”
- Re-express the 2 separate descriptions to show difference
Similar Questions
Need not be
exhaustive
2006
What are the similarities and differences between the new generation
‘born into the age of the internet, email and mobile phone’ (lines 79-80)
and the children in The Chrysalids? Use your own words as far as
possible. [3]
Answer
Passage
Underline question
words
Bold answers /
context
Everything that has ever happened is history — the past. It begins with
the origins of our solar system, the birth and physical changes of our
planet and the evolution of life forms on its surface, and extends to the
headlines in this morningʼs newspaper, Perhaps it would be a little
presumptuous for historians to claim all this ʻpastʼ as their field of study. In
fact, we are happy to leave whole areas of it to the likes of astronomers,
geologists and zoologists who investigate what is sometimes called
‘naturaI' history while we confine our attention to ‘human’ history. Not
everyone is fortunate enough to be able to devote their lives to this study.
But I firmly believe that everyone should have some knowledge of the
past, as members of a family, as citizens in a community or as 21st
century inhabitants of planet Earth.
Answer
Bold key words
Add your own notes
History refers to all events that have occurred before the present,
including that of nature or the Earth, whereas historians only study the
lives of people. [1]
Note: No ½ marks are to be awarded. Candidates must identify both parts
to score 1 mark.
2T17
Dawn and Renjie / Dennis and Leon
Q2
What is meant by “archival evidence” (line 15)? How might its “dissemination” stimulate new
interpretations of history? [2]
Question Analysis
Type
Requirements
Similar Questions
Inferential – Clarify (In Context)
- “dissemination” and “archival evidence”
- “What is meant by” and “how might”
1 mark each for explaining “archival evidence” and “dissemination”
- Refer to paragraph 2 for answer
- Identify “archival evidence” and “dissemination” in paragraph 2
- Identify 2 separate components near respective quotes:
(a) description of “archival evidence”;
(b) linking of how it is used to stimulate new interpretations of history
2009 Q1
Explain what the author is referring to in the words ‘no reward (other than
itself)’ [1].
2010 Q3
Explain what the author means by calling fast food outlets ‘ready sources
of cheap refuelling’. Use your own words as far as possible [2].
Answer
Passage
Furthermore, the use of advanced technology to store, catalogue and
disseminate archival evidence more efficiently is stimulating new
interpretations of the history of our planet.
Answer
It means categorized, historical records [1]
Note: full meaning of ‘archival’ must be captured
The spread and increased access to this information allows more
people to generate new perceptions of the past [1]
2T17
Jerome and Nicholas / Julian, Guang Rong and Ken / Jael and Crystal
Q3
What do the words ‘or indeed impose’ (line18) tell you about human nature? [2]
Question Analysis
Type
Inferential – Clarify (in context)
- ‘or indeed impose’ (line 18)
- ‘what do the words’
Direct – Identify and Re-express
- ‘what… about human nature’
Requirements
1 mark for explaining the meaning of ‘impose’
- Identify ‘or indeed impose’
- Re-express ‘impose some form of order’
1 mark for explaining context of this human instinct
- Identify why we ‘impose order’
- Re-express ‘seemingly haphazard ebb and flow
Similar Questions
2006 Q1
What does the word ‘rallying’ tell you about the purpose of the call? [1]
2006 Q2
What does the phrase ‘rung down the centuries’ tell you about the effect of
the call?
2010 Q4
What does the author mean by ‘culinary diversity’ and how is it
threatened? [2]
Answer
Passage
'Interpreting’ the past is, in fact, the essential business of the historian,
who is responding to one of the most fundamental of human instincts: the
desire to discover - or indeed impose some kind of order on the
seemingly haphazard ebb and flow of happening.
Answer
The world we live in is disorganized [1] and it is part of our human nature
to put in place rules to make it more systematic. [1]
The words ‘or indeed impose’ tells us that it is in our human nature to try
to make sense of [1] chaotic, precedent events [1].
The words tell us that it is in our nature to try to enforce some structure
[1] on the random occurrences around the world [1].
2T17
Jael and Crystal
Q4
In paragraph 3, Anna Banatvala gives four possible explanations of history in a series of four
questions. Which explanation would support the idea of humans possessing free will? [1]
Question Analysis
Type
Direct – Identify
- Which…
Requirements
1 mark for identifying the correct explanation
- Refer to paragraph 3 for answer
- Identify all four questions
- Identify question that recognises concept of free will (human action)
Similar Questions
2006
Which of the rights mentioned in lines 23-25 would the following deny?
(a) “censorship of views” [1] (b) “banning of demonstrations” [1]
2010
Which aspect of the author’s argument in the last paragraph is reinforced
by the quotation from J. S. Mill? [1]
Answer
Passage
Is there a discernible movement towards an ever-improving condition of
the human race, which may be divinely planned or simply the inevitable
outcome of a material process of evolution? Has the course of world
events been primarily enhanced by the acts of gifted individuals, be
they ruthless conquerors or saintly visionaries, whose words and deeds
have changed the world map and inspired the beliefs and daily lives of
succeeding generations? Is our history determined for us by climatic,
topographical and economic forces which dictate what do and what we
are? Or is history an endless cycle of recurring —- and therefore
predictable events according to the dominance of negative, feminine, dark
Yin or its Yang opposite?
Answer
It is the second explanation. [1]
2T17
Dawn and Renjie / Dennis and Leon
Q5
What do you understand by the “annihilation of distance” in line 44? [1]
Question Analysis
Type
Requirements
Similar Questions
Inferential –Clarify (In Context)
“annihilation of distance”
“line 44”
1 mark for re-expressing and explaining “annihilation of distance”
Refer to paragraph 6 for context
Identify “annihilation of distance”
Re-express “annihilation” and “distance”
2004 Q4
Explain what the author means by ‘our destiny is simply this chameleon
stranger- ourself!’ (line 48) [1]
2007 Q8
Explain what the author means by ‘gender education needs to supplement
mere sex education’ (line 74) [2]
Answer
Passage
Technology is rapidly knitting the earth's inhabitants together more
intricately, but they remain far from united politically. We are still strangers
to each other in our local ways of life established before the annihilation of
distance. We must grow into something like a single family or we will
annihilate ourselves, and it is only by understanding our various ‘family’
histories that we can learn to live together in tolerance and mutual respect.
Answer
It means to remove physical boundaries. [1]
It refers to the elimination of geographical boundaries. [1]
2T17
Kelvin and Zhi Xiang
Q7
‘the only lesson to be learnt from history is that there are no lessons to be learnt from history’ (lines
7-8 ). Explain why this is a paradox. [1]
Question Analysis
Type
Inferential – Language Use
- Explain the paradox
Requirements
1 mark for explaining how the statement is paradoxical
- State the expected outcome and explain/clarify
- Explain the contradiction in the actual outcome.
Similar Questions
2002 Q7
Now that you have studied the whole article carefully, look again at the
opening headline. Explain what is ironic or contradictory about the
headline NO SINGLISH PLEASE, WE ARE SINGAPOREAN.
2010 Q5
Using your own words as far as possible, explain the irony which the
author describes in lines 54-55.
2004 Q1
‘narrow uniform lives... diversity is the new conformity’. Explain the
contrast the writer is making here and in what way it is contradictory.
Answer
Passage
Answer
Historians often claim that they look backward in order to show the rest of
us the way forward. Bunk! Paradoxically, the only lesson to be learnt from
history is that there are no lessons to be learnt from history.
It is expected that lessons should be learnt from past experiences so that
we can avoid repeating the same mistakes all over.
However, the only lesson learnt from the past is that nothing can be learnt
from it. [1]
Note: Candidates must explain both parts to score 1 mark. No ½ marks
are to be awarded.
2T17
Jocelyn and Yi Jun / Kah Leong and Ivan
Q8
What kind of ‘natural happenings’ (line 9) may Lee Min Yen be thinking of, and how do they
support his argument? [2]
Question Analysis
Type
Inferential – Clarify (in context)
- What kind of… may… be thinking of
Inferential – Purpose
- How do they support
Requirements
Similar Questions
1 mark for explaining the meaning of the quoted idea ‘natural happenings’
(line9)
- Refer to Passage 2 line 9.
- Identify what natural happenings are. (Don’t just say ‘disasters’)
1 mark for explaining how do the ‘natural happenings’ support his
argument.
- Identify relevant characteristic of ‘natural happenings’
- Link this to why no lessons to be learnt from history due to ‘natural
happenings’
2007 Q4(a)
‘ paternity was understood’ (line20). What advance in understanding of
gender relations does this refer to? [1]
2009 Q2
‘Traditionally, a man’s position in the society was defined by his work’ (line
11). How does the author illustrate the concept of ‘traditionally’?
Answer
Passage
The daily interactions of the billions of people on our planet - not to speak
of the equally unpredictable natural happenings on and over its surface produce an infinitely complex web of causes and effects which are
wholly unrepeatable.
Answer
The author is thinking about natural disasters such as hurricanes and
earthquakes.[1]
Since these natural disasters are not easy to foretell and may not occur
again, thus lessons learnt from disaster now cannot be applied to future
disasters.[1]
2T17
Darren and Nicky / Jeremy and Han Ting
Q9
Explain in your own words as far as possible why Lee Min Yen thinks its unnecessary to “keep
alive the memory of former conflicts an atrocities” (line 11-12) [2]
Question Analysis
Type
Requirements
Similar Questions
Direct – Identify and Re-express
- why Lee Min Yen thinks it is unnecessary
- Explain in your own words.
2 marks for 2 reasons
- Refer to paragraph 2 for answer
- Identify “keep alive the memory of former conflicts and atrocities”, look
around it for answers.
- Identify 2 separate reasons near respective quotes:
- Re-express the 2 separate reasons to show why the author thinks its
unnecessary
2006 Q3
Explain, in your own words as far as possible, why the author believes
‘There is no such thing as a totally free society’ (line 10). [2]
Answer
Passage
Answer
You often hear it said that we should keep alive the memory of former
conflicts and atrocities to prevent them happening again. I donʻt think so.
The descendants of former aggressors and victims happily visit
each otherʼs countries with no feelings of guilt or resentment about
their ancestorsʼ history. As someone said: ʻThe past is a foreign
country; they do things differently there.’
The children of past enemies tour each other’s homeland without any
shame or animosity about their predecessor's past. [1] The present is
not the same as the past. [1]
The new generation holds no grudge against one another even though
their predecessors used to be hostile towards each other. [1] Moreover,
the way we operate is unlike before. [1]
2T17
Jody and Eileen / Darren and Nicky
Q10
Explain in your own words as far as possible how and why ‘Every age, every country rewrites
history to suit its needs’ (line 26). [2]
Question Analysis
Type
Requirements
Similar Questions
Direct – Identify and Re-express
- how and why
- Explain in your own words
1 mark for 2 actions (how) and 1 mark for 2 reasons (why)
- Refer to paragraph 4 for answer
- Identify ‘Every age, every country rewrites history to suit its needs’ in
paragraph 4
- Identify in what way they rewrite history and reasons why near
respective quote
- Re-express the actions and reasons.
2010
In what different ways is the religious community ‘in crisis’ (line 2). Use
your own words as far as possible. [2]
2006
Using your own words as far as possible, explain why, in paragraph 5, the
author claims that paternity ‘solves the contradiction’(lines 60-61) of the
other two words of the clarion call. [2]
Answer
Passage
Answer
All history is biased. Every age, every country, rewrites history to suit its
needs — at worst by falsifying the record, as in the fictional world of
Orwell's book 1984 or the reality of the Nanjing Massacre, or by selection
and omission to justify current policies and suit the prevailing
climate of ideas. This is harmless enough, but it becomes dangerous
when distorted and partial history becomes the basis of propaganda to
whip up nationalist or religious hatreds.
They distort the facts and exclude or choose only the desired ones [1]
so that they can legitimize their present plans, satisfy the masses and
use it as ideology [1].
History is recreated by the choosing and removing pieces of history, and
also by forging / manipulating the accounts of events. [1] The countries
aim to match the prevalent beliefs in their country and to account for
government schemes. [1]
Note: No ½ marks are to be awarded. Candidates must identify 2 parts out
of 3 to score 1 mark for both ‘how’ and ‘why’.
2T17
Passage 1
1
Everything that has ever happened is history — the past. It begins with the origins of our
solar system, the birth and physical changes of our planet and the evolution of life forms on its
surface, and extends to the headlines in this morningʼs newspaper, Perhaps it would be a little
presumptuous for historians to claim all this ʻpastʼ as their field of study. In fact, we are happy to
leave whole areas of it to the likes of astronomers, geologists and zoologists who investigate what
is sometimes called ‘naturaI' history while we contine our attention to ‘human’ history. Not
everyone is fortunate enough to be able to devote their lives to this study. But I firmly believe that
everyone should have some knowledge of the past, as members of a family, as citizens in a
community or as 21st century inhabitants of planet Earth.
2
There has never been a better time, and never a more urgent need, to explore our past than
exists today. Technologies such as aerial mapping, carbon dating, thermal imaging and deep-sea
submersibles afford historians far greater opportunities to recover the distant past than the crude
shovels and diving bells of their predecessors, Furthermore, the use of advanced technology to
store, catalogue and disseminate archival evidence more afhciently is stimulating new
interpretations of the history of our planet.
3
'Interpreting’ the past is, in fact, the essential business of the historian, who is responding to
one of the most fundamental of human instincts: the desire to discover - or indeed impose some
kind of order on the seemingly haphazard ebb and flow of happening. Is there a discernible
movement towards an aver-improving condition of the human race, which may be divinely planned
or simply the inevitable outcome of a material process of evolution? Has the course of world
events been primarily enhanced by the acts of gifted individuals, be they ruthless conquerors or
saintly visionaries, whose words and deeds have changed the world map and inspired the beliefs
and daily lives of succeeding generations? Is our history determined for us by climatic,
topographical and economic forces which dictate what do and what we are? Or is history an
endless cycle of recurring —- and therefore predictable events according to the dominance of
negative, feminine. dark Yin or its Yang opposite?
4
Whether or not we find a satisfying explanation of the past, our study satisfies another basic
need — curiosity, It is present in our desire to find out about our family and the place where was
live. According to how we spend our leisure, we might be interested in the histories of jazz, or of
football, or of food, Always we ask, "What came before this?” Put together, these various stories
amount to the cultural history of the particular society we live in. and this shared knowledge of what
our predecessors thought and did in their everyday lives is essential if we are to have a sense of
common identity.
5
Reassuringly, we discover that underneath superficial differences earlier generations were
very like ourselves, and it is this ccntinuity of human experience which is the basis of another of
the benefits of history: given that similar causes produce similar results, it can teach us how to
avoid their mistakes and inspire us to emulate their triumphs. For the beneficial changes they
brought about teach us that we do noi have to put up with things as they are. and this gives us the
humility to recognize that our greater knowledge does not make us any wiser than our ancestors.
6
Technology is rapidly knitting the earth's inhabitants together more intricately, but they
remain far from united politically. We are still strangers to each other in our local ways of life
established before the annihilation of distance. We must grow into something like a single family or
we will annihilate ourselves, and it is only by understanding our various 'family' histories that we
can learn to live together in tolerance and mutual respect.
2T17
Passage 2
1
Most people know two things about Henry Ford, He built the first mass-produced popular
car and famously wrote in 1916: ʻHistory is more or less bunk... we want to live in the present...'.
Though they would probably say ʻrubbishʼ instead of the slang word of Ford's time, his sentiments
would be echoed by generations of bored schoolchildren stuffed with dates and ʻsourcesʼ and
consider-the-causes-and-effects-of essays.
2
Historians often claim that they look backward in order to show the rest of us the way
forward. Bunk! Paradoxically, the only lesson to be learnt from history is that there are no lessons
to be learnt from history, The daily interactions of the billions of people on our planet - not to speak
of the equally unpredictable natural happenings on and over its surface - produce an infinitely
complex web of causes and effects which are wholly unrepeatable. You often hear it said that we
should keep alive the memory of former conflicts and atrocities to prevent them happening again. I
donʻt think so. The descendants of farmer aggressors and victims happily visit each ptherʼs
countries with no feelings of guilt or resentment about their ancestorsʼ history. As someone said:
ʻThe past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.’
3
The history of the very word ʻhistoryʻ is revealing. It originally meant the narrative of
mythical or allegedly factual events, but gradually changed to mean the subject of the narrative. Its
abbreviated form — story — is now used exclusively for fiction. As if there is any difference! The
further we get from the past, the more historians have to speculate and fill the gaps with
probabilities, theories, rhetoric and pure invention. Itʻs entertaining stuff but let’s not pretend that
history is anything more than stories based on facts. Even the details of events occurring within
living memory, such as the tragic deaths of Princess Diana and President Kennedy, are still hotly
disputed, despite the mass of evidence that has accumulated around them, and these facts are
subject to differing interpretations according to the prejudice of the commentator.
4
All history is biased. Every age, every country, rewrites history to suit its needs — at worst
by falsifying the record, as in the fictional world of Orwell's book 1984 or the reality of the Nanjing
Massacre, or by selection and omission to justify current policies and suit the prevailing climate of
ideas. This is harmless enough, but it becomes dangerous when distorted and partial history
becomes the basis of propaganda to whip up nationalist or religious hatreds.
5
Yesterday has happened – it’s a safe place to be. If you are a timid, cautious,
unadventurous sort of person, take up history. You can meander round museums, or ruminate in
ruins, and you won't get mugged or blown up. But life is not for the faint-hearted. We don't know
what will happen tomorrow: it may bring something dreadful, it may offer something exciting and
wonderful. But whatever it is, history won't help us to cope with it, In this extraordinary century,
which will be quite unlike anything that has gone before, we need to focus all our faculties on the
way ahead.