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NJC GENERAL PAPER COMMON TEST TERM 3 2009 PROPOSED ANSWER SCHEME (Updated 1 JULY 2009)

From Passage 1 Paragraph 1 1. What is implied about American children in lines 1-5 of paragraph 1? [2]

Lifts Transposition

1) It is impossible to be an American parent in Tokyo without feeling a mix of curiosity and envy at the improbably angelic tots who inhabit kindergartens in Japan,

2) who sit in restaurants without trying to

unscrew the salt shakers, 3) who walk by ice cream stands on a hot

summer's day without citing an inalienable right to a cone.

NOTE: Any 2 out of 3 points. Max 2 marks. Pls indicate 2 (max) if students score 3 marks.

1) It is implied that American children are incorrigible and are the very opposite of Japanese children [1]

2) as they are ill disciplined/ not well-behaved/

disobedient/ mischievous/ not well-controlled. [1]

Hyperactive [0] 3) They are also willful spolit brats who must

have their way/ demanding. [1]

Paragraph 3 2. Explain the metaphor in the following sentence: The striking thing about the angelic qualities of

Japanese children is how well the halo survives into adulthood these days (lines 14-15). [2]

Lifts Transposition

The striking thing about the angelic qualities of Japanese children is how well the halo survives into adulthood these days. NOTE: Angel has a halo. [0] Metaphor is halo, not angel. Adult Lift = 0 BUT grow up to have such good qualities even as adults give credit because of the transposition grow up

1) Just as a halo is a circle of light that is above the head of a saint/ holy person/angel, representing his good/ virtuous qualities [1],

2) so the Japanese children are able to sustain such admirable/ immaculate qualities when they become grown-ups/ even after many years. [1]

OR 1) A halo represents a circle of light symbolizing

how saintly/ good/ virtuous a person is. [1] 2) In the same way, the Japanese children are

able to retain all the good values/ virtues that they have learnt from a young age even when they become older/ even after many years. [1]

OR 1) The words angel & halo connote saintly/

virtuous qualities. [1] 2) Therefore, the writer means that the

Japanese children are able to retain all the virtues/ good values they have learnt from a young age even when they become older/ even after many years. [1]

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Paragraph 4 3. What does the sentence As a result of such pressures, Japan has a very low murder rate but a

fairly high suicide rate (lines 2325) suggest about the culture of shame in Japan? [2]

Lifts Transposition

1) As a result of such pressures 2) Japan has a very low murder rate but a

fairly high suicide rate.

1) Because of the stress/ need to follow the conventions of society/ wanting to adhere to norm/ conforming to what is deemed right or wrong [1],

NOTE: Social pressures [0] Lift The culture of shame in Japan is so deeply ingrained/ taken very seriously. [0] 2) most Japanese choose a) to hurt themselves [1/2] rather than b) harm others [1/2]. OR 2) When the Japanese are ashamed of what they have done, they might a) take drastic/ extreme steps [1/2] to deal with

it to the extent of b) killing themselves/ find death more bearable

than shame. [1/2]

Paragraph 5 4. What is the point that the writer wants to make in describing the procedure that the policeman

went through? [1]

Lifts Transposition

A cynic might call this kind of procedure a colossal waste, particularly since parents sometimes bring in children with smaller coins, sometimes even a one-yen coin, worth less than a penny. But the Japanese see it as an investment in honesty. As I walked out of the police station with a beaming Gregory I was convinced that it was a brilliant idea (lines 40 45).

1) The writer wants to show/ illustrate how impressed he is that the Japanese people value honesty [1/2]

2) so much so that they go through a tedious

process/ go to great lengths/ take great pains even for something that is seemingly insignificant/ trivial/ over a 100-yen coin [1/2].

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From Passage 2 From Paragraphs 2 3 5. Using information from Paragraphs 2 3, summarize in no more than 120 words, the reasons

for an absence of a culture of shame in the American society. [8]

There is an absence of a culture of shame in the American society because Lifts Transposition

1. many Americans and their leaders will acknowledge neither the signs nor the extent of their affliction. (lines 8 10)

Americans are blind to/ do not admit the negative effects/ consequences that have resulted from a lack of shame. [1]

2. To do so would require the kind of stern moral self-examination that is now largely alien to our secular ways and selves. (lines 11 12) It would require, too, the kind of reflectiveness that a Behemoth* society would have no understanding of or patience with, (lines 12 13)

OR or for undertaking spiritual soul-searching. (lines 17 18)

They do not think deeply about/ are not concerned about their principles/values/ do not engage in self-reflection [1/2] because such introspection is unfamiliar with people who are distant/ detached from religious convictions [1/2].

3. as we press on with our attempts to create a new heaven and new earth here and now. (lines 14 - 15)

OR

We are so governed by our temporal absorptions and adventurisms that we ignore moral and spiritual considerations. We think of shame no more than we think of sin. (lines 18 21)

(This is because) Americans are preoccupied/ more resolute about improving the material/ physical aspect of life. [1] NOTE: addictions [0]

4. To feel shame is something that hardly crosses the minds of Americans or that discomfits their conscience. (lines 15 16)

Americans do not allow shame/ rarely think about shame/ ignore shame [1/2] to make them feel guilty/ remorseful about their actions/ behaviour. [1]

5. We are, very simply, unprepared for dealing with pangs of shame (lines 17 18)

They do not seem to be in the position to cope with shame in their lives. [1]

6. Shame is a word that has no active place in our vocabulary (line 22)

Americans shun the use of the word shame/ do not often use the word in conversation/ to communicate [1]

7. and when it is occasionally invoked, it has no real meaning for us. (line 23)

and when the word comes/ crops up at times, it has no significance/shame serves no purpose/ shame has little influence on people . [1] NOTE: This is not about decision-making no influence on making decisions/ choices [0]

8. If anything it is a word that is perceived as restricting our expansive sentiments, our rights and ambitions; [that implies or is antecedent to self-restraint], conduces the recognition of self-limitation. (lines 24 27)

(This is because) they see shame as a word that curbs their desires and free expression of their feelings/ emotions, and makes them feel controlled/ limited [1]. Lift: Restriction [0]

9. Indeed, shame is one emotion that is not valued in contemporary life (lines 28 29)

Shame is not appreciated by the Americans today/ has little significance in society/ is not welcomed by Americans [1] NOTE: This point is different from Point 7 because this is about the impact of shame on society.

10. since it is commonly seen as something that thwarts self-expression and self-indulgence. (lines 29 30)

as it is something that stifles creativity/ innovation/ prevents them from behaving freely. [1/2] and prevents them from satisfying/ fulfilling their lavish desires/ serving their own needs/ enjoying themselves/ pampering themselves. [1/2]

NOTE: Any 8 out of 10 points. Indicate 8 (Max) if students answer has more than 8 points. Any lifting of key terms = 0 marks

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SAMPLE PARAGRAPH Americans are blind to the negative effects that have resulted from a lack of shame. They are not concerned about their values because such introspection is unfamiliar with people who are detached from religious convictions. Americans are preoccupied with improving the material aspect of life. They do not allow shame to make them feel guilty about their behaviour. They shun the use of the word shame during conversations. When the word comes up at times, it has no significance. This is because they see shame as a word that curbs their desires and makes them feel controlled. Shame is not appreciated by the Americans today as it is something that stifles creativity and prevents them from fulfilling their lavish desires. (120 words) Paragraph 4 6. What is the writers attitude towards preachers of sexual utopianism? [1]

Lifts Transposition

Preachers of sexual utopianism in particular view shame as a fraudulent emotion, and today their view has been carried to fantastic extremes in all areas of a secular society, in which the pursuit of what is shameless is often equated with creative freedom (lines 40 43).

The author is disapproving/ shows disdain/ is skeptical. [1] Note: Negative [1/2] Condemn/ disgusted [0] Too strong Thinks they are irresponsible [0] Disagrees/ Agrees [0] question is not about stand Against [0] Cannot accept their views [0]

Paragraph 5 7. What is the importance that the writer places on language? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

Lifts Transposition

1) We cannot allow language, which serves as a medium of rational thought, to surrender unconditionally to ideology and dogmata

2) and thus to be stripped of content and

meaning 3) of reality itself. (lines 52 54) 4) Shame is a heart-word that belongs to the

legacy of Greece, Rome, and Israel, and to Western civilization throughout the last 2,000 years, and must be preserved and transmitted at all costs (lines 45 48)

NOTE: Any 3 out of 4 points. Max 3 marks. Pls indicate 3 (max) if students score 3 marks.

1) The writer believes that language is required for logical thinking/ reasoning [1]

2) Language enables us to understand

information/ ideas. [1] 3) Language gives us the truth/ an

understanding of what the world is truly like/ the actual world. [1] NOTE: Real world [0] Lift

4) Language allows for values/ beliefs/ culture to

be a) kept/ retained (NOTE: idea of

preservation) b) communicated/ passed on (NOTE: idea of

transmission) NOTE: Point 4 is about culture/ values/ beliefs while Point 2 is about content/ meaning. They are

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not the same.

Paragraph 6 8. Explain what the writer means when he says that, The decay of words, it can be said, is symptomatic of moral and intellectual decline (lines 58 59). [2]

Lifts Transposition

1) The decay of words, it can be said, 2) is symptomatic of 3) moral 4) and intellectual decline (lines 58 59).

1) The author means that if people fail to see the significance/ full meaning of words, [1/2]

NOTE: Erosion of language [0] Place less importance on words [0] 2) It is a sign/ signals/symbolizes/is indicative of/

reflects/ marks [1/2] that 3) we have degenerated in our values/ ethics

[1/2] 4) and in our cognitive abilities/ depth of

thinking/ rationality. [1/2] NOTE: Intelligence [0] Do not credit knowledge unless it is properly explained. e.g. knowledge has depreciated [0]

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9. Explain the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may write the

answer in one word or a short phrase. [5]

1 MARK MARK 0 MARK

A. imbues (Passage 1, line 25) Inculcates; instills

Plants

B. sagely (Passage 1, line 32) Wisely; in a wise manner/ way

Knowingly Understandingly

Acknowledgingly Seriously Solemnly Gravely

C. fraudulent (Passage 2, line 41) Deceptive; Misleading

Cheating False Untrue Fake Inane Faultful Rendundant

D. imperative (Passage 2, line 44) Critical; Crucial; Of utmost importance; very important; Pressing; Vital; Urgent; Needed; Necessary; Essential

Important

E. ferocious (Passage 2, line 50) Intense; Very strong; Passionate;

Aggressive Fierce (root word) Savage