2

Section A [5 marks]

Text 1

Refer to the webpage (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1-4.

1 Who is the webpage aimed at?

The webpage is aimed at parents who people who want to keep their children actively
engaged over the school holidays [1].

Note to examiner:
Not accepted: just 'parents'.

Candidates must provide sufficient details about parents who want to keep their children occupied
during the school holidays (clue from the first sentence).

2 Look at the photograph on the right of the 'Kids Camp Singapore' logo. With reference to the
information under the sub-heading Why you would want your kids to join, which aspect of the
camp does the photograph illustrate?

The children will get to ertiot:ffin activities

OR The children filmakenewfriemfi. (Any one correct answer) [1]

3 Refer to the section under 'Our Unique Selling Points'. Which of these selling points would appeal
to a parent who values convenience?

(i) ·CamP11�1,11tt,atvaHoiJa••1o;�dc>ps'•toinctffi1:·11titn1t�r11
< ii) ·t?,ffi.-.r.t:�ffili ijuittPnt: ti>lig1,• ij�tt@,11ir c11

4 Look at the box Parent Feedback. Which sentence in Jenny's comment would encourage an
undecided parent to sign up immediately?

The sentence is
tli1iiili:if [1]
 3

Section B [20 marks]

Refer to Text 2 on pages 3 and 4 of the Insert for Questions 5-12.

5 At the beginning of the text, the writer made a trip back to his hometown to visit his sick
grandmother. Explain how the language used in Paragraph 1 highlights the frail condition of his
grandmother.

Support your answer with three details from Paragraph 1.

• showed us how tliifi/gaunt the writer's grandmother is '.

• . suggests that her body has been conl'ufn•6etwbelmed by

suggests that she 1&111Mijlillitlll

•

Note to examiner:
Any three answers for 3 marks. Candidates must show they recognise the different variations of
frail (thin/overwhelmed by disease/weak/failing) in the 3 quotations they picked.

6 (a) At the end of Paragraph 1, what is the tone of Toots's comment in lines 12-13?

Note to examiner:
X angry X upset X disappointed X helpless X serious X stem
Even though she used a strong word (cursed), candidates must recognise the context when
the comment was made (Toots was a lot younger at that time, but was starting to feel the
effects of ageing). She was not extremely upset but just starting to get frustrated by the onset
of ageing.

(b) The writer creates a contrast by following Toots's comment in lines 12-13 with a short three­
word sentence, 'I did now.' (line 14)

What is the effect of this contrast?

point that he

Note to examiner:
'Emphasise' and 'finally' are key ideas that must be conveyed. Candidates must recognise that
the short sentence was meant to be impactful in highlighting that the writer now really
understood and saw with his own eyes what the grandmother was talking about all those
years ago.
 4

7 'My guess was that she would consider that too much of an indulgence.' (lines 16-17)

What does this sentence suggest about the sort of person Toots was?

The sentence suggests that Toots was not an idealistic person /not a sentimental person J
a practical I pragmatic 1 sensible / realistic person/ does not <lwell on the past. [1]

Note to examiner: X Simple X Humble X Has Self-Control

Candidates must infer from the word 'indulgence' and use it as a clue to answer what kind of a
person Toots was if she most probably would not allow herself to indulge in nostalgia/reminiscing
the past.

8 (a) Suggest one reason why the writer felt that the room was 'too crowded with memories' (line
27).

The photographs he was viewing reminded him of his childhood / of his grandmother's
younger days.

OR

He was in the room with his grandmother and sister / people from his childhood and
this brought back memories for him. (Any one answer) [1]

(b) Find one word earlier in the paragraph that captures a similar emotion as 'too crowded with
memories' (line 27).

The word is 'overwhelming'. [1]

(c) The writer compared the emotion in the room to 'images in a kaleidoscope' (line 28). In what
way is this comparison particularly effective?

The images in a kaleidoscope are aoloutful J full of different colours (and. patterns) [1 ],
just like the different rhemqrig flooding into his mind at that time. [1]

Note to examiner:
For (c), candidates must describe the variety/array of colours in a kaleidoscope, and then
compare that with the variety/array of memories in the room at that moment.

9 In paragraph 6, the writer walked along a familiar street. Find two separate expressions that show
the lack of uniformity on that street.

(i) The expression is '(rows of wooden houses} iloiifji: gi (by the occasional three-story
concrete apartment)'. [1]

(ii) The expression is 'iiNN:-j1Ji. [1]

+ If answer contains ' .. .length of sidewalk... " X (Excess Denied)

+ Students must quote from the text directly. No rephrasing.
 5

10 'Once Toots was gone, there would be no one left who remembered that life, or remembered me
in it.' (lines 42-43)

What does the writer remember about 'that life'? Answer in your own words.

The writer remembered that life as

'ml1e

-+Any 2 of the 3 answers is accepted

Note to examiner:
C d ·,1 t
U• st hIrase --··':
'
.
I r . ,, , ,
c::J:•-••Wlfllll-. . '. .'
,/\- ,, ,..,,, _,.:fif. , , �* liiii , ,, -,, ,, . .
1
. ."'';'"···�· .";,
,.,, ,, ...w,,,,.�/4,.',:°ii,-""

11 In paragraph 7, the reporters looked at the writer 'awkwardly' (line 46) and they were 'clearly
conflicted' (lines 46-47) about shouting a question. Suggest a reason why the reporters:

(i) looked at the writer awkwardly.

(ii) were conflicted about shouting a question.

Note to examiner:
Candidates must recognise that when someone feels 'awkward' or 'conflicted', there is an aspect
of tension between two opposing reactions. Candidates must then highlight the tension that the
reporters have at that point in time according to the context of the story and the situation the writer
was in.
12 The structure of the text reflects the different stages of the writer's experience visiting his
grandmother. Complete the flow chart by choosing one phrase from the box to summarise the
stage of the experience described in each part of the text. There are some extra phrases in the
box that you do not need to use.

Stages of the writer's experience

accepting the reality of life concerns about security disregard for personal space

familiar surroundings a meaningful lesson recognising that life goes on

reminiscing the past

Flow chart

paragraphs 1-2: (i) accepting the reality of life

paragraphs 3-4: {ii) reminiscing the past

paragraphs 5-6: (iii) familiar surroundings

1
paragraph 7: (iv) recognising that life goes on

+ Words must be replicated from the box. A number of students left out the 's' in
surrounding§..
 8

15 Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Mary and John, who have read the
article.

There will be little

resistance in I'm not so sure. There
implementing a will be certain
four-day workweek segments of people
who will not get to
enjoy this.

Mary John

(i) With reference to Paragraph 7, how would Mary explain her view?

Mary can say that there is overwhelming support for a four-day workweek / only 4
percent of most people surveyed felt negatively about a national push to move to a
shorter week. [1]

(ii) l�intifytr£g"��Nllij from Paragraph 7 that John can use to support his view
Low-wage shift workers / working single parents / hourly workers (any two for 2
marks) [2]

Note to examiner:
For (i), candidates must answer to the question. They cannot simply quote the information.

16 Paragraph 7 ends with the sentence 'If a four-day week gains popularity, there is a real risk that
it would widen existing inequalities.'

Explain how the implementation of a four-day work week will *iel:i�tfflgi:inilti"�lities' (line
51) between low wage and highly paid workers.

High wage workers already get paid a lot more than low wage workers, and now will get
even more benefits.

OR
The inequality will further widen because now the highly paid workers get yet another
benefit / even more benefits that the low wage workers cannot enjoy/ The low wage
worker will earn one day less wages. [1]

Note to examiner:
Candidates must clearly express that apart from many other perks that professionals enjoy, the
benefit of a shorter workweek is yet another perk that they enjoy but low wage workers cannot
have.
 9

17 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the issues hindering the introduction of
a four-day workweek and the possible benefits of it.

Use only information from paragraphs 3 to 6.

Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be longer than 80
words (not counting the words given to help you begin).

The first issue preventing us from implementing a shorter workweek is ...

No From the Passage Own Words

1 working hours have fallen to the point that any further reduction in work days
that pushing them down further will not have huge benefits.
wouldn't brina such a larae payoff
2 hiring an additional worker became Secondly, with the increased cost of
more expensive, so employers were workers, companies would require the
incentivised to squeeze more hours current employees to work harder.
out of their existing staff rather than
brinQinQ on someone else
3 workweek would have continued to Furthermore, workers' unions have
shrink if the influence of workers' less clout these days
unions had not waned worldwide
4 our fundamental aspirations chanaed and our life aoals have evolved.
5 advertising and consumerism Finally, people also work harder to
blossomed around this same time, attain higher purchasing power.
which set people on a course of
workina more in order to buy more
6 But it leads to a substantial The benefits of a four-day workweek
improvement in gualitv of life include a large improvement in quality
of life
7 a 'ouiet day' to reflect and rest more time to take a break
8 get ahead on laundry, grocery complete housework
shopping, and other chores and
errands
9 having more time to spend with and to be with loved ones.
people you care about
10 Re-balance for working families Adjust things for working families

11 Change the mood of the weekend Alter the weekend mood

The first issue preventing us from implementing a shorter workweek is that any further reduction
in work days will not have huge benefits. Secondly, with the increased cost of workers,
companies would require the current employees to work harcler. Furthermore, workers' unions
have less clout these days and our life goals have evolved. Finally, people also work harder to
attain higher purchasing power. The benefits of a four-day workweek include a large
improvement in quality of life, more time to take a break, complete housework and to be with
loved ones.
(80 words)