Jc2 Summary Package 2010

8/3/2019 Jc2 Summary Package 2010

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SUMMARY PRACTICEVJC PRELIMS 2009

In all of these films we see the world in transition as we are living it. All have managed tobreak the cycle of remakes in which Hollywood has been stuck by telling new stories --something American filmmakers, who have prided themselves on their imagination andoriginality, once excelled at. Meanwhile, with ever fewer exceptions, American filmmakers toooften grind out formulaic, shock and awe blockbusters with the inevitable gratuitous violence,sex and special effects that may be winning the battle of Monday morning grosses, but arelosing the war for hearts and minds. For all their brawn, American filmmakers, like thegenerals in Iraq, are in danger of losing the battle of ideas.

In this sense, Hollywood's "Mission Impossible III" has a lot more in common with GeorgeBush's "mission accomplished" than we might have suspected. Despite America's continuing,but diminishing, dominance, its ability to win hearts and minds is draining away. In cinema, asin politics during the information age, it is all about whose story wins. Just as America's imagehas fallen in world opinion because of the Iraq war, audience trends for Americanblockbusters are beginning to show a decline as well, both at home and abroad. For years,the big blockbusters have grossed more abroad than at home, where infatuation withcontrived spectacle has waned. But something out there is stirring. Even long-time Americancultural colonies like Japan and Germany are beginning to turn to the home screen. For thefirst time in decades more than half of cinema admissions went to local films in Japan during2006 while German admissions for domestic films hit a post-war high of nearly 25 per cent.

This suggests they are headed to where TV viewers have long been.

The heat is on in Hollywood due to this change in climate, adding further woe to the digital-distribution- "You Tube" -nightmares of the studios. What's happening is that globalizationaccompanied by technological change is hitting Tinsel Town just like every other industry. Justas the post-World War II American order that defeated communism paved the way for neweconomic and political competitors from Asia to Europe to Brazil, so too American-led post-Cold War globalization -- and its backlash -- has led to cultural competition. This suggests thatwe may be seeing the beginning of the end of the century-long honeymoon of Hollywood, atleast in its American incarnation, with the world.

Now that globalization has moved us all into the same neighbourhood, more and more peopleout there on the former periphery want to see their own stories on the screen, to see what isin their imagination and culture, at least as much as they might enjoy the latest offeringsfrom LucasFilm or Pixar. Filmmaker Gonzalez Inarritu best captures what's happening. "Theworld is changing," he says. "The film community is now a global film community. It’s notanymore about cultural barriers or language barriers. It’s about emotion and humanity. Weare using the power of cinema to cross borders. We understand that now there's a connectionthat needs to happen." In our global age movies must expose "the point of view of others, of those on the other side," he says. And it must be done with dignity, not portraying ThirdWorld faces as mere victims nor Japanese as cartoon caricatures.

Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5, summarise the authors’ argument that Hollywoodblockbusters have declined. Using your own words as far as possible, write your answerin no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which are printed below.

[7] One reason for the decline of the Hollywood blockbusters is…



VJC Prelims 2009: Student Copy

From the passage Paraphrase1. … the cycle of remakes in which

Hollywood has been stuck (line 8)

2. American filmmakers, who haveprided themselves on theirimagination and originality, onceexcelled at [telling new stories] (line9)

3. American filmmakers too often grindout formulaic, shock and aweblockbusters ...(line 10-11)

4. ...with the inevitable gratuitousviolence, sex and special effects(line 11)

5. [The blockbusters] may be winning

the battle of Monday morninggrosses, but are losing the warfor hearts and mindlines. For alltheir brawn, American filmmakers,like the generals in Iraq, are indanger of losing the battle of ideas. (line 12-4)

6. At home, [...] infatuation withcontrived spectacle has waned.(line 21-22)

7. Even long-time American cultural

colonies like Japan and Germany arebeginning to turn to the homescreen. (line 22-23)

8. the digital -distribution - "You Tube" - nightmares of the studios(line 27-28)

9. [The backlash against] American-ledpost- Cold War globalization [...] hasled to cultural competition . (line30)

10. People…want to see their ownstories on the screen, to see what isin their imagination and culture(line 36-37)

11.

It’s about humanity…And it must bedone with dignity, not portraying

Third World faces as mere victims nor Japanese as cartoon caricatures(line 39, 43-44)



VJC Prelims 2009Answer Scheme

From the passage Paraphrase1. … the cycle of remakes in which

Hollywood has been stuck (line 8) They are trapped in the pattern of making new versions of old movies.

2. American filmmakers, who haveprided themselves on theirimagination and originality, onceexcelled at [telling new stories](line 9)

American filmmakers have lost theiringenuity/ability to come up with freshideas and stories/losing creativity

3. American filmmakers too oftengrind out formulaic, shock andawe blockbusters ...(line 10-11)

They produce in large numbers/churn out(1/2) movies that conform to a template(1/2)

4. ...with the inevitable gratuitousviolence, sex and special effects(line 11)

... of mindless/pointless/superfluous/unnecessary (1/2) brutality, titillationand technical displays. (any 2 for ½)

5. [The blockbusters] may be winningthe battle of Monday morninggrosses, but are losing the war

for hearts and mindlines. For alltheir brawn, American filmmakers,like the generals in Iraq, are indanger of losing the battle of ideas. (line 12-4)

These movies have high box officetakings but are unable to engage theaudience emotionally, intellectually and

artistically/showing creativity

6. At home, [...] infatuation withcontrived spectacle has waned.(line 21-22)

the popularity/craze for such stiltedextravagance has diminished.

7. Even long-time Americancultural colonies like Japan andGermany are beginning to turn tothe home screen. (line 22-23)

Countries that used to have greatdemand for/embraced American media(1/2) have abandoned them for their ownproducts.

8. the digital -distribution - "You Tube" - nightmares of the studios(line 27-28)

Internet piracy has significantly reducedthe blockbuster’s profits

9. [The backlash against] American-led post- Cold War globalization [...]has led to cultural competition .(line 30)

Rejection of American ideologicalhegemony has led to audiencesfavouring movies from other countries.

10. People…want to see their ownstories on the screen, to see what isin their imagination and culture(line 36-37)

Due to the global aspect of the movies,people now want to see their way of life/local issues/local concerns ratherthan those presented by Hollywood

11.

It’s about humanity…And it must bedone with dignity, not portraying

Third World faces as mere victimsnor Japanese as cartoon caricatures(line 39, 43-44)

Hollywood depiction of other cultureswas inaccurate/stereotypical/inaccurate(1/2) and not disrespectful (1/2)



SUMMARY PRACTICEACJC PRELIMS 2009

It certainly seems that ever-larger portions of the globe are under active reconstruction:being rebuilt by a parallel government made up of a familiar cast of for-profit consultingfirms, engineering companies, mega-NGOs, government and UN aid agencies andinternational financial institutions. And from the people living in these reconstruction sites –Iraq to Aceh, Afghanistan to Haiti – a similar chorus of complaints can be heard. The work isfar too slow, if it is happening at all. Foreign consultants live high on cost-plus expenseaccounts and thousand-dollar-a-day salaries, while locals are shut out of much-needed jobs,training and decision-making. The funds received for the benefit of the victims are directedto the benefit of the privileged few, not to the real victims. Expert "democracy builders"lecture governments on the importance of transparency and "good governance," yet mostcontractors and NGOs refuse to open their books to those same governments, let alone givethem control over how their aid money is spent.

But if the reconstruction industry is stunningly inept at rebuilding, that may be becauserebuilding is not its primary purpose. According to Guttal, "It's not reconstruction at all – it'sabout reshaping everything." If anything, the stories of corruption and incompetence serveto mask this deeper scandal: the rise of a predatory form of disaster capitalism that uses thedesperation and fear created by catastrophe to engage in radical social and economicengineering. And on this front, the reconstruction industry works so quickly and efficientlythat the privatisations and land grabs are usually locked in before the local populationknows what hit them.Rapid response to wars and natural disasters has traditionally been the domain of UnitedNations agencies, which worked with NGOs to provide emergency aid, build temporaryhousing and the like. But now reconstruction work has been revealed as a tremendouslylucrative industry, too important to be left to the do-gooders at the UN. So today it is theWorld Bank, already devoted to the principle of poverty-alleviation through profit-making,that leads the charge. And there is no doubt that there are profits to be made in thereconstruction business.

But shattered countries are attractive to the World Bank for another reason: they takeorders well. After a cataclysmic event, governments will usually do whatever it takes to getaid dollars – even if it means racking up huge debts and agreeing to sweeping policyreforms. And with the local population struggling to find shelter and food, political organisingagainst privatisation can seem like an unimaginable luxury. Even better from the bank'sperspective, many war-ravaged countries are in states of "limited sovereignty": they areconsidered too unstable and unskilled to manage the aid money pouring in, so it is often putin a trust fund managed by the World Bank.

Using material from paragraphs 2 to 5, summarise the various ways in which aidorganisations and related agencies take advantage of disaster-hit countries and victims tobenefit themselves, and the reasons why it is easy for them to do so. [8]

Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words printedbelow. Use your own words as far as possible .

Aid organizations and related agencies….



ACJC PRELIMS 2009: STUDENT COPY

Lifted phrases Paraphrased

1 Foreign consultants live high on cost-plus expense accounts andthousand-dollar-a-day salaries(lines 9-10)

2 locals are shut out of much-needed jobs, training and decision-making((line 11)

3 The funds received for the benefit of the victims are directed to thebenefit of the privileged few, notthe real victims ((lines 11-12)

4 most contractors and NGOs refuse toopen their books to those samegovernments, let alone give themcontrol over how their aid moneyis spent .( (lines 14-15)

5 uses the desperation and fearcreated …((lines 19-20)

Engage in radical social andeconomic engineering (line 20) ORIt’s not reconstruction at all…it’s aboutreshaping everything ((lines 17-18)

6 privatisations and land grabs areusually locked in … . (lines 20-22)

7 And on this front, the reconstructionindustry works so quickly andefficiently

…before the local populationknows what hit them . (line 22)

8 reconstruction work has been revealedas a tremendously lucrativeindustry… (line 25)And there is no doubt that there areprofits to be made in thereconstruction business. (lines 27-28)

familiar cast of for-profit consultingfirms…((line 6)



9

But shattered countries are attractiveto the World Bank for another reason:they take orders well . ((line 29)

OR

After a cataclysmic event,governments will usually dowhatever it takes to get aid dollars -even if it means racking up hugedebts and agreeing to sweeping policyreforms. (lines 30 -31)

10

And with the local populationstruggling to find shelter andfood, political organizing againstprivatization can seem like anunimaginable luxury ((lines 31-33)

11

they are considered too unstableand unskilled to manage the aidmoney pouring in , so it is often put

in a trust fund managed by the WorldBank. (lines 33-35)



ACJC PRELIMS 2009ANSWER SCHEME

Lifted phrases Paraphrased

1 Foreign consultants live high oncost-plus expense accountsand thousand-dollar-a-daysalaries (lines 9-10)

“Various ways aid organisations and relatedagencies take advantage:

Aid organisations and related agencies

make disaster-hit countries hire experts from othercountries who enjoy very high pay (as well as goodperks). (1m)

2 locals are shut out of much-needed jobs, training anddecision-making ((line 11)

Local people are deprived of/ excluded fromemployment/ skills development opportunities( ½m), and they have no autonomy. ( ½ m)

3 The funds received for the benefitof the victims are directed to thebenefit of the privileged few,not the real victims ((lines 11-12)

Aid money meant for those affected by disasters islavished on the elite few. (1m)

4 most contractors and NGOs refuseto open their books to thosesame governments, let alone givethem control over how their aidmoney is spent .( (lines 14-15)

Most aid related organisations deny localgovernments access to information/transparency(on how funds are being used), ( ½ m)and deny them the power to manage these funds/decide how these funds are used. ( ½ m)

5 uses the desperation and fearcreated …((lines 19-20)

Engage in radical social andeconomic engineering (line 20)ORIt’s not reconstruction at all…it’sabout reshaping everything((lines 17-18)

Organisations exploit the helplessness and theprevalent anxiety/ apprehension to …( ½ m)

….to bring about drastic changes in the country.( ½ m) OR…to bring about full transformation rather thanmerely rebuilding the country. ( ½ m)

6 privatisations and land grabsare usually locked in … . (lines20-22)

that many government agencies become privatelyowned/ corporatised and property contracts aresigned …( 1m)

7 And on this front, thereconstruction industry works soquickly and efficiently

…before the local population

knows what hit them . (line 22)

The changes or reforms are implemented so fastand effectively. ( ½ m)

…such that the people are completely taken bysurprise/ do not understand what has happened.

( ½ m)8 reconstruction work has been

revealed as a tremendouslylucrative industry… (line 25)And there is no doubt that thereare profits to be made in thereconstruction business. (lines 27-28)

familiar cast of for-profitconsulting firms…((line 6)

The reconstruction industry takes the opportunityto make lots of money out of the re-building efforts.(1m)



9

But shattered countries areattractive to the World Bank foranother reason: they take orderswell . ((line 29)OR

After a cataclysmic event,governments will usually dowhatever it takes to get aiddollars - even if it means rackingup huge debts and agreeing tosweeping policy reforms. (lines 30-31)

Reasons why it is easy for aid organisations to takeadvantage of disaster-hit countries:

Disaster-hit countries comply willingly withinstructions and conditions set in order to securefunds. (1m)

OR

Disaster-hit countries are willing to do anything tosecure the funds/donations. (1m)

10

And with the local populationstruggling to find shelter andfood, political organizingagainst privatization can seem likean unimaginable luxury ((lines31-33)

Disaster victims are too preoccupied/ grappling withsecuring basic necessities, which makes protestingagainst corporatisation simply inconceivable. (1m)

1

1

they are considered too

unstable and unskilled tomanage the aid money pouringin , so it is often put in a trust fundmanaged by the World Bank. (lines33-35)

Disaster-hit countries are perceived to be politically

chaotic and incompetent in dealing with relief fundsthus this responsibility is given to aid organisations.(1m)



SUMMARY PRACTICEMJC PRELIMS 2009

Using material from paragraphs 5-7, summarise the author’s justifications for why love andstatus matter to us. [7]

Write your summary in no more than 120 words, not counting the opening words which areprinted below. Use your own words as far as possible .

Love and status matter to us because…

Love and status matter to us in part because they offer us protection - way beyond thatoffered by sturdy walls, food and warmth. We are frail creatures unable to survive on ourown against the challenges of nature and the aggressions of social life. Without allies onwhom we can depend, there will be no one who will defend us against our enemies andshelter us in our crises. Having status could be viewed as a sign that we will have access tosuch allies - and that we are as a result less likely to meet with an ugly and premature end. Itfollows that our sadness at the disapproval or neglect of others (and hence our anxiety aboutlow status) is a natural response to a potential increase in danger.

To be ignored is not only unpleasant, it is also, from an evolutionary perspective, unsafe. Weare programmed to sense how a community perceives us in order for our continued survivalas a species. We are the descendants of people who kept a close eye on what others thoughtof them. As William James said, "I should not be alive now had I not become sensitive tolooks of approval or disapproval on the faces among which my life is cast."

There is perhaps a psychological reason why we require the love of those around us: how wefeel about ourselves depends to an awkwardly large degree on how others feel about us. Theworld's approval promotes self-acceptance, its condemnation self-hatred. We need others tolike us in order that we may like ourselves. Being an object of concern reaffirms ourexistence, and further helps us to see the positive selves within us, while sidelining ournegativities. Such malleability seems a strange, regrettable quirk of our make-up. Ideally,what someone thought of me would not affect what I thought of me. That is, if I weresomeone who did not need to belong, nor be respected.



MJC PRELIMS 2009: STUDENT COPY

Love and status matter to usbecause…

Answer

1. they offer us protection

2. against the challenges of natureand the aggressions of social life(l. 39 ).

3. Love gives us ‘ allies on whom wecan depend ’ ( l. 40 );

4. Status ‘could be viewed as a signthat we will have access to such

allies’. ( l. 42 )

5. We are ‘less likely to meet with anugly and premature end ’ and(l. 42-43 )

6. we have been geneticallyconditioned / programmed.(generalised from para. 6 )

Phrases that lead to thisgeneralisation:- ‘an evolutionary perspective' (l. 46)- ‘programmed to sense’ (l. 47)- ‘descendants of people’ (l. 48)

7. Love and status affect ‘how we feelabout ourselves’. ( l. 53 ) and‘promote self-acceptance ’. ( l. 58 )

8. ‘Being an object of concernreaffirms our existence ’ ( l. 55-56 )

9. and ‘helps us to see the positiveselves within us, while sideliningour negativities ’ ( l. 56-57 )

10. We fundamentally ‘ need to belong ’and ‘ be respected ’. ( l. 59 )





MJC PRELIMS 2009ANSWER SCHEME

Love and status matter to usbecause…

Answer

1. they offer us protection they keep us safe / gives us security2. against the challenges of nature

and the aggressions of social life (l.39 ).

from the demands / threats from ourenvironment and ulterior motives of fellow men / people around us.

3. Love gives us ‘ allies on whom wecan depend ’ ( l. 40 );

Love provides us with comrades / friendswhom we can trust ,

Critical element: “on whom we candepend”

4. Status ‘could be viewed as a sign thatwe will have access to such allies’. ( l.42 )

and status tells us that we can / gives usthe ability to call upon them.

5. We are ‘less likely to meet with anugly and premature end ’ and(l. 42-43 )

There are fewer chances of us sufferingterrible consequences earlier thanexpected / dying earlier / meeting ourdemise too early. / There are higherchances of survival / surviving adversity.

Learning point: “Dying” is not a good paraphrase.

6. we have been geneticallyconditioned / programmed.(generalised from para. 6 )

Phrases that lead to thisgeneralisation:- ‘an evolutionary perspective' (l. 46)- ‘programmed to sense’ (l. 47)- ‘descendants of people’ (l. 48)

We have been genetically conditioned /made through long periods of time torecognise its importance for ourcontinued existence / in keeping us alive /innate need to survive based on love.

(generalised from para. 7)Exercise marker’s discretion.

7. Love and status affect ‘how we feelabout ourselves’. ( l. 53 ) and ‘promoteself-acceptance ’. ( l. 58 )

It determines how we see ourselves /determines our levels of self-esteem /helps us increase our satisfaction withourselves / be happy with who we are /accept ourselves for who we are.

8. ‘Being an object of concern reaffirmsour existence ’ ( l. 55-56 )

Having others care about us validates andconfirms why we matter / reminds us of why we matter

(1/2) for paraphrasing ‘existence’ as‘presence’.

9. and ‘helps us to see the positiveselves within us, while sideliningour negativities ’ ( l. 56-57 )

and shows us our strengths and pushesour weaknesses into the background /focuses on our strengths while hiding ourweaknesses / helps us be optimistictowards ourselves.

10. We fundamentally ‘ need to belong ’and ‘ be respected ’. ( l. 59 )

We need to be accepted by a grouparound us and be given due recognition /accorded dignity.

1 mark per point to a maximum of 7 marks.½ mark for incomplete points as long as phrase makes sense.



Exercise marker’s discretion.



SUMMARY PRACTICE: IJC PRELIMS 2009HAPPINESS

Having a sense of mission has served me extremely well and bound myself to purpose ratherthan its by-product. I have taken a lot of happiness from a sense - often grandiose andsometimes illusory - that I am, by my various actions, helping to create a future that will be morefree, more tolerant, more open, and more just.

Which brings me to another solace cheaply available to all. Consider the joys of service. As a fewleaders, ranging from Jimmy Carter to the Dalai Lama, demonstrate with their lives, we canbecome happy through the exercise of compassion. I think the problem is that we tend toapproach service the same way we approach exercise programmes, in lunges and spasms of temporary idealism. There are few things that make me happier than successfully resisting theimpulse to snarl at some idle transgressor and elevating myself into an actively benign stance.Such opportunities arise almost hourly. The habit of small kindnesses is immensely rewarding.

Which brings me to another under-appreciated fountain of happiness: the common little joys theuniverse leaves lying around for the truly casual observer. Kafka - that noted happiness-hound -wrote: "It is not necessary that you leave the house. Remain at your table and listen. Do noteven listen, only wait. Do not even wait, be wholly still and alone. The world will present itself toyou for its unmasking, it can do no other, in ecstasy it will writhe at your feet." He is not talkingabout the pursuit of happiness. He's not even talking, as one might easily and incorrectlyconclude, about lying in wait for happiness. He's talking about making oneself genuinelyavailable to it. He is talking about opening one's senses to the little delights of life and thegranular texture of unsolicited joy. There have been many hard times in my life - including thepresent - when I took refuge in reduced focus, comforting myself with the glorious filigree of immediate existence. Even a man facing a firing squad can appreciate the dawn that also arraysitself before him.

Finally, and always, there is love. By this, I don't mean that economic bargain that often passesfor love these days. I don't mean that I will love you if you get good grades, or that I will love youif you'll sleep with me, or that I will love you if anything. I mean what I mean when I say, "I loveyou." Period. Without expectation, condition, term limit, or obligation. To say that - and to meanit in that way - makes me happy. What makes me happiest of all is when someone says "I loveyou" to me - meaning it as unconditionally as I intend to mean it - and I simply accept it. When Ilove without goal and accept love without doubt, I am happy. In this, I am not pursuinghappiness. I am becoming it.

John Perry Barlow mentions some qualities that have enabled him to achieve happiness.

Using material from paragraphs 8 -11, summarise these qualities and how he believes theyadd to his happiness.

Write your summary in no more than 120 words not counting the opening words which areprinted below. Use your own words as far as possible.

The first of these qualities is…



IJC PRELIMS 2009: STUDENT COPY

Lifted ParaphrasedDescription of quality:Having a sense of mission has servedme extremely well and bound myself topurpose rather than its by-product .

Add to happiness by:I have taken a lot of happiness from asense - often grandiose andsometimes illusory - that I am, by myvarious actions,

helping to create a future that will bemore free, more tolerant, moreopen, and more just.

Description of quality :Consider the joys of service .

OR

we can become happy through theexercise of compassionAdd to happiness by:

There are few things that make mehappier than successfully resisting theimpulse to snarl at some idletransgressor

and elevating myself into an actively

benign stance.

Description of quality :He is talking about opening one'ssenses to the little delights of life

and the granular texture of unsolicited

joy, the common little joys the universeleaves lying around for the trulycasual observer .

Add to happiness by: There have been many hard time s inmy life - including the present - when Itook refuge in reduced focus ,comforting myself with the gloriousfiligree of immediate existence .Description of qualities :



Finally, and always, there is love.

Without expectation, condition, termlimit, or obligation .Add to happiness by:When I love without goal and accept lovewithout doubt, I am happy.



IJC PRELIMS 2009: ANSWER SCHEME

Lifted ParaphrasedDescription of quality:Having a sense of mission has served meextremely well and bound myself topurpose rather than its by-product .

to focus on the objective/aim/ideal regardlessof the results,

Add to happiness by:I have taken a lot of happiness from a sense- often grandiose and sometimes illusory- that I am, by my various actions,

helping to create a future that will bemore free, more tolerant, more open,and more just.

although he may be overly extravagant anddeluded in thinking that

he contributed to making a more liberal andfairer world.

N.B. Students must paraphrase (free, tolerantand open) as one idea, (just) as another idea.Paraphrasing only either idea or paraphrasingvaguely (e.g. “better world”), award 1/2m.

Description of quality :Consider the joys of service .ORwe can become happy through the exerciseof compassion

Secondly, he helps othersORhe shows kindness towards others

Add to happiness by: There are few things that make me happierthan successfully resisting the impulse tosnarl at some idle transgressor

He feels joy restraining himself from reactingangrily / the urge to lash out

and elevating myself into an actively

benign stance.

and instead responds with benevolence /

forgiveness.Description of quality :He is talking about opening one's sensesto the little delights of life

Thirdly, he appreciates / is more conscious of the simple pleasures / small blessings

and the granular texture of unsolicited joy,the common little joys the universe leaveslying around for the truly casualobserver .

that are everywhere and which need not beactively sought.

Add to happiness by: There have been many hard time s in mylife - including the present - when I tookrefuge in reduced focus , comfortingmyself with the glorious filigree of immediate existence .

He concentrates on the joy of living in themoment, which takes his mind off difficultsituations.

Description of qualities :Finally, and always, there is love.

Without expectation, condition, termlimit, or obligation .

Lastly, there is affection / adoration / ardourwith nothing attached

N.B. Accept any logical / sensible answer for“expectation, condition, term limit, orobligation”



Add to happiness by:When I love without goal and accept lovewithout doubt , I am happy.

he is happy when he is assured of the sincerityof the love he gives and receives.



ACJC Prelim 2008American Politics in the Age of Celebrity

But a system based on celebrityhood raises a host of problems. Our fascination withcelebrities raises the risk that there will be more superficiality and less substance inour political process. Celebrities have contributed to the circus atmosphere that hasarisen in American politics; increasingly, politics has become a matter of publicperformance. Politicians get judged more by their ability to deliver crisp sound bytesthan by their substantive knowledge. With journalists interested in celebrity quotes andgood copy, experts with detailed knowledge about public policy are more likely tobecome marginalised. It is easier to go to the famous and get their opinion than toseek out voices of less prominent people who may actually know more.

20

Both democracy and culture depend on deliberation, participation, and engagement.But what we have now is a system where star power is weighted more heavily thantraditional political skills, such as bargaining, compromise, and experience.Conventional politicians are being replaced by famous, media-savvy fund-raisers. Thequality of civic deliberation is becoming trivialised. The gossip quotient has increased,and politics has become a 24-hour entertainment spectacle. With attention spans forimportant stories dropping precipitously, the system rewards celebrity politicians withfamous names. Unless these individuals provide citizens with proper information, itshort-circuits our system of governance. Without quality information, voters cannotmake informed choices about their futures.

25

30

American politics has never placed a strong emphasis on substance. Compared toother Western democracies, fewer people vote at election time, and many appear notto be very informed about their decisions. As celebrity politics takes root, there is thelong-term danger that citizens will become even less knowledgeable about policychoices, and they may become content to watch and be entertained. But elections area key device by which representative democracy takes place. Citizens must feelengaged in the process, must be able to think about their options, and must feel theyhave a stake in the important decisions that get made. Without serious deliberation

and discourse, politics becomes mere entertainment. Without experience andknowledge, society may lose its ability to confront pressing problems and resolve socialconflict.

35

40

Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5 of Passage 2, summarise the problems associated withcelebrity politics in no more than 120 words , not counting the opening words which areprinted below. Use your own words as far as possible.

Celebrity politics cause…



ACJC PRELIMS 2008: STUDENT COPY

Lift from the passage Paraphrase1. there will be more superficiality (lines

17)

OR

and less substance in our politicalprocess. (lines 17 -18)ORthan by their substantive knowledge.(line 21)

2 Celebrities have contributed to thecircus atmosphere that has arisen inAmerican politics; (lines 18 – 19)ORincreasingly, politics has become amatter of public performance . (lines

19)OR… politics has become a 24-hourentertainment spectacle . (lines 29 –30)OR… politics becomes mereentertainment . (lines 41 – 42)

3. Politicians get judged more by theirability to deliver crisp sound bytes(than by their substantive knowledge .)(lines 20 – 21)

4. … experts with detailed knowledgeabout public policy are more likely tobecome marginalized . (lines 21 – 22)

5. With journalists interested incelebrity quotes and good copy (line21)

6. But what we have now is a systemwhere star power is weighted moreheavily than traditional political skills,

such as bargaining, compromise andexperience. (lines 25 – 26)/… the system rewards celebritypoliticians with famous names (line 31)

ORConventional politicians are beingreplaced by famous, media-savvyfund-raisers. (lines 27 – 28)



7. The quality of civic deliberation isbecoming trivialised . (lines 28 – 29)ORWithout serious deliberation anddiscourse , …(line 41)

The gossip quotient has increased(line 29)

8. Without quality information, (lines 32 –33)

it short-circuits our system of governance .(line 32)OR

… voters cannot make informedchoices about their futures . (lines 32– 33)

9. As celebrity politics takes root, there is

the long-term danger that citizens willbecome even less knowledgeableabout policy choices, (lines 36 – 37)

and they may become content towatch and be entertained . (lines 37 –38)

10. But elections are a key device by whichrepresentative democracy takes place.Citizens must feel engaged in theprocess, (lines 38 – 39)

ORmust feel they have a stake in theimportant decisions that get made.(lines 38 – 41)

11. … society may lose its ability toconfront pressing problems andresolve social conflict . (lines 42 – 43)



ACJC PRELIMS 2008: ANSWER SCHEME

Lift from the passage Paraphrase1. there will be more superficiality (lines 17)

OR

and less substance in our politicalprocess. (lines 17 -18)ORthan by their substantive knowledge. (line21)

Celebrity politics causes politicaldiscussion to become more shallow/ tolack a deep understanding of political issues/ to lack adequatepolitical knowledge. (1m)

2 Celebrities have contributed to the circusatmosphere that has arisen in Americanpolitics; (lines 18 – 19)ORincreasingly, politics has become a matter of public performance . (lines 19)OR

… politics has become a 24-hourentertainment spectacle . (lines 29 – 30)OR… politics becomes mere entertainment .(lines 41 – 42)

It reduces political discourse to a mereshow/tomfoolery/non-seriousdiscourse. (1m)

3. Politicians get judged more by theirability to deliver crisp sound bytes(than by their substantive knowledge .) (lines20 – 21)

Politicians are assessed for theirability to speak well/ suavepresentation skills/ability to captureattention . (1m)

4. … experts with detailed knowledgeabout public policy are more likely to

become marginalized . (lines 21 – 22)

Politicians/ politicalacademics/scholars with a deep

understanding of political issues/may besidelined/ignored/overlooked/notcovered (by journalists). (1m)

5. With journalists interested in celebrityquotes and good copy (line 21)

The media prefers to focus more onwhat celebrities say. (1m)

6. But what we have now is a system wherestar power is weighted more heavilythan traditional political skills, such asbargaining, compromise and experience.(lines 25 – 26)/… the system rewards celebrity politicianswith famous names (line 31)

ORConventional politicians are being replacedby famous, media-savvy fund-raisers.(lines 27 – 28)

Celebrity politics creates a culture inwhich celebrity popularity is valuedmore than time-honoured politicalabilities/tools/skills. (1m)

ORConservative politicians are beingundermined/substituted by theability to manipulate the media/well-known celebrities who knowhow to manipulate the media. (1m)



7. The quality of civic deliberation isbecoming trivialised . (lines 28 – 29)ORWithout serious deliberation anddiscourse , …(line 41)

The gossip quotient has increased (line29)

The depth of political discourse/discussion has become devalued/lessimportantORCitizens do notconsider/contemplate/ areunreflective about their politicalchoices (1/2m) and trivial bantering about the lives of celebrities has become moreprevalent/ frequent in political issues/discussion. (1/2m)

8. Without quality information, (lines 32 – 33)

it short-circuits our system of governance .(line 32)OR

… voters cannot make informed choicesabout their futures . (lines 32 – 33)

When the public does not havegood/sufficient/adequate/substantialknowledge,(*note: no mark for the above, as it is arepeat of answer point #1)democracy cannot functionproperly/ the country cannot be runproperly (1m)ORcitizens cannot make sound decisionswhen voting/selecting their politicalleaders. (1m)

9. As celebrity politics takes root, there is thelong-term danger that citizens will becomeeven less knowledgeable about policychoices, (lines 36 – 37)

and they may become content to watchand be entertained . (lines 37 – 38)

In the long run, people may become lessaware/informed about civic/politicalissues (1/2m)

and they may be satisfied to observepolitical proceedings /be amused by

political proceedings. (1/2m)10. But elections are a key device by whichrepresentative democracy takes place.Citizens must feel engaged in the process,(lines 38 – 39)ORmust feel they have a stake in theimportant decisions that get made. (lines 38– 41)

Celebrity politics causes citizens to feelthat they are not involved in thepolitical process,ORto feel that they do not have a role toplay in political decisions . (1m)

11. … society may lose its ability to confrontpressing problems and resolve social

conflict . (lines 42 – 43)

Celebrity politics causes society to beunable to tackle/ handle urgent

crises/ solve societal problems . (1m)



SUMMARY PRACTICE: MJC PRELIMS 2007Survey of Talent

Moreover, some problems could prove self-correcting. Many talented people not only create jobs and wealth, they turn their hands to philanthropy, as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet havedone. The growing returns to education create incentives for people to get themselveseducated, producing a better-trained workforce as well as upward mobility. In China, familiesspend more on education than on anything else, despite the one-child policy. Multinationalcompanies routinely promote local talent in the developing world, putting an ever more multi-ethnic face on the global talent elite. Overheated talent markets prompt companies to moveproduction elsewhere – to Mysore rather than Bangalore, say, or Austin, Texas, rather thanSilicone Valley.

Above all, there is something appealing about the meritocratic ideal: most people are willingto accept wide inequalities if they are coupled with equality of opportunity. In America, wheretwo-thirds of the population believe that everyone has an equal chance to get ahead, farfewer people favour income redistribution than in Europe.

Growing wealth also means that society can reward a wider range of talents. These days,sports stars and entertainers can make millions. There are also ample rewards for all sorts of specialised talents, from the gift of bringing history to life (all those well-paid TV historians) to

the ability to produce a perfect soufflé (the best-paid chef in America, Wolfgang Puck, earned$16m last year). It sometimes seems that there is no talent so recondite that you cannotmake a living out of it. Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi earns more than $200,000 a year as theworld’s hotdog eating champion: he can eat more than 50 in 12 minutes.

The rise of a global meritocracy offers all sorts of benefits, from higher growth in productivityto faster scientific progress. It can boost social mobility and allow all sorts of weird andwonderful talents to bloom. The talent wars may be a source of unhappiness for companiesand countries. But they should also be a cause for celebration.

In line 17, The Economist claims that “things are worse than they were” due to growing

inequalities as a result of meritocracy.Using material from Paragraphs 7 to 10, as well as 13, summarise the arguments made byThe Economist to counter this claim.

Write your summary in no more than 140 words, not including the opening words which areprinted below. Use your own words as far as possible . [8]

The practice of meritocracy can help move a country or society in various ways.



MJC PRELIMS 2007: STUDENT COPY

No

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERSUnderlined phrases denote key idea(s) that

must be reflected in the answers.1 The number of winners is now

larger than it was in 1958. (lines 47-48)

2 America and Europe have created amass higher education system (l 49-50)

3 and developing countries aredetermined to follow suit (l 50-51)

3a Similar to 3

When Young was writing, China andIndia were trapped in poverty . Today they are growing so fast thatthey, too, are suffering from talentshortage. (l 51-52)

5 Many talented people not onlycreate jobs and wealth (l 53-54)

6 they turn their hands to

philanthropy (l 54)

7 incentives for people to getthemselves educated (l 55-56)

8 producing a better-trainedworkforce (l 56)

9 as well as upward mobility (l 56)ORIt can boost social mobility (l 86)

10 Multinational companies routinelypromote local talent in thedeveloping world (l 57-58)



11 putting an ever more multi-ethnicface on the global talent elite (l 58-59)

Paraphrase: Talents are now racially diverse,whereas they were mostlyCaucasians/ whites in the past.

12 Overheated talent markets promptcompanies to move productionelsewhere…to Mysore rather thanBangalore, say, or Austin, Texas,rather than Silicone Valley. (l 59-61)

13 most people are willing to acceptwide inequalities if they arecoupled with equality of

opportunity (l 62-63)

14 Growing wealth also means thatsociety can reward a wider rangeof talents (l 66)ORallow all sorts of weird andwonderful talents to bloom (l 86-87)

15 offers all sorts of benefits, fromhigher growth in productivity (l85)

16 to faster scientific progress (l 86)



MJC PRELIMS 2007: ANSWER SCHEME

No

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERSUnderlined phrases denote key idea(s)that must be reflected in the answers.

MARK

1 The number of winners is nowlarger than it was in 1958. (lines 47-48)

There are more successful people now. 1

2 America and Europe have created amass higher education system (l 49-50)

The West has expanded opportunities fortertiary/ higher education.

1

3 and developing countries aredetermined to follow suit (l 50-51)

There is a spill over effect to lessindustrialised nations, which are taking stepsin a similar direction.

1

3a Similar to 3When Young was writing, China andIndia were trapped in poverty .

Today they are growing so fast that

they, too, are suffering from talentshortage. (l 51-52)

Similar to 3(inferred) Some undeveloped/ third worldcountries are now growing rapidly/experiencing an economic boom (partly as a

result of the “mass higher educationsystem” (l 49-50).

1

5 Many talented people not onlycreate jobs and wealth (l 53-54)

Many talented people generate• employment• affluence

1/21/2

6 they turn their hands tophilanthropy (l 54)

They participate in community work / donateto charity

1

7 incentives for people to getthemselves educated (l 55-56)

Now, people are motivated to go to school(due to the rewards that education can

bring)

1

8 producing a better-trainedworkforce (l 56)

resulting in more skilled employees 1

9 as well as upward mobility (l 56)ORIt can boost social mobility (l 86)

and a greater likelihood for them to achievegreater wealth / higher status / social rank

1

10 Multinational companies routinelypromote local talent in thedeveloping world (l 57-58)

Multinational firms regularly giveopportunities to indigenous talents in lessindustrialised countries.

1

11 putting an ever more multi-ethnicface on the global talent elite (l 58-59)

Paraphrase: Talents are now racially diverse,whereas they were mostlyCaucasians/ whites in the past.

(inferred)Racially diverse talents allow for socialstability.ORMeritocracy allows for talents, regardless of race or religion, to advance.

1

12 Overheated talent markets promptcompanies to move production

(inferred) Due to saturated talent markets,businesses relocate their factories to less

1



elsewhere…to Mysore rather thanBangalore, say, or Austin, Texas,rather than Silicone Valley. (l 59-61)

developed / industrialised areas, thusgenerating employment (in such areas).

13 most people are willing to acceptwide inequalities if they arecoupled with equality of opportunity (l 62-63)

Most people do not mind stark differences instatus / wealth as long as they get the samenumber of chances (to get high-paying jobs).

1

14 Growing wealth also means thatsociety can reward a wider rangeof talents (l 66)ORallow all sorts of weird andwonderful talents to bloom (l 86-87)

Increasing affluence also implies that manydiverse talents can stand to gain / benefit.

ORIt enables many diverse talents to thrive.

1

15 offers all sorts of benefits, fromhigher growth in productivity (l85)

Other advantages include an increase in theefficiency of the workforce / work efficiency.

1

16 to faster scientific progress (l 86) more rapid scientific / technological

developments.

1

Documents

Jc2 Summary Package 2010