Passage 1: In this article David Brooks writes about In Search of Dignity

1 When George Washington was a young man, he copied out a list of 110 “Rules of Civility and
Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation”. Some of the rules in his list dealt with the
niceties of going to a dinner party or meeting somebody on the street.

2 “Lean not upon anyone,” was one of the rules. “Read no letter, books or papers in company,”
was another. “If anyone comes to speak to you while you are sitting, stand up,” was a third. 5

3 These rules, which Washington derived from a 16 th-Century guidebook, were not just
etiquette tips. They were designed to improve inner morals by shaping the outward man.
Washington took them very seriously. He worked hard to follow them. Throughout his life, he
remained acutely conscious of his own rectitude. In so doing, he turned himself into a new
kind of hero. As the historian Gordon Wood has written, “Washington became a great man 10
and was acclaimed as a classical hero because of the way he conducted himself during times
of temptation. It was his moral character that set him apart from other man.”

4 Washington absorbed, and later came to personify what you might call the dignity code. The
code was based on the same premise as the nation’s Constitution – that human beings are
flawed by nature and live in constant peril of falling into disasters caused by their own 15
passions. Artificial systems had to be created to balance and restrain these passions. The
dignity code commanded its followers to endeavour to put national interests above personal
interests. It commanded its followers to be reticent – to never degrade intimate emotions by
parading them in public.

5 Today, Americans still lavishly admire people who are naturally dignified. But the dignity code 20
itself has been completely obliterated. The rules that guided Washington and generations of
people after him are simply gone.

6 Mankind has always had a tension between desire and duty. As Ralph Waldo Emerson
observed, “Moral qualities rule the world, but at short distances, the sensed are despotic.”
Still major forces are corrupting our sense of dignity at an ever increasing pace. First, there is 25
capitalism. We are all encouraged to become managers of our own brand, to do self-
promoting end zone dances to broadcast our own talents. Second, there is the cult of
naturalism. We are all encouraged to discard artifice and repression and to instead liberate
our own feelings. Third, there is the force of religious evangelism with its emphasis on the
benefits of public confession. Fourth, there is radical egalitarianism and its hostility to refined, 30
controlled aristocratic manners.

7 The old dignity code has not survived modern life. The costs of its demise are there for all to
see. Every week there are new scandals featuring people who simply do not know how to act.
There was Mark Sanford, the Governor of South Carolina, who even when caught in an act of
indecency with an Argentine woman lacked a sense of reticence. He gave himself generous 35
self-exposure even in his moment of disgrace. Then there was the death of Michael Jackson
and the discussion of his life. For everything that he was, Jackson ignored any pressure to live
according to the rules and restraints of adulthood. Then there was Sarah Palin’s press
conference. Here was a woman who aspires to a high public role but is unfamiliar with the
traits of equipoise and constancy, which are source of authority and trust. 40

8 Thankfully there is President Obama. Whatever policy differences people may have with him,
we can all agree that he exemplifies reticence, dispassion and the other traits associated with
dignity. He may revitalize the concept of dignity for a new generation and embody a new set
of rules for self- mastery.

Passage 2: In this article Ziauddin Sardar writes about Dignity in Language

 1 Politically correct language has fallen from favour; demonized and discredited. People who
use it are seen to be pretentious, dishonest and even condescending. Where should we go
next? Can we afford to ignore the return of derogatory language directed at black, Muslim,
gay, disabled or elderly people, anyone deemed different? Is out pursuit of honesty, in many
cases, perceived truth, marring our ability to use proper, dignified language? 5

2 It is no less disturbing that writers, important and dignified people with the mastery of using
language in its most beautiful form have chosen to present it at its worst. Writer Alice
Hoffman lambasted critic Roberta Silman for giving a lousy review on her latest novel The
Story Sisters. Hoffman exposed Silman’s email address and telephone number and incited her
fans to “tell her what they think of snarky critics”. Hoffman later apologized for 10
“overreacting”. Influential modern philosopher Alain De Botton had his share of bad reviews
from New York Times review Caleb Crain. De Botton wrote to Crain saying, “I hate you till the
day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make”. This is a
philosopher who is famous for writing about the consolations of philosophy. De Botton later
made a public apology. 15

3 Language is more than our basic tool of communication; it shapes perceptions and so
influences behaviour. Derogatory words make way for degrading treatment. Terms such as
“cripples”, “spastics”, “thick’ and ‘retarded” stigmatise disabled people as less human. A
recent increase in attacks had its roots in such language. If “terrorism” is constantly linked to
the “Muslim community”, as though it is one monolithic entity, it Is not surprising if 69% of 20
Britons see all Muslims as terrorists and feel fear and loathing towards them.

4 We shape our language, but language also shapes us. Giving a currency to demeaning
language can blind us to the fact that we have embraced demeaning perceptions about other
people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission believes language should play an
important part in our strategy to promote equality. It makes a contribution to social inclusion, 25
fighting alienation, promoting good relations and democratic participation.

5 In the commission’s discussion paper, The language of Equity, I advocate ethically sensitive
language. I see ethics in terms of four moral percepts: equality, dignity, respect and value.
Everyone has an equal right to be described in a dignified and respectful way. However, equal
treatment does not mean the same treatment; that Is why equal value is a necessary 30
component. Descriptions of individuals, groups and communities should enhance human
dignity value while respecting self-descriptions, cultural concerns and practices.

6 The objective is clear, but the task will be unending. Words and their meanings, particularly in
relation to equality, do not remain static. A word seen as fair and inclusive yesterday can
acquire unfair, biased or pejorative meanings today. In the past century, it was acceptable to 35
refer to disabled people as “handicapped” or “invalids”. Today, these terms reinforce
stereotypes, making the person behind the disability invisible and denying their dignity and
humanity. People and communities change constantly, producing new terminology and
understanding of language aong the way. Subtle changes in meaning can be exploited to
oppress people and discriminate against groups and communities. 40

7 There is nothing old fashioned about politeness; it is sensibility for civility that makes a better
future.
Read the passages in the insert and then answer all the questions which follow below. Note
that up to fifteen marks will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English
throughout the paper.
From
NOTE:Passage
When a1 question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE and
you select the appropriate material from the passages as your answer, you must still
use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy
1 Explain what the author means by ‘They were designed to improve inner morals by
shaping the outward man’ (line 7). Use your own words as far as possible.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..[1]

2 Explain what the author means by, ‘human beings are flawed by nature and live in
constant peril of falling into disasters caused by their own passions’ (lines 14-16).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…[2]

3 According to paragraph 4, explain how the dignity code helps people to control their
passions? Use your own words as far as possible.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

4 Identify and explain any two of the ‘major forces’ (line 25) mentioned by the author in
paragraph 6 that devalue the sense of dignity. Use your own words as far as possible.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

From Passage 2

5 What does the word ‘perceived’ in line 5 suggest about the reason for not using dignified
language?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1]

6 Explain the irony in the sentence ‘This is a philosopher who is famous for writing about the
consolations of philosophy’ (lines 13-14).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

7 What is the danger of giving “currency” (line 22) to demeaning language?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[2]

8 Identify the “task” the author is referring to and what are his reasons for saying it is
“unending”? (line 33) Explain using your own words as far as possible.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[3]

9 Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may write
your answers in one word or a short phrase.

From Passage 1:
a) acutely (line 9):
b) lavishly (line 20):
c) artifice (line 28):
From Passage 2:
d) marring (line 5):
 e) civility (line 41):

10 Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5, summarise the dangers arising from the decline of
dignified language.

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

When dignified language declines……………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[7]