Visit

FREETESTPAPER.com
for more papers

Website: freetestpaper.com
Facebook.com/freetestpaper
Twitter.com/freetestpaper


ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE

JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2018

GENERAL PAPER 8807/01

Paper 1 27 August 2018

1 hour 30 minutes

Additional materials: 12-page Answer Booklet

4-page Additional Booklet
   
__________________________________________________________________________________ 

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your name, PDG, GP tutor’s name and Question Number on the 12-page
Answer Booklet and all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Do not detach any pages from the Answer Booklet.

Answer one question.

All questions carry equal marks.
At the end of the examination, staple any additional booklets you have used behind
your Answer Booklet.

(Note that up to 20 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.)

This document consists of 2 printed pages.

[Turn over]

1 
 
 Answer one question.

Answers should be between 500 and 800 words in length.

1. To what extent do you agree that science is more important than religion?

2. ‘Diplomacy is a poor substitute for war in resolving international conflicts.’ Do

you agree?

3. Sport is more about business than enjoyment.’ What is your view?

4. How much is self-reliance valued in your society?

5. ‘In a world where the environment is at risk, our population numbers should
be controlled.’ How far do you agree?

6. ‘The media is too focused on the trivial.’ Discuss.

7. ‘The value of education is overrated.’ How far is this true in your society?

8. Consider the view that women will never overcome discrimination in the
workplace.

9. ‘The role of parents is diminishing in modern society.’ Discuss.

10. In the digital age, is there any point in preserving traditional art?

11. How open should we be to change today?

12. ‘Sites of tragedy should be forgotten rather than remembered.’ Discuss.

2 
 
Candidate’s Name PDG GP Tutor’s Name

/17

ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE

JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2018

GENERAL PAPER 8807/02

Paper 2 27 August 2018
1 hour 30 minutes

Candidates answer on the Question Paper.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your name, PDG and GP tutor’s name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.

Answer all questions.

The Insert contains the passage for comprehension.
Note that up to 15 marks out of 50 will be awarded for your use of language.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

For Examiner’s Use

Content /35

Language /15

Total /50

This document consists of 7 printed pages, 1 blank page and 1 Insert.

[Turn over
© Anderson Junior College 2018
 2

Read the passage in the Insert and then answer all the questions. Note that up to fifteen marks
will be given for the quality and accuracy of your use of English throughout this Paper.

NOTE: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
and you select the appropriate material from the passage for your answer, you must still
use your own words to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy
words and phrases from the passage.

1 Which word in paragraph 1 conveys the idea that the search for truth is ‘long and
arduous’ (line 5)?

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

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

2 What are the differences between the way society interpreted the natural world in the
past and from the 18th century onwards (lines 11-13)? Use your own words as far as
possible.

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

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

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

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

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

3 Why has the author written ‘truth’ (line 20) in inverted commas?

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

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

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

4 What does the author mean by the phrase ‘their actual expertise here is secondary’ in
line 27? Use your own words as far as possible.

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

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

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

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

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 3

5 In paragraph 4, identify the reasons the author provides for why we lie and accept lies.
Use your own words as far as possible.
 
 
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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

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

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

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

6 In paragraph 4, how does the author illustrate that people lie for good intentions? Use
your own words as far as possible.  

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

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

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

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

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

7 What does the author mean by a world that was ‘idyllically false’ (line 42) and how did
Albert Camus feel about it?

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

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

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

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

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 4

8 What distinctions does the author draw between the findings of the NBC report and the
allegations of Russian interference in the US elections (lines 47-52)? Use your own
words as far as possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 What is the author suggesting about the role of the individual when he says that ‘the
individual is the source, medium and target of falsehood’ (line 87)?

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

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

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

10 Suggest one reason why the author concludes the passage with the final sentence.

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

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

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

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 5

11 Using material from paragraphs 6 and 7 only (lines 54-84), summarise what the author
has to say about the negative consequences of not valuing the truth, and what is being
done to combat the erosion of truth.

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.

One negative consequence of not valuing the truth is ……………………………….........

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….[8]

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 6

12 Taylor Shahem makes a number of observations about the decline of truth today, its
consequences, and how this decline is being addressed. How far do you agree with his
observations? Relate your arguments to your own experience and that of your society.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

………………………………………………………………………………………………….[10]
© Anderson Junior College 2018
 8

BLANK PAGE

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 

ANDERSON JUNIOR COLLEGE

JC 2 Preliminary Examination 2018

_________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL PAPER 8807/02

PAPER 2 27 August 2018

INSERT 1 hour 30 minutes

_________________________________________________________________________

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

This Insert contains the passage for Paper 2.

_________________________________________________________________________

This document consists of 3 printed pages and 1 blank page.

[Turn over
 2

Taylor Shahem considers the changing perceptions of truth and why truth is important.

1 In Roman mythology, Veritas, the goddess of truth, hid at the bottom of a sacred well, elusive
to all except those who were most determined to find her. Throughout history, many people
have joined the ranks of adventurers on that quest – philosophers who ponder the nature of
truth, scientists who want to discover the truth and mathematicians who want to describe the
truth, among many others. Today, the search, although long and arduous, continues. As we 5
moved through the 17th and 18th centuries, developments in the way scientists worked
transformed the way we understood our world. ‘Veritas’, the Latin word for truth, is emblazoned
proudly across the mottos of many institutions of research and learning which concern
themselves with research and intellectual pursuits. It seemed that we had discovered the
means to find the truth. 10

2 Historically, people attributed natural events to divine forces and made wild guesses in an
attempt to interpret natural events. By the 18th century, scientists had turned to experiments
to tease apart the workings of the natural world, and searched relentlessly for scientific causes.
Revolutionary scientific discoveries hinted at laws that could describe natural phenomena, and
the dizzying rate of scientific progress gave us hope that one day we would understand the 15
physical world in its entirety. Such a theory, however, could not explain the range of human
experiences. They were too varied, too colourful, too complex to be reduced to mere equations
and formulae, no matter how many there were. Different cultures, informed by their history and
beliefs, viewed the world through unique lenses. So while natural laws ruled the physical world,
philosophers could now mull over the ‘truth’ of the social world. 20

3 This was a short-lived revelry as soon, disinterest in the value of truth itself began to appear.
Today, we seem to be progressing backwards as people’s perspectives no longer need to be
rooted in reality to be valid. In this age of populism where there is contempt for expert advice
and susceptibility to reactionary thinking, views which are not informed by what is true are
accepted as true. What lends legitimacy to them is not whether they are reasonable or based 25
on facts. These views become ‘true’ when they are endorsed by some famed politician or
celebrity (their actual expertise here is secondary), when they have been bandied around
sufficiently on social networks to be embedded in our minds through sheer repetition, or simply
when they fit with one’s existing prejudices.

4 The era of untruth had quietly crept in. Granted, falsehoods are not new. We have always 30
been drawn to the allure of not telling the truth. We lie to acquire unjust rewards, embroider
our achievements, and cover up unacceptable behaviour. Even compassion leads people to
lie for good intentions: it is the desire not to hurt others with the truth. According to a survey of
doctors, ten percent of them had told patients untruths. They concealed abnormal laboratory
test results to spare them anxiety and minimised the severity of patients’ conditions to keep 35
them hopeful about recovery. Indeed, we might even want to be lied to. It is not that we do not
value the truth – as a species that avoids pain and seeks pleasure, we merely prefer lies to
the pain that honesty often inflicts.

5 Today, shockingly, it seems to no longer matter whether something is true or not. It has gone
beyond the world that Albert Camus probably feared when he said, “Seeking what is true is 40
not seeking what is desirable.” He preferred a world that was painfully truthful as opposed to
one that was idyllically false, where there was still a distinct difference between truth and
falsehood. Now, the disregard of the truth is more insidious, symptomatic of our increasingly
amoral society which lacks a sense of what is right or wrong. Technology places us in even
greater peril here: the Internet allows ideas to be transmitted quickly by anyone, and the 45
extensive networks of people connected on social media encourages the uncontrolled
spreading of untruths online. A 2018 NBC report disclosed that “false news was spread more
often than true news was”, and this was done naively in an unintended manner by “ordinary
people”. Such findings instil more fear compared to those, for example, in the United States
elections where it was found that ill-intentioned Russian and other foreign agents deliberately 50
© Anderson Junior College 2018

 3

flooded social media with untrue reports and posts to mislead people about political
candidates. It is ironic that those who wish to muddy the waters are clear about what is true
and the very people who wish to know more sink deeper into the mire of untruths.

6 There are consequences for not valuing the truth. People are at risk of being easily exploited
because they make decisions that are not necessarily based on fact or logic. Companies 55
peddling dubious health solutions leverage this to convince buyers of the supposed merits of
their products. The ability to make sound judgements, left unexercised, withers away.
Damaging falsehoods about people are carelessly repeated without any verification, throwing
lives into disarray and inflicting deep psychological pain. Over time, people trust each other
less and the common ground between them vanishes: there is nothing that we can all agree 60
on. People find it hard to learn from one another with so much misinformation, and discussions
inevitably push people to take extreme positions since the factual basis of issues is now
unclear, discouraging new ways of thinking. Furthermore, governments are rightly worried
about the disregard for truth. The security of a country is at risk when people do not verify
falsehoods. Misinformation is allowed to spread rapidly resulting in at best, uncertainty, and at 65
worst, conflict, weakening the authority of governments. Trustworthy news outlets are side-
lined when people forego accurate reporting in favour of provocative claims. Worse, they are
unceremoniously lumped together with unreliable sources, and their best efforts at reporting
the facts are dismissed as yet another version of fiction.

7 To defend against the erosion of truth, many news outlets today have taken on the 70
responsibility of fact checking which can be done through either ante hoc fact checking where
‘facts’ are verified before dissemination or post hoc fact checking where errors are checked
after being published (increasingly a crowd favourite). When public figures make claims during
speeches or debates, journalists rapidly run through their statements to verify that the things
they say are true. Schools teach students about the dangers of fake news and equip them with 75
skills needed to distinguish falsehood from truth. Governments have begun to enact laws
against fake news. Social media companies have also been taken to task by governments and
communities for their role in spreading misinformation. For instance, they have been
encouraged and coerced to block errant users from their services and take down posts that
are untrue. Furthermore, there are many well-meaning anonymous entities, ranging from 80
humble start-ups to technological giants who have sponsored the formation of various
independent fact-checking platforms to combat the insidious nature of fake news. Individuals,
disillusioned by how rampant fake news has become, are themselves taking the initiative to
report it as and when they encounter it.

8 The prospect of a world without truth is frightening. It has galvanised efforts on global and 85
national scales to preserve the truth, but these efforts are not enough without the cooperation
of every individual; after all, the individual is the source, medium and target of falsehood. If we
remain steadfast in clinging to the value of truth, we might bring Veritas out from her holy well.

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 4

BLANK PAGE

© Anderson Junior College 2018

 AJC Preliminary Examination 2018
General Paper: Paper 2 Review

1. Which word in paragraph 1 conveys the idea that the search for truth is ‘long and arduous’ (line 5)? [1]

From passage Suggested answer

Throughout history, many people have joined the The word is ‘quest’.
ranks of adventurers on that quest – philosophers
who ponder the nature of truth, scientists who want to
discover the truth and mathematicians who want to
describe the truth, among many others. Today, the
search, although long and arduous, continues.

2. What are the differences between the way society interpreted the natural world in the past and from the
18th century onwards (lines 11-13)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]

From passage Suggested answer

Historically, people attributed natural events to
divine forces and made wild guesses in an attempt
to interpret natural events. By the 18th century,
scientists had turned to experiments to tease apart
the workings of the natural world, and searched
relentlessly for scientific causes.
In the past, people ascribed natural occurrences to
God/the gods, whereas from the 18th century
onwards people sought explanations of the natural
world using systematic reasoning.
In the past, people made speculations/conjectures to
understand the natural world whereas from the 18th
century onwards people conducted tests to
understand the world.

3. Why has the author written ‘truth’ (line 20) in inverted commas? [1]

From passage Suggested answer

Different cultures, informed by their history and There was no one single definition of the truth as
beliefs, viewed the world through unique lenses. So there are many suitable interpretations of the truth.
while natural laws ruled the physical world,
philosophers could now mull over the ‘truth’ of the
social world.

4. What does the author mean by the phrase ‘their actual expertise here is secondary’ in line 27? Use
your own words as far as possible. [2]

From passage Suggested answer

These views become ‘true’ when they are endorsed The author is saying that the politicians’ and
by some famed politician or celebrity (their actual celebrities’ real knowledge of the topics they are
expertise here is secondary) discussing are not very important to their opinions
being seen as true.

1
5. In paragraph 4, identify the reasons the author provides for why we lie and accept lies. Use your own
words as far as possible. [3]

From passage Suggested answer

We have always been drawn to the allure of not We lie to
telling the truth. We lie to acquire unjust rewards,
embroider our achievements, and cover up a. obtain undeserved gains,
unacceptable behaviour. Even compassion leads
people to lie for good intentions: it is the desire not to b. exaggerate our accomplishments,
hurt others with the truth… Indeed, we might even
want to be lied to. It is not that we do not value the c. conceal wrongdoings and
truth – as a species that avoids pain and seeks
pleasure, we merely prefer lies to the pain that d. to be kind / to prevent harming others.
honesty often inflicts.
We accept lies to

e. avoid the suffering that the truth could bring.

6. In paragraph 4, how does the author illustrate that people lie for good intentions? Use your own
words as far as possible. [2]

From passage Suggested answer

According to a survey of doctors, ten percent of them
had told patients untruths. They concealed abnormal
laboratory test results to spare them anxiety and
minimised the severity of patients’ conditions to keep
them hopeful about recovery.
The author used the example of doctors who
a. hid unusual medical findings to keep
patients from worrying and
b. understated the seriousness of patients’
illnesses to keep them optimistic about
getting better.

7. What does the author mean by a world that was “idyllically false” (line 42) and how did Albert Camus
feel about it? [1]

From passage Suggested answer

It has gone beyond the world that Albert Camus The author is referring to a world that is pleasantly
probably feared when he said, ‘Seeking what is true is full of lies.
not seeking what is desirable’. He preferred a world
that was painfully truthful as opposed to one that was Albert Camus was afraid of such a world.
idyllically false, where there was still a distinct
difference between truth and falsehood.

2
8. What distinctions does the author draw between the findings of the NBC report and the allegations of
Russian interference in the US elections (lines 47-52)? Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

From passage Suggested answer

A 2018 NBC report disclosed that ‘false news was
spread more often than true news was’, and this was
done naively in an unintended manner by ‘ordinary
people’. Such findings instil more fear compared to
those, for example, in the United States elections
where it was found that ill-intentioned Russian and
other foreign agents deliberately flooded social media
with untrue reports and posts to mislead people about
political candidates.
The NBC report found that common citizens were
involved in the spread of false news whereas
allegations of Russian interference involved special
operatives.
False news was spread without planning in the NBC
report whereas the allegations of Russian
interference involved the orchestrated spreading of
falsehoods.

The NBC report found that false news was

innocently spread whereas it was alleged that
falsehoods were maliciously spread during the US
elections.

9. What is the author suggesting about the role of the individual when he says that ‘the individual is the source,
medium and target of falsehood?’ (line 87)? [1]

From passage Suggested answer

It has galvanised efforts on global and national scales
to preserve the truth, but these efforts are not enough
without the cooperation of every individual; after all, the
individual is the source, medium and target of
falsehood.
The author is suggesting that the individual has the
main / most important role to play in preserving the
truth.

10. Suggest one reason why the author concludes the passage with the final sentence. [1]

From passage Suggested answer

If we remain steadfast in clinging to the value of truth, The author wants to:
we might bring Veritas out from her holy well.
a. make a link to the introduction which is
about the search for Veritas who hides in a
well OR

b. call the reader to action and pursue the

truth OR

c. end on an optimistic note that we still have

a chance to uphold the truth OR

d. reiterate his point about how society can

work together to preserve the value of
truth.

3
 11. Using material from paragraphs 6 and 7 only (lines 55-85), summarise the negative
consequences of not valuing the truth, and what is being done to combat the erosion of truth. [8]

From passage Banned Paraphrase

1 people are at risk of being risk People are effortlessly taken advantage of.
easily exploited easily
exploited
2 The ability to make ability The capacity to form logical conclusions
sound judgements… sound deteriorates.
withers away judgements
withers
away
3 (Damaging falsehoods) throwing Lies hurl people’s lives into chaos
throwing lives into disarray
disarray
4 and inflicting deep deep and cause severe
psychological pain pain psychological suffering.

5 people trust each other trust People do not believe in others as much.
less less

6 the common ground “common Shared beliefs amongst people disappear.

between them vanishes: ground”
(there is nothing that we vanishes
can all agree on.) agreement

7 People find it hard to learn hard People find it challenging to gain

from one another, learn knowledge from each other.

8 people to take extreme extreme People have polarised views

positions positions

9 discouraging new ways discouraging and are put off from having novel perspectives.
of thinking new “ways
of thinking”
10 The security of a security The safety of a nation is compromised.
country is at risk risk

11 (Misinformation) resulting uncertainty Falsehoods lead to

in at best, uncertainty, confusion
12 and at worst, conflict. conflict or even hostility.

13 weakening the authority weakening This undermines the power of the leaders.
of governments authority

14 Trustworthy news outlets Reputable news sources are rejected.

outlets are side-lined side-lined

15 lumped together with lumped They are seen as less credible sources.
unreliable sources, and together
their best efforts at unreliable
dismissed as yet another fiction
version of fiction.

4
 What is being done to combat this
16 news outlets today have “fact News outlets now verify / corroborate
taken on the responsibility checking” information
of fact checking

OR

When public figures make

claims during speeches or
debates, journalists
rapidly run through their
statements to verify that
the things they say are
true

17 Schools teach students teach while educational institutions educate students

about the dangers of fake dangers
news about the harms of false news

18 equip them with skills skills and provide them with the expertise
needed to distinguish distinguish to discern falsehood from truth.
falsehood from truth

19 Governments … enact enact laws Governments now pass legislations to make fake
laws against fake news. news illegal

20 Social media companies taken to task while social media companies are punished by
have also been taken to authorities and societies for propagating fake
task by governments news.
and communities

21 the formation of various independent There are numerous autonomous avenues to

independent fact- fact- verify information.
checking platforms to checking
combat …fake news. platforms

22 Individuals, taking the report Individuals are now exposing fake news.
initiative to report it as
and when they encounter
it.
 

No. of points Marks

14 and above 8
12-13 7
10-11 6
8-9 5
7 4
5-6 3
3-4 2
1-2 1