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2007 GCE ‘A’ Level General Paper (Paper 2)

1 Give three ways in which paragraph 1 shows that the gender revolution is different
from the ‘apocalyptic scenarios’ (line 2). Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

Contextual cue:
“The gender revolution is unlike these.” (line 7)

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS MARK

(a) “You do not have to read
newspapers … It is all around
you in your friends’ lives and in
your own” (lines 7 – 10)
(b) “It is already in full flow”
(line 10)
(c) it is “not necessarily …
catastrophic” (line 11)
(d) “it is within the power of
every individual …
ameliorate its effects” (line
12)
(a) It is a matter of personal 1
experience – you do not need the
media to inform you of it.
(b) It is already happening at a great 1
rate. / It is wholly a reality.
(c) It may not be disastrous. 1
(d) Everyone can reduce / modify / 1
make less harmful its effects.
Any 3 of the above will secure 3 marks.

2 ‘pandemics spread by superbugs…’ (line 5) Which phrase earlier in this first sentence
explains the three dots at its conclusion? [1]

Cue:
The three dots punctuation mark is usually used to indicate that there is more to
come.

Contextual cue:
“destruction and radical change of habitat, both human and animal, … pandemics
spread by superbugs…” (lines 2 – 5)

INFERENCE ACCEPTED ANSWERS MARK

The author gave a long list of The phrase is “the seemingly endless 1
possible disasters, so the three dots catalogue”.
probably indicate more disasters to
come.

Upon examining the first sentence,

the only phrase that pertains to this
is:

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3 Why does the author refer to pre-human history in lines 16 – 17? [1]

Contextual cue:
“Even before they came down from the trees … fulfilled these roles since time
immemorial.” (lines 16 – 17)

INFERENCE ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
The sentence is literally The author wants to emphasise how deeply 1
about how these roles embedded / innate traditional gender roles
have been in place for a are in men and women.
long time.
N.B. For an inferential question, candidates
should not be giving the literal meaning.

4 (a) ‘paternity was understood’ (line 20). What advance in understanding of gender
relations does this refer to? [1]

Contextual cue:
“Before the link between sexual activity and fertility was understood” (line 17 –
18)

INFERENCE ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
The wording of the given People realised that men were equally 1
phrase echoes the important in the creation of life / producing
wording of an earlier offspring / reproduction.
phrase (see above). The
situations described by
both phrases also reflect
a change, or “advance”,
in understanding of
gender relations.

4 (b) How did this new understanding influence the status of women? Use your own
words as far as possible. [1]

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
“She was relegated to a Women’s status was reduced as they became 1
drudge … He was subservient to men, and were regarded as
indisputably the boss.” merely bearers of their children.
(lines 20 – 21)

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5 Which references earlier in paragraph 2 justify the word ‘almost’ in line 25? [2]

Cue:
The word ‘almost’ is used to indicate that there are exceptions. Hence, candidates
should be looking for exceptions, i.e. times in history in which women were not
living in a man’s world, or were perceived as being powerful in their own right.

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
“She was the She was once prayed to as the enigmatic ½
mysterious source of and divine Moon Goddess who gave life. ½
life … even worshipped
as the Moon Goddess”
(lines 18 – 19)
“notions of Her as Isis, … She was looked up to as Isis, who was the ½
Osiris” (line 23) equal to the male god, Osiris.
“unapproachable object She was considered the unobtainable object ½
of Romantic Love” (line of Romantic Love.
24)
All 3 references are required for the full 2 marks.

6 According to paragraph 3, why would women be more comfortable in the workplace

nowadays than in the past? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]

Contextual cue:
The question contrasts “nowadays” and the “past”, so candidates should be looking
for phrases that signal changes. In this case:
“The revolution began…”
“It was less than a century ago that … women for the first time…”

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
“men started inventing ways Work no longer relies on physical ½
of doing things … less back- strength.
breaking” (line 26 – 27)

“nature of the workplace …

operated by fingertips”
(lines 33 – 34)
“birth-control techniques …
limit their families and enter
the world of work” (lines 31
– 33)
“authoritarian, confrontational
management … given way …
co-operative enterprises in
which women feel at home”
Contraception allows women to restrict ½
the size of their families and frees them
to join the labour force while still caring
for smaller families.
Management styles have radically ½
changed to favour women’s strengths ½
and abilities.

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(lines 34 – 36)

7 What does the expression ‘brothers-in-arms’ (line 66) suggest about male behaviour?
[1]

Cue:
“Brothers” suggests a very close bond, and “arms” suggests the use of weapons,
which is a sign of aggression.

INFERENCE ACCEPTED ANSWERS MAR

K
“He was silently stalking his prey, or It suggests the aggressive ½
exchanging grunts with his brothers- and bonding nature of males. ½
in-arms.” (lines 65 – 66)
The act of stalking prey suggests that
team work and aggression is required.

8 Explain what the author means by ‘gender education needs to supplement mere sex
education’ (line 74). [2]

Cue:
The phrase in the question indicates that the author thinks that there should be
both gender education and sex education. Candidates have to explain what “gender
education” and “sex education” entail.

LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS MARK

“gender education needs to
supplement mere sex
education in schools” (lines
73 – 75)
The author believes that children should
be taught about the relationship 1
between the sexes / their
psychological and behavioural
differences / their different but equal 1
capacities, as well as purely biological
or anatomical facts.

9 Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage. You may
write your answer in one word or a short phrase. [5]

1 mark ½ mark
(a) daunting (line 6) • Intimidating • Scary (wrong context)
• Disheartening
“These disasters
may or may not
happen; but their
scale is daunting
and the individual

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feels powerless to
influence them”
(lines 6 – 7)
(b) titillating (line 9) • Exciting and enjoyable / • Exciting
entertaining • Interesting
“failed relationships • Interesting and enjoyable
of celebrities and / entertaining N.B. The element of enjoyment /
their sad or merely entertainment must be present.
titillating As such, this word requires a
consequences” phrase rather than a word to be
(lines 8 – 9) sufficiently explained.
(c) imperceptibly • Gradually • Very slightly / Slightly
(line 26) • Subtly (wrong context)
• Not discernibly
“The revolution
began,
imperceptibly,
about two hundred
years ago” (line 26)
(d) conditioned (line • Trained / Taught to the • Trained
43) extent that it becomes • Taught
automatic / second nature
“The early feminists N.B. The element of it becoming
thought that if girls automatic / second nature must
and boys behaved be present. As such, this word
differently it was requires a phrase rather than a
because they were word to be sufficiently
conditioned to do explained.
so by societies and
parents still clinging
to old stereotypes.”
(lines 42 – 44)
(e) mindset (line 78) • A fixed way of thinking • Thinking
• Ideas
“mindset of our
grandparents” (line N.B. The element of it being
78) fixed must be present. As such,
this word requires a phrase
rather than a word to be
sufficiently explained.

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10 Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5 of the passage (lines 26 – 66), summarise

the causes of the gender revolution, how it initially threatened conflict between the
sexes, and what recent research has shown about how this conflict may be
addressed.

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. [8]

The gender revolution began when …

NO LIFT ACCEPTED ANSWERS

“Causes of the gender revolution”
1 “men started inventing ways of doing people derived methods of working
things which were less back-breaking that were less strenuous [½] and
and more productive” (lines 26 – 27) more efficient [½].
2 “It was less … birth-control techniques Secondly, contraception [½] allowed
… women were able to limit their women to control their family size
families and enter the world of work.” [½].
(lines 30 – 33)
3 “nature of the workplace … Lastly, women were more at ease as
authoritarian, confrontational aggressive management styles
management … given way to co- changed [½] to favour their pro-
operative enterprises … women feel at social tendencies [½].
home” (lines 33 – 36)
“How it initially threatened conflict between the sexes”
4 “the generation that first experience these However, people were initially not able
changes was unable to understand or to comprehend [½] or manage [½]
cope with them” (lines 37 – 38) these shifts.
5 “women demanded equality with men at Women insisted on being treated the

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work, … in everything” (lines 38 – 40) same [½] as men in all aspects [½].
6 “unfortunately, equality was too often Sadly, they subsequently had the
mistake for identity … They – biologically flawed idea that the genders have
different, but in almost every other identical profiles [½] but are drilled
way the same … conditioned to do so to automatically [½] adopt
… clinging to the old stereotypes” (lines dissimilar ones.
41 – 44)
7 ‘When, despite equal opportunities, When differential treatment
women still failed to achieve equality persisted [½], they accused men of
… male conspiracy … great War of the ganging up on them [½],
Sexes seemed about to break out.” (lines threatening clashes between the
47 – 49) genders.
“What recent research has shown about how this conflict may be addressed”
8 “Fortunately, the conflict can be averted Luckily, scientific studies today have
… knowledge! … computer brain-scans … indisputably proven [½] that
statistical surveys and analyses of human
behaviour … established beyond all
doubt that … indeed, true.” (lines 50 –
54)
9 “He and She are different. Profoundly men and women are significantly
so. She has developed … connecting dissimilar as they have evolved
nerve fibres … He has a brain which is different mental attributes [½] due
more compartmentalised and to the ancient division of labour.
specialised.” (lines 54 – 56)
10 “The hunter … developed bigger eyes The men became tougher [½] and
with tunnel vision … His thick skin … evolved the effective eyesight [½]
comparatively insensitive to pain … and thought processes [½] that
calculating rapidly and accurately tune in to attack for food.
where the food was” (lines 56 – 61)
11 “caring for the kids, She developed a In caring for people, women evolved
greater peripheral vision to monitor the abilities to view wide sections of
her immediate surroundings … learned her environment [½], multi-task
to do a dozen things at the same time, [½], be sensitive [½], and
her five sense became far more finely communicate well [½].
tuned … verbal and body language
grew while He was silently stalking his
prey … grunts with his brothers-in-arms”
(lines 61 – 65)

Sample summary
The gender revolution began when people derived methods of working that were less
strenuous and more efficient. Secondly, contraception allowed women to control their
family size. Lastly, women were more at ease as aggressive management styles changed
to favour their pro-social tendencies. However, people were initially not able to
comprehend or manage these shifts. Women insisted on being treated the same as men
in all aspects. Sadly, they subsequently had the flawed idea that the genders have
identical profiles but are drilled to automatically adopt dissimilar ones. When differential
treatment persisted, they accused men of ganging up on them, threatening clashes

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between the genders. Luckily, scientific studies today have indisputably proven that men
and women are significantly dissimilar as they have evolved different mental attributes.
(120 words)

11 In this article, Chan Wai Leong gives an account of what he calls the ‘gender
revolution’.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with his views? Support your answer with
examples drawn from your society’s experience of the ‘gender revolution’.[8]

R1 = To what extent do you agree or disagree with his views?

R2 = Support your answer with examples drawn from your society’s experience of the
‘gender revolution’

Author’s Views Agree Disagree

Comparing the ‘gender
revolution’ to “apocalyptic
scenarios” (line 2).
Claiming that women joined
the work force as conditions
became more favourable to
them (paragraph 3).
The ‘gender revolution’ is a
fundamental and important
change, as suggested by
the apocalyptic scenarios.
E.g.: Singapore society is
still dealing with
fundamental shifts due to
the effects of female
emancipation, such as
declining birth rates.
To some extent, changes in
work processes and the
advent of contraception did
give women more leeway to
join a larger variety of
occupations.
E.g.: More women are
joining previously male-
centred occupations like
engineering, as these
occupations become less
physically demanding.
Chan is exaggerating. In
fact, one can argue that
women have always held
considerable amounts of
soft power. This is a key
aspect that should not be
ignored.
E.g.: The matriarch of a
family. / The power of
mothers to mould the next
generation.
Chan has overlooked the
fact that women were often
not solely homemakers
even in the past. Due to
sheer economic necessity, a
number were involved in
cottage industries, and
many helped out in family
businesses or on family
farms. Arguably, women
have always contributed to
the workforce, though their
contributions are usually
ignored by prevailing
measurements.

E.g.: Coffee shops or hawker

stores in Singapore, where
the ‘Lady Boss’ is a familiar
sight.

8

The idea that men and
women behave differently
as they are conditioned
from the time they are
young, does not hold
(paragraphs 4 – 5).
Women accuse men of
conspiring against them
when they fail to get equal
opportunity (lines 47 – 49).
Chan blames ignorance of
gender differences for “high
divorce rates” (line 67).
Chan did cite scientific
studies that proved that
men and women have
different ways of processing
external stimuli. He also
gave logical explanations
for these findings.
E.g.: In Singapore,
occupations that rely on
spatial sense, such as
driving, tend to be male-
dominated, while
occupations that rely on
emotional connections, such
as service, tend to be
female-dominated.
In some cases, women point
fingers at men without
considering that their
reasons for differential
treatment may not be due
to gender discrimination.
E.g.: Some women cite
gender discrimination when
they are dismissed when
they apply for maternity
leave. However, small
companies may genuinely
be unable to spare a worker
in this hostile economic
climate.
Communications break
down is frequently cited as
a reason for a failed
marriage. This can possibly
be avoided if men and
women understood their
differences and could work
around it.
E.g.: Marriage counselling
often centres on getting
couples to understand and
appreciate differences.
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However, we cannot
completely ignore the
effects of conditioning. Even
if men and women are
biologically different,
conditioning can serve to
exacerbate or minimise
these differences. In some
cases, females may even
show a preference for a
typically ‘male’ way of
processing external stimuli,
and vice versa. Chan should
not over-generalise.
E.g.: In Singapore, girls can
actually score better at
Mathematics and Science,
which are usually perceived
as being the boys’ strong
suit.
However, there are
instances of institutionalised
discrimination when men
are paid more or given more
opportunities to be
promoted.
E.g.: In Singapore, men are
paid more due to their
experience during National
Service. However, some
men had an extremely
leisurely two years, leading
people to question if such
preferential treatment is
justified.
Chan should not over-
simplify the causes of
divorce. The fact remains
that divorces are often
messy as many factors are
involved, not just gender
differences.
E.g.: Some couples are
fundamentally incompatible
due to different values or
approaches to life, which
may not be due to gender.

Chan suggests that “gender
education needs to
supplement mere sex
education in schools” (lines
74 – 75).
“we are still, in our gender
relations, stuck in the
mindset of our
grandparents” (lines 77 –
78)
A greater understanding
and appreciation of what
makes the different genders
tick may help individuals
negotiate the twists and
turns of human
relationships better.
E.g.: Many courses on
Emotional Intelligence in
Singapore schools aim to
help students understand
different personality types
and so, relate to others
better. Gender education
can possibly go along the
same path.
Males are often still
expected to play a
dominant role, be it in being
a leader, speaking up, or
even in courtships. Men who
exhibit ‘feminine’ qualities,
such as being emotional,
are also mocked. Similarly,
women are still expected to
play a supportive, or even
decorative, role.
E.g.: In an informal poll by
The Straits Times, the most
influential local newspaper,
majority of Singaporean
men cite appearance as
being the most important
quality they look for in a
future spouse.
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What Chan refers to as
“gender education” should
actually come under the
broader category of
character education, where
people are taught to
appreciate and live with
differences, and become an
inclusive society. This does
not apply solely to gender
but to aspects like ethnic
and religious harmony as
well. Focusing on gender
education alone is too
narrow.
Besides, teaching theories
alone is pointless. It is far
more effective if people
actually see it in action.
E.g.: In many Singaporean
schools, students are
encouraged to take up key
roles, whether they are
male or female.
Our present mindsets have
changed quite substantially
from our grandparents’ era
due to radical changes in
our society.
E.g.: More women are
becoming leaders in the
economic and political
fields, and often, parents
are willing to support their
daughters’ career
ambitions. Statistically,
more Singaporean women
are getting married later, or
not at all.