Ms Goh's GP blog

Compre Answers

2003 JCT

3)
linear( line5 5): The writer i s suggesting that writing in literature often runs in one direction/ follows the same (predictable) course/ has a beginning, middle and end /

constraints(line 55) This, he sees as limiting.

Freed (line 55): In contrast , those who participate in 'Myst' have more options / can make choices that take them in different directions/ have more routes to take/ can determine their own course of discovery. And therefore have a greater sense of freedom/ feel less controlled by the author.

7)
What is the writer's intention in declaring, "Long live the page!" (line 59)?
He is affirming that the page will continue to rule (1) as the medium for presenting / formatting /engaging with words and pictures, but that it will be incorporated into the screen (1)

or that the page is a legacy/ that which will be passed on/ adapted/ developed (1) so that it satisfies both readers of traditional books and those who are more at home with the screen (1).
Given1 mark only if it is simply pointed out that the traditional page will become the interchangeable page of both book and screen. (Lift:" TV that we read and books that we watch.")

Atthough some answers had the correct meaning, rnost answers were written in inaccurate English. Language marks were deducted for the expression 'trying to say" because the writer is succeeding in saying what he wants to. Quite a few students wrote of the page housing the screen, when it is the screen which
houses the page.

2004 JCT

1)
• It suggests tremendous / remarkable / amazing change. [1]
• Our great-grandparents would have been stunned by the changes. [1/2]
• The changes were shocking. [0]

2)
Lifted Answer Paraphrased Answer
1) We live in a favoured age but do not feel favoured. (line 9-10)


2)
The incidence of clinical melancholy has been rising in eerie synchronisation with rising prosperity. (line 10-12)
or
We should be glad that society is creating not only the prosperity but also the leisure that enable people by the millions to feel depressed. (line 14-16)


- Although we live in an era where life is better, we do not think that we are better-off. (a more general explanation of “favoured” is required.)

- Although we are wealthier, we increasingly have the perception that life is difficult/miserable, which is ironic/odd as one would not expect this to happen.
or
- It is absurd/ironic that one is miserable when one has the opportunity to relax/rest.
- Or it is ironic that this freedom from work gives us the chance to wallow in despondency.
- Or it is ironic that we should be pleased to have the time to be miserable as it is obviously a negative experience.


5)
What attitude to possessions is implied by the writer’s repeated use of the word “stuff”(line 49-53) to describe them? [1]
• A dismissive attitude is implied / Possessions are not viewed as important.

2005 JCT

8) “How can today’s teens truly experience this tortured rite of passage when marketers seek them out relentlessly and programmers understand them so well?”(l. 19 -21)
Explain, in your own words as far as possible, what the writer is saying here. [3]

FROM THE PASSAGE PARAPHRASE
 How can today’s teens truly experience this tortured rite of passage (l. 19–20)  It is an essential part of being an adolescent to feel lonely and misunderstood [1]
 but it is difficult for teenagers to feel this [1]
 … when marketers seek them out relentlessly and programmers understand them so well? (l. 20–21)  because the producers of goods and the mass media are determined / finely tuned to analyse and exploit/ cater to their every need [1]


Comments:
 A large majority of the scripts scored zero for this as there was a lack of understanding of the question. Many students went off the course talking about the search for identity, how talent scouts look for teenagers endlessly, providing them with jobs and salaries, and how they then do not need care, concern and understanding from their parents.
 Also, the “How can today’s teens…” phrase does not imply that the present teenagers are complaining about the lack of understanding. Rather, it is a statement rephrased as a question, saying that teens nowadays cannot/ do not go through the essential lonely and misunderstood stage of adolescence
 The gist of the second part – ‘marketers seeks them out relentlessly and programmers understand them so well’ – is not about them helping the teens to solve problems /providing solutions. It is about them having the teens well analyzed and catering to their needs.

Example of a better answer
The writer means that the period of adolescence is normally marked by a pronounced sense of being lonely, that teens will beg for someone to understand them. However, today’s teens cannot experience this moment in its true entirety due to the many marketers seeking them out voraciously and programmers who understand their every want and need.
Paul-Mathew Lim Cheng Zhong


JCT 2006

From paragraph 3
1. Explain what the writer means when she uses the metaphor “henhouse chickens” (line 22) to describe the children of today. Use your own words as far as possible. [3]

Lifts Paraphrased Answer








• “plump from lack of exercise and (line 22)

• without the resilience and (lines 22-23)

• initiative of free-range kids in the past” (line 23)
• Like chickens confined within a henhouse, children are cooped up at home. [1]

[1 mark each for any 2 of the following points]
• They become obese from being deprived of play and exercise. [1]
• They are not given the opportunity to build up their ability to withstand hardship. [1]
• They do not have the freedom to develop an enterprising spirit / cultivate their resourcefulness. [1]

Comments:
• This is a question that tests students’ ability to explain a metaphor, hence answers without any reference to the “henhouse chickens” would lose one mark straight away.
• Children “without the resilience” do not necessarily refer to children who are completely dependent on their parents for everything in life. Hence, answers that convey “a lack of self-sufficiency” as an explanation for “without the resilience” are not given credit.


From paragraph 4
2. What is the writer’s attitude when she says “Have we gone too far?” (line 29)? Explain your answer. [2]

Lifts Paraphrased Answer

• “While it’s natural for a parent to want to protect their children from danger, you have to wonder: Have we gone too far?” (lines 28-29)
• The writer expresses doubt / disapproval.
(The writer expresses a doubtful / disparaging / disapproving attitude). [1]
• This is because she feels that parents have excessively sheltered their children from risks / although parents understandably shelter their children from risks, they should not overdo it. [1]


Comments:
• Answers must state the attitude of the writer first before going on to explain the reason, or no mark will be given.
• A writer’s attitude is similar to his tone, and does not refer to his feelings or thoughts. Hence, “the writer thinks/feels that parents have gone overboard” is not an attitude, but “the writer disapproves of how parents have gone overboard with parenting” is.
• The following is an example of an answer that meets the requirements of the question:
The writer’s attitude is questioning and doubtful. The writer wants to bring across the point that while it is normal to want to protect their children, some parents are getting affected by paranoia and are sheltering their children too much. ~ Janice Huang, 31/06

From paragraph 7
3. Explain in your own words as far as possible what is meant by ”the kid gloves came off” (line 41). [2]

Lifts Paraphrased Answer
• Literal

• Contextual • ”Kid gloves” are protective garments and taking off these gloves is to remove the protection. [1]

• The writer is saying that parents should stop treating children as dainty, vulnerable youngsters unable to deal with any real or harsh truth / accept rough treatment. Or stop mollycoddling them [1]
[Accept any answer with the same general meaning.]


Comments:
• Just like Question 2, the metaphor of the kid gloves being taken off must be explained. Students must learn to always present the literal meaning of the tested phrase before explaining its use in the context.

• The following is an example of an answer that meets the requirements of the question:
Gloves are meant for protection and prevent exposure. By saying that “the kid gloves came off”, [the writer] means that it is time for parents to stop overprotecting their kids, allow them to be exposed to the outside world and do things by themselves. ~ Tay Huimin, 24/06


JCT 2007
1. How does Alpert’s stand contradict the question posed in paragraph 1? [3]

LIFTED PHRASES PARAPHRASED ANSWER
 Even so, I am against censorship (l. 4–5)


 What could seemingly be more wholesome than newsstands cleansed of the gleeful celebrations of perverse sexual acts or it adults-only cinemas were shuttered? Little would be lost, really. (l. 2–4)  Alpert is not in favour of / does not support censorship. [1]

 and this contradicts/ is in direct opposite to the potential benefits/ positive effects censorship can bring [1]

 in particular, greater public decency / a morally upright society [1]


Comments:
 This question requires the contradiction to be shown explicitly – through the use of phrases like “in spite of”, “despite”, etc.
 In many cases, the contradiction was not evident. Students generally rambled on about WHY the author does not support censorship, summarising all of the author’s views in the passage which are completely redundant to this question.
 Note that answers are NOT repeated across questions. So if your answers to one question are the same as those for another, you have made a mistake somewhere.
 Note that if the question specifies a particular paragraph, then your answer must come from that paragraph.
 Some students even referred to passage 1. (????!!!!)
 There was a lot of lifting (just because “use your own words” is not in the question?). Quite often, the examples given by the author in the question posed in paragraph 1 were cited – wholesome, newsstands, adult-only cinemas – with no attempt at paraphrasing.
 Note that precision is essential – “Few negative effects” is not the same as saying there are benefits


8) LIFTED
 pornography takes but a minute portion of its attention (l. 53)


 It is at worst a flea that bites an elephant (l. 53–54)


 It does take enormous effort to do something about it (l. 54–55)


 …and in the long run, it is no more productive than flailing at windmills. (l.55–56)

PARAPHRASED
 Pornography only occupies an extremely small fraction of one’s mind/ is a trivial or minor issue to people. [1]

 Its impact can be considered inconsequential/ unimpressive. [1]
*Note: must emphasise the impact.

 However, any attempt to eradicate it/ solve the problem requires a great amount of energy/hard work [1]

 And the outcome of attempting to eradicate pornography is often insignificant and ineffective [1]


Comments:
 Once again, there was a lack of precision in many answers, eg. many students wrote “it is trivial so it is easy for people to ignore and forget”, which does not translate to “insignificant impact”.
 Misinterpretation of the word ‘minute’ – eg. “Pornography takes up only a minute of one’s focus.” (??!!)

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