Ms Goh's GP blog

GENERAL PAPER
PAPER 2 SUGGESTED ANSWERS

Questions on Passage 1
From paragraph 1
1. What views does the writer express on the issue of obesity? [2]

From the passage Paraphrased Answers
“It does not seem…fastest-growing fat problem” (lines 1 – 2)
“Well perhaps not. Scare stories are …food and drink to the media.” (lines 3 - 4)
“… killing children … is not … a hallmark of civilization” (lines 5 – 6) While the rate of obesity is increasing rapidly, (1/2)


things are not as serious as they are made out to be. (1/2)


That said, the losing of children to obesity is not an acceptable measure of a developed society. (1)

Comments: This paragraph needs very close and careful reading as many students were not able to really pick up on the complexity of ideas. Many of the answers tended to deal with only a single aspect of what was said and there was a tendency to simplify the issues with points that are not even found in the passage. Excellent answers would have been able to distinguish between what the writer has observed about the fat issue, how this trend could be an exaggeration by the media and lastly, to point out that despite all this, the writer feels that the problem is not a good reflection of progressive society.

Sample of a good answer:
“The writer recognises the increasing frequency of obesity cases in Europe. Although she acknowledges that the situation may have been exaggerated by the media, she considers the problem to be at odds with the advancements of mankind.” ~Nur Azzah Amir Gany 33/04


From paragraph 2
2. a. What is implied by the use of “or else” (lines 8 and 11)? [1]
Answer: It implies that a threat is being made by the government/The government will impose some kind of sanction/penalty on the food and drinks industries. (1)
Comments:
Answers should be put in a meaningful context as far as possible. Please note the words in bold as above.

b. Why, according to the writer, does the government “not want to venture down the ‘or else’ route” (lines 12 – 13)? [1]
From the passage Paraphrased Answer
“how often has it been accused of running a nanny state” (lines 12 – 13) The government does not want to be criticised once again for being too controlling in people’s lives. (1)

Note: ½ mark more for “once again”
Comments:
Look for contextual clues in paragraph 2 to help you. “Or else” … “Mandatory regulations do not seem coercive in other areas”. Avoid doing word-for-word substitution of meanings like baby-sitter, governess, maid, etc. Avoid extreme meanings like “totalitarian, spoon-fed, dictator, etc.
c. How do the examples used by the writer in lines 15 – 20 develop the argument that the government should take action on obesity? [3]

From the passage Paraphrased Answer
“Mandatory regulations do not seem coercive …”(lines 14 – 15)

…not an assault on human rights… (lines 16)

quaint…aircraft and buses.”
(lines 17 - 18)

“But British children…fatty food lunches…dispense rubbish” (lines 18 – 20) The wearing of crash helmets and seat belts and the ban on smoking in planes and buses have been forced upon people not to restrict them but to protect them. (1)

They do not see these as a violation of their human rights. (1)


Moreover, these restrictions have been generally accepted as beneficial/people recognize these as benefits. (1)

Therefore, the writer feels that it is perfectly reasonable to regulate against obesity for the benefits it would bring. (1)
Accept any 3 of the above points
Comments: For each point made from these examples, remember link them back to the point of why the government should take action on obesity. Lastly, for questions 1 and 2, please avoid lifting especially of key words/ideas.


From paragraph 3
3. Select any two reasons why it is difficult for the government to deal with the problem of obesity? Briefly explain the difficulty in each case. Number your answers 1 and 2. [2]
From the passage Paraphrased Answer
“the causes of obesity differ” (lines 21 – 22)

“…individual choice…not one for regulators” (line 23)



“…stigma... criticise fat youngsters…unthinkable…their shape of adults’ devising” (lines 24 – 25) There are many reasons for obesity. (1/2) So, the solutions will be harder to find. (1/2)

The individual decides what he/she is going to eat (1/2)
and it is therefore regarded as not the business of the government/a private matter/as something that government should not/cannot get involved in. (1/2)

It is felt that it would be damaging for young people to be criticized for being fat when it is not really their fault (1/2) and government involvement would lead to them being singled out even more. (1/2)

Note: Give max of 2 marks for any 2 of the above reasons plus the explanation.

Comments:
• A fairly direct question with many able to secure the maximum marks.
• Students were penalized for their inability to paraphrase with the lifting of words- causes, regulation, and choice- being common.
• Not many were able to infer the writer’s critique that obesity of children is largely the fault of parents-“their shape of adults’ devising.” This shows the need for a closer reading and analysis of the given passage.
• The attempt by a few to break the general argument of how there are multiple causes of obesity making the problem intractable into separate arguments on genes, depression etc. cannot be fully justified.

4. “Never, outside the Garden of Eden, has so much significance been invested in a free apple” (lines 27 – 28). What is the writer’s intention in saying this? [1]

To be witty/To mock the government’s efforts/the writer is being sarcastic/to question the government’s actions/to criticize or doubt the government. (1)

Comments: Only a small percentage of the entire cohort managed a coherent answer. This question required students to go beyond rephrasing stock sentences and was one of the few that truly tested one’s understanding of the writer’s message and how she uses tone to make a point. Biblical references were not particularly useful for this question and what students needed to do was make some reference to the sarcasm and the writer’s dismissal of the government’s half-hearted efforts.


Questions on Passage 2
From paragraph 1
5. According to the writer why was the school effort to ensure “good nutrition” (lines 3 and 4) a failure? [3]
From the passage Paraphrased Answers
“in the playground, away from the teachers’ eyes… sweets and chocolates were traded” (lines 4 – 5)
“… marks of rebellion…statements of independence” (lines 5 – 6)

“… ever so much more enticing” (lines 6 – 8) “…food plus attitude” (line 8) It did not stop the eating of sweets and chocolates. (1/2)
The inability to ensure complete supervision led to the secret eating of sweets and chocolates. (1)

The banning attached more significance to the eating of them.
Students saw the eating of sweets as a way of asserting their right to freedom of choice/a way of subverting authority/ challenging adults/asserting themselves. (1)
Sweets and chocolates became the forbidden fruits and became more attractive.(1)

Note: Give up to a max. of 3.

Comments:
• Again a fairly direct question that required mainly extraction and some degree of inference skills. Many students were able to identify some of the arguments but failed to provide the requisite number to secure a full mark.
• Many seemed to have problems with paraphrasing “the marks of rebellion” and “statements of independence.” “Being cool” does not adequately bring across the meaning of these phrases.
• There was also a failure to make explicit the necessary links in the argument. It is not sufficient to simply write that “sweets and chocolates became more attractive after the ban” without explaining why the ban made them attractive i.e. the forbidden food argument.

From paragraph 2
6. State briefly how the Health Select Committee could learn from the school experience. [1]
Lifts Paraphrased Answers
The school was well-meaning – just misguided (line 9)
… has turned good intentions into bad conclusions (lines10 – 11) Even though one wanted to do something right/started off meaning well (0.5), the act could end up with undesirable outcomes/ends/solutions that had a negative impact rather than a positive one (0.5).

Comments:
• Most students did not get this question right. While it is logical to propose a variety of answers (eg. that solutions implemented must be carefully thought through, that banning food is not a good solution because students will find other ways to obtain it, that banning food can only worsen the situation etc.), students must read carefully to realise that the answer MUST come from paragraph 2, and not elsewhere.
• It should be obvious that key phrases like “good intentions”, “bad conclusions” must not be lifted.
• Given that this is only a one-mark question, it is amazing to note that many students produced answers that way exceeded the number of lines given. This is an indication of floundering for an answer. The importance of economising the number of words cannot be more emphasised.
• Sample of a good answer:
The committee could reflect on itself and see if its actions, though they meant well, have actually resulted in more harm than good being done, such as in the case of the school.
(Cheng Maoxin, 10/04)

7. Orbach expresses a number of doubts and concerns about the obesity problem, seeing it as only one aspect of a larger pattern of disturbed eating. Using material from paragraphs 3 to 8, summarise her views in about 150 words, using your own words as far as possible. [8]
Lifts Paraphrased Answers
the extent of it is (lines 16 – 17)

the well-trumpeted dangers … need to be questioned (lines 18 – 19)

there is serious money to be made from a condition in search of treatment, and the categorisation of fat may just fit this bill perfectly (lines 19 – 21)

… let us not out of our sight the other players responsible for driving the obesity panic (lines 25 – 26)

Important correctives to the scare tactics are needed (line 32)

… the new rise in obesity is not simple growth, but is partly due to the BMI being revised downwards… (lines 33 – 34)
(to be inferred) from examples on writers Paul Campos and Alicia Mundy (l. 37 – 43)

… may look like a straightforward public health issue … unless it is recognised that fat is also an economic and psychological issue requiring innovative initiatives (lines 44 – 48)

… need to contest that … fitness, not fat, determines our mortality. You can be fat, fit and healthy (lines 49 – 51)
Children … have often imbibed anxiety around food and feeding … come along, quite unwittingly, with a mother’s milk, as she seeks to mange the societal pressures to stay away from fat (lines 54 – 57)
… we are, as a culture deeply confused about eating and dieting … something to be watchful, wary and afraid of. People of so-called normal weight … are as much part of the real epidemic of disturbed eating (lines 58 – 62)
A1 She questions the number of people who are said to be obese. (1)
A2 She suggests/challenges that being considered overweight/heavy may not be as dangerous/harmful as some people claim. (1)

A3 She sees the labeling of more people as fat could be an attempt by businesses to make more money. (1)



B1 She points out that society’s obsession with obesity is fuelled by many parties, and it is too convenient to blame only the obvious ones. (1)

C1 She suggests that the schemes/methods/strategies to trick people into feeling insecure/vulnerable need to be adjusted/altered. (1)
C2 She notes that a lot of people are brought under the obesity umbrella because of a simple change of measurement. (which she implies is absurd) (1)

C3 She points to the extensive evidence/literature that links big business to the concerns of obesity. (1)


D1 She expresses concern that the agencies that are trying to deal with the obesity problem do not see the whole picture/do not address the issue fully enough/are taking a too narrow view of the problem, and that creative solutions/strategies are needed. (1)


E1 She indicates that being fat may not mean you are unfit./ It is fitness that decides our lifespan, not the amount of fat. (1)

E2 She is concerned that parents pass on an unhealthy perception of what it means to be fat/our obsession with fat is something that we are creating a legacy for our children, and eating becomes an unavoidable difficulty for them. (1)



F1 She indicates that obesity is really only one part of the whole societal problem where people fear eating, and that many people who are not even considered obese are very troubled by the whole business of eating. (1)



Comments:
• Perennial issues:
a. Please do a word count at the end of your answer.
b. Please do not lie about the number of words used.
c. Please write in a single paragraph.
d. Please do attempt the summary because you will be giving up too many marks if you don’t.
• Too much rigid paraphrasing without showing an awareness of the question or an understanding of the passage. This usually happens when there is too much word substitution or a lack of linkers to connect the ideas.

Compare the paraphrases (a) and (b) of the following excerpt:

Creating a panic about obesity may look like a straightforward public health issue… but we won’t be (on the side of the angels) unless it is recognised that fat is also an economic and psychological issue requiring innovative initiatives (lines 44 – 48).
(a) People would not worry about obesity unless it affects the economy and mental well-being, and needs creative solutions.
(b) The agencies trying to deal with the obesity problem do not see the whole picture, and that creative solutions are needed to tackle it.

(a) clearly has got the wrong idea because the paragraph is not arguing that we worry about obesity, but rather, obesity is worrying because it is far more complex and multi-dimensional than assumed, which is captured in (b) succinctly. (a) has also conveniently substituted “an economic and psychological issue” with “the economy and mental well-being”, which completely misses the point.

The following is an obvious example of poorly-linked ideas. What can be done to improve its coherence?

We must question the pitfalls of being overweight. There is much profit to be made from obesity. There are many parties responsible for scaring people about obesity. Amendments to the ways of frightening people must be done. More people are obese today. The BMI has been revised. Fat is an economic and psychological issue that needs creative solutions. The market makes money by making us all think we are fat. We must challenge that. Fitness determines how long we can live. One can be fat and fit. Children today are afraid of eating. We ourselves are troubled by eating, and dieting has become necessary. Normal-weight people are part of the eating problem.


Sample of a good answer

The severity of the weight problem and its effects have been exaggerated (A2). Food markets are not the only sector that gains from this issue. However, the authorities are too quick to denounce unhealthy foods as the cause. The seemingly increasing trend could also be due to the fact that the form of measurement employed to track obesity was scaled downwards (C2), thereby increasing the estimates of overweight people. Companies that track these statistics are funded by other organizations that stand to profit from an increase in the figures as more people seek treatment for obesity (A3). Moreover, the government and governing agencies must realise that there are economic and psychological contributors to this problem (½D1 – and so?). Our level of fitness, not weight, determines our lifespan (E1). Children must be taught not to fear unhealthy food as they now do. More focus should be placed on those of normal weight as they too are misguided about their diets (F1). ~ Gayathri Ragharan, 37/04


8. 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]
From the passage Possible Answers
stigma (passage 1, line 24) stain to one’s reputation, shame, dishonor, disgrace (1)
scoff (passage 1, line 38) mock, jeer, deride, ridicule, dismiss, to scorn (1)
plethora (passage 2, line 11) overabundance, excess, numerous, myriad, range, variety(1)
dogma (passage 2, line 27) established belief, prescribed doctrine, practice, custom (1)
unwittingly (passage 2, line 58) inadvertently, unintentionally, accidentally, unknowingly, unconsciously (1)

Comments: Students who wrote several answers were penalised for trying to get by on guesswork. Leaving blank answer scripts also affected the grammar mark for this section (if there were at least three blanks, then half a mark would be deducted). Short, concise answers are preferable over long rambling explanations.


9. Both passages express the view that people’s relationship with food is a complex and not always happy one. Give your views on obesity, dieting and food, illustrating your argument by referring both to what you have just read and to your own observations and experiences.

“both to what you have just read”
• Many of you ignored this part of the question and produced answers on how to lead a healthy lifestyle. These scripts focused on the importance of exercising and eating right. These were mostly irrelevant, simplistic and had little connection to both the passages.

“to your own observations and experiences”
• Most scripts responded to this part of the question. But most were comfortable with just describing the programmes in schools, the Slim 10 saga with Andrea d’Cruz and various eating campaigns. Your personal experiences and observations must be considered in relation to the arguments and issues raised by the writer. Many of you have the tendency to just describe your examples. You must evaluate your ideas by asking what it means, who it affects and how it is tied to the larger concerns in society.

Basically, the application question is a test of your ability to identify (read) key points of the writers’ argument. To do this, you must have a clear idea of what Riddell and Orbach are saying.



Ridell’s Argument
 The thrust of Riddell’ argument is the role of the government in controlling or regulating the obesity problem. But the real question is the extent of control. How far should and can the government go before it is perceived as being over controlling?
 And in relation to the food industry, she argues that the government should take action now and not wait for the industry to take steps to help manage the obesity problem.
Arguments from Passage 1 :
 “The question on food is where to intervene” (line 21)
 “Of course the government does not want to venture down the ‘or else’ route” (line 11)
 “After all, how often has it (the government) been accused of running a nanny state” (line 12)
Illustration from personal experience :
 Trim and Fit Club, regulating diets in school tuckshops, less sweet drinks in vending machines, selling less fried food and gassy drinks, health education programmes, various campaigns launched by the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board, e.g., “Ask for More Vegetables”, The Great Singapore Workout
Evaluation :
The extent of government control in Singapore is limited by the following issues:
 There is the issue of control beyond the school and the question of what happens at home. Parents and grandparents who are unaware of the importance of good dietary habits fail to control their children’s diets and persist in feeding them unhealthy food.
 Culturally, there is also the issue of how eating is viewed by the various races. There is the traditional mindset that a rejection or reduction of food is a sign of poverty. Hence, the penchant for big meals, feasting and even overfeeding.
 In Singapore, the government does not want to be perceived as being over-controlling in what the people are eating. This is because of a strong ‘eating culture’ in Singapore. Controlling the sale of unhealthy foods would be seen as an intrusion into the live of the individual and an infringement of his right to the little ‘pleasures’ in life.
 There is also the issue of eating to relieve stress. Many Singaporeans view eating as a good way to cope and deal with a stressful lifestyle. This is a psychological factor and the proverbial “what you eat is what you are” holds true for many.
 Food is also a revenue generating agent. It is a selling point and is a strong arm of the tourism industry. The government, with the Singapore Tourism Board, uses food as a selling point, e.g., Gluttons Corner and the various food festivals.
Orbach’s Arguments
 The thrust of Orbach’s government is the need to question the real dangers and issues associated with being overweight. She argues for a need to examine the ‘panic’ from a broader perspective – to examine the economic, social and psychological aspects of the problem.
Arguments from Passage 2
 “the well-trumpeted dangers associated with being overweight need to be questioned” (line 18)
 “there is considerable evidence that there is serious money to be made from a condition in search of treatment, and the categorization of fat may fit this bill perfectly” (line 19)
 “whose interests are served by the introduction of hysteria around obesity; particularly who profits and who hurts” (line 25)
 “other players responsible for driving the obesity panic” (line 29)
 “recognized that fat is also an economic and psychological issue requiring innovative measures” (line 48)
 “fitness and not fat that determines our mortality and the hidden psychological effects of this attack on our body size are enormous” (line 50)
Illustration from personal experience:
 Various slimming centres like Jean Yip, Adonis, and Marie France Slimline
 Weight-loss advertisements on television
 Glossy fashion and lifestyle magazines, e.g., Men’s Health, FHM, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, Vogue
 Films like Supersize Me
 Eating disorders, e.g., Bullimia, Anorexia
 Atkins and Cambridge Diet
 Low-carbohydrate/high protein diets

Evaluation
 Our society has a strong visual culture – a culture of excellence that extends to a need to be well groomed, and a pressure to look good. This image-conscious culture is exploited by the numerous grooming and slimming centres which have sprung up in the country.
 The weight-loss industry perpetrates the unrealistic ideal that thin is good and fat is bad. Similarly, slimming programmes and success weight-loss stories are celebrated and endorsed.
 The other player – the media (television/film/fashion/magazines) - promotes a certain image to the exclusion of everything that deems fat as ugly.
 The film ‘Supersize Me’ contributes to the hysteria over the consumption of fast food but is an extreme example exploited by the media. Generally, common sense and moderation will allow most people to enjoy fast food on an occasional basis.
 People have different body shapes and different lifestyles. Many who play sports require a certain physical presence and stature, e.g. rugby and wrestling. The BMI index, in this case, is not a good reflection of their fitness.
 Youth may lack the self esteem and confidence necessary to the formation of a strong sense of self identity. Acceptance is often (mistakenly) tied to what people think of them and what is presented in the media.
 Many resort to drastic measures to conform to unrealistic standards. Hence the rise in eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.
 Self perception is driven by societal standards and not self-acceptance and people need to understand this. Tangible initiatives need to used with education and an atmosphere of discernment needs to be cultivated.

Other General Weaknesses
• Too many ideas mentioned superficially (all in a single paragraph).
• Too much repetition.
• Some students summarised the passages
• Stating the obvious. Many answers had arguments that did not go on to say much beyond the fact that obesity was bad and exercise was good.
Common grammatical errors
• ‘Necessary’ was used when ‘necessarily’ was more appropriate.
• It is ‘Ironic’ and not ‘ironical’
• I ‘Agree with’ the writer’s stand and not ‘agree to’
• “Like what Passage B said”—should simply be ‘Passage B states’
• Food ‘is’ not ‘are’
A good paragraph
Ridell mentions in Passage 1 that ‘the food industry must volunteer to be more responsible’. I strongly agree with this measure and this is evident in Singapore where healthy food is indicated by labels that inform the public of that product’s contents. Food/stall vendors also offer customers the option of having more vegetables or less oil in their food. This is indeed commendable and significantly promotes healthy eating.
An excerpt from Kok Shee Mun 32/04

Prepared by Mr Rajesh Krishnam
uti & Mr Dustin Chin

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