Nanyang Junior College

JC2 Preliminary Examination 2009

Paper 1
Suggested Approaches

1. Is it the responsibility of the richer nations to help the poorer ones?

Interpretation
Main thrust of the question- whether it is the duty or obligation (key word-
responsibility and not help) of the rich countries (on moral, social, political or
practical grounds etc) to help poor nations lead a better life and the reasons why it is
or it is not their duty.

Possible stands:
1. Agree that it is the responsibility of the rich nations to help the poor ones, but the
poor nations must also help themselves.
2. Disagree – because poor nations are largely responsible for their plight and they
need to address the problems that they have created-eg over-population,
corruption etc.
Note: 1st stand is more sensible.

Requirements of question: Stand 1

1. Must give reasons why it is their responsibility.
2. Qualify it with the balancing explanation as to why the poor nations must also
help themselves.
3. How the rich can help should be only a minor part of the essay and should only
be part of the elaboration of the rich nation’s duty .
4. Note that the essay is not about the different ways rich nations can help.
5. There must be ample coverage and illustrations.

Some possible reasons why it is the responsibility of the rich.

1. Interconnectedness of the world with the rich prospering at the expense of the
poor nations:
• Exploitation in the colonial era; compare pre-colonial self sufficiency to
neo-colonial dependence caused by colonialism. (also a historical
responsibility)
• The existing unfair trade system with unfavourable terms of trade for the
poor, with prices set by the rich. The principle of fairness demands that
they not only change the trading system, but also make up for the
injustice by helping the poor nations to compete competitively in
international trade.
2. The brotherhood of all men binds the rich nations to help their poor fellow human
beings.
3. Moral duty- man’s conscience- humanitarian grounds.
4. Also man’s obligation to prevent the potential threat to his survival that result
from a divided world (conflicts) or a damaged environment (caused by poor
nations in their struggle to survive).
5. For their own benefit too- if poor nations become more well off, they can be a
market for their goods etc.

Balance (Poor nations must also help themselves)

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1. Over dependence on rich nations can cripple poor nations.
2. Rich nations must also ensure that poor nations use aid wisely.
3. In some cases, it is beyond the ability of rich nations to help as situations can go
out of control.

2. ‘Everything has been figured out, except how to live.’ How far is this true of
Singapore? (NOTE: this outline must be modified to suit the Singapore
context)

Background:

This quotation was taken from the French existentialist – Jean Paul Sartre. It is a
comment on our ‘rational’ age.

Possible interpretation of the statement:

We live in an age that values scientific rationalism. There appears to be no

supernatural mystery. Everything can be dissected and explained with scientific
study & explanation. Mysticism, the supernatural & religion are seen as quaint
cultural relics – important for their cultural or historical significance but they have no
bearing in explaining the world. However, we have developed a scientific & modern
civilization, but we seem to have lost the ability or the savoir-faire of ‘living’.

‘Live’ as defined by Collins, can mean to exist and it also means living life to the
fullest.

The candidate is not supposed to attack the veracity of the statement ‘Everything has
been figured out’ by showing that there are some mysteries of life that science has
yet to explain. While this is not wrong, this is not the main focus of the question.

Suggested approach:

The candidate has to explore the irony of modern life. In this modern age when Man
is a supposed to have a scientific and rational answer for all the situations in life, he
is apparently losing the ability to live life.

The student can explore the different areas (which are not exhaustive):

Technology

Man has developed very high levels of technology. Man has managed to harness
the power of technology to do what was previously impossible. Modern methods of
communication & the invention of the computer & Internet has resulted in great
convenience today. The irony that while Man has figured out all these technological
advances, he has actually made the pace of life and work so fast that the quality of
living has actually decreased.

Example: The laptop and the mobile phone has improved communication.
However, this has made it impossible to draw a line between work & personal time.
Man is devoting more time to work, and his life has suffered. Growing rates of work
related stress, anxiety disorders & depression in the developed world.

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 Politics

Man has developed complex and rational systems of governance & international
relations. International bodies have been set up to deal with international conflicts.
The irony is that this age has seen severe deprivation of human rights and the rise
and fall of totalitarian regimes which were based on supposed enlightened theories
of governance like socialism.

Example: International bodies like the United Nations have been set up to advance
the cause of world peace. However, man has not learnt to live with each other in
peace & conduct his international relations with harmony. This age has seen
localized and international conflicts: Sri Lanka, the former Yugoslavia, Palestine,
Colombia, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Timor Leste.

Science

Science has allowed Man to understand his own body, to repair it with new
methods of surgery and use new types of medicine. What is ironic is that many of these
new types of medicine and surgery have actually led to more severe illnesses which has
led to a decline in the quality of life.

Example: Antibiotics have allowed Man to control most severe infections. Man
has figured out how to deal with these infections. On the other hand, the widespread use
of antibiotics has led to the growth of lethal strains of illnesses which are resistant to
antibiotics. It has also led to weaken immunity in the community as people do not build
up resistance to illnesses. Paradoxically, he is threatening his own existence.

Economics

Man’s development of highly advanced economic systems has allowed him to

maximize the development of his resources. It has also allowed him to create a
globalised & interconnected world. However, the raison d’etre of the current economic
system has fostered unlimited greed and led to the development of a consumerist
culture, which has exacerbated the depletion of Earth’s resources/

Example: The creation of the credit card has meant the easy advance of credit to
the masses and has allowed to masses to purchase goods with ease. However, this has
led to irresponsible spending habits and people who become slaves to their debts and
this has generated greater unhappiness.

3. Is cultural diversity more a boon than a bane for societies today?

Interpretation
Whether a culturally diverse society is more beneficial than problematic in a rapidly
changing and globalizing world.

Possible stands:
1. More a boon if such societies are able to move in a more positive direction,
towards acceptance and tolerance of differences.
2. More a bane when differences are allowed to erupt into conflict and violence.

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 Requirements of question:
1. A clear understanding of what cultural diversity means: a society defined by
plurality in various aspects-race, ethnicity, religion, language, nationality, dress,
traditions.
2. An awareness of what the pros and cons are of having such a society
3. A clear assessment of how largely desirable or questionable it is.

Some suggested points:

Boon:
1. Variety is the spice of life- explore the melting pot of cultures- cuisines, dress,
languages, customs. Advantages of assimilation.
2. Unity in diversity when different cultures converge in one country, there is a new
sense of belonging. Eg Singapore’s multi racial society.
3. A more interesting and enriching life.
4. Learn tolerance and acceptance

Bane:
1. Diversity hurts civic life according to a massive new study, based on detailed
interviews of nearly 30,000 people across America by Harvard political scientist
Robert Putnam The greater the diversity in a community, the fewer people vote and
the less they volunteer, the less they give to charity and work on community projects.
In the most diverse communities, neighbors trust one another about half as much as
they do in the most homogenous settings. The study, the largest ever on civic
engagement in America, found that virtually all measures of civic health are lower in
more diverse settings.
2. Breeds resentment of ‘outsiders’ which can lead to conflict and violence caused
by cultural intolerance.

4. ‘Far too much attention is given to animal rights.’ Do you agree?

Important term

‘Animal rights’ – this is the concept that animals (this would include all life forms from
insects to the largest mammals) have rights that require protection. There are a few
interpretations. Dharmic religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism would regard
animal life as sacred as human life and animals must not be deprived of life. Other
groups would believe in the humane treatment of animals – ie animals may be
slaughtered for food as long as it is done in a painless & merciful way. Other groups
would be against the use of animals for laboratory testing or the ‘battery’ farming of
animals.

Possible approach

The candidate’s view can run along the entire spectrum. There is a choice from
the idea that animals still do not have enough rights to the idea that animals are
given too much rights – at the expense of human beings. The candidate can explore
the following issues:

Points which are supportive of the statement

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Animal rights are a recent concept – this is an idea from Western civilization. This
resulted from the imposition of anthropomorphic characteristics on animals and a
movement towards treating animals as sentient beings, instead of being seen merely
as beasts.

• While it is undeniable that cruelty to animals is unacceptable, there are

other more pressing issues that the human race must deal with like
poverty, famine and gender issues.
• In developed countries, economic resources are devoted to an entire
industry which supports the pet trade. These resources can be more
gainfully employed elsewhere.
• This can reach the point where animals are treated like human beings.
Veterinary medicine and surgery are expensive and medical expertise is
diverted for the treatment of pets. There are even animals psychologists.
There are pet restaurants, pet hotels and pet spas. This is absurd in a
world where there is still such a gap between the developed world and
developing world. An animal in the developed world receives better
nutrition, better medical treatment and better shelter compared to a
human being in the developing world.
• The animal rights movement is also paradoxical. Such groups ascribe
rights to animals, but the rights are selective. These groups will not
hesitate to support the destruction of animals considered as pests but
they would give rights to animals that they consider useful. They may also
be influenced by cultural mores. They believe in kindness to animals if it
involves cats and dogs but they have no qualms about slaughtering farm
animals for food. Some of the antics of extremist groups also endanger
human life in the process of “saving” the animals.
• While cruelty to animals must not be condoned, the current animal rights
movement has developed from a puerile emotional attachment to pet
animals.

Points which are not supportive of the statement

Animals are still being maltreated and abused in today’s world and insufficient
attention is given to animal rights. The way we treat animals is important because it
reflects our human civilization. We are still exploiting and abusing both domestic and
wild animals.

• Man has always recognized the importance of treating animals well. In

some of the world’s oldest faiths like Hinduism, Jainism & Buddhism,
animal life is seen as sacred. Modern interpretations of Christianity &
Islam see Mankind as stewards of divine creation as this also includes the
idea that Man must manage & treat creation kindly. However, animals are
still being ill-treated and slaughtered irresponsibly for food, science &
sport.
• The need to support the world demand for meat and animal products
has seen the proliferation of battery farming of animals. Animals are
raised under poor conditions and are pumped with drugs to produce to

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 the maximum. For instance, hens may be given hormones to produce
eggs constantly and they are not allowed to rest.
• While there are organizations like SPCA & WWF, the focus of these
groups is on specific segments of the animal world like abandoned pets
or endangered wildlife. There is not enough support for the protection of
all animals. The efforts of groups like PETA are still too small.
• Animals are still being killed & raised to satisfy Man’s wants. For
instance, the farming of bears for their bile in China, the hunting of wild
animals for use in traditional healing practices in many parts of Africa,
harvesting of shark fins and sports like cock fighting and bull fighting.
These practices are cruel but there is still not enough effort made to put a
stop to these.
• Animals are still widely used for many unnecessary forms of product
testing like cosmetics. Even drug testing on animals have limitations and
are still not shown to be effective.

5. Is sport too closely linked to politics?

Interpretation
The assumption is that sport and politics are linked, but the term ‘too’ implies that
sport’s link to politics is beyond acceptable limits and therefore unhealthy as this
leads to undesirable consequences. The context must be competitive sport and
not individual, recreational sport.

Possible stands:
1. No-That politics is an integral part of sport and any consequences, positive or
negative, are inevitable. However, precautions are being taken or should be
taken to prevent or lessen abuse of sport.
2. Yes-That although politics is an inevitable feature of sport, its influence has
gone beyond acceptable limits and resulted in abuses.

If Stand 1
A.Politics is an integral part of sport:
1. Politics in sport is not a modern phenomenon. The Ancient Greeks were similarly
plagues by political interference.
1. Nations expect sportsmen to bring glory to the country because they are sponsored
by the government. Governments award them money for their victories.
2. Sport brings people together- national unity and patriotism.
3. The Games also bring about economic benefits to host countries.

However measures must be taken to ensure that politics does not taint the true
meaning of sport.
1. It is important to focus on the values of sport- goodwill among nations, spirit of
sportsmanship even while opportunistic groups exploit the sport as an
international platform to further their political agenda.
2. Host countries should take the best measures to provide security for the
athletes because abuse is inevitable.

If Stand 2

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A. Politics is an inevitable feature of sport and this can sometimes be a good
thing:
1. Sportsmen represent their country and this can help encourage national
consciousness/patriotism. Eg the Beijing Olympics was as a symbolic opportunity to
consolidate and celebrate a country’s new status eg China’s emergence as a rising
superpower.
2. International sporting events can be used as a platform to fight for social justice and
protest against the abuse of human rights.

3. Sport and politics have always been closely linked. “Do not mix sports and politics!”
That defiant cry from China’s rulers to the threat of a boycott of the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games did not stand the test of
reality. Examples abound.
a) During the Cold War, “ping pong diplomacy” helped revive official relations
between China and the United States.
(b) In 1990, Germany fielded a single Olympic team before the country reunified.

B. But often the influence of politics has been so strong that it has tainted the
purity of sport:
1. Nationalistic fervour has led to actions that go against the true purpose of sport (fair
play and sportsmanship)
Eg -athletes resort to taking drugs to enhance their performance. Sometimes this
practice is sanctioned by the State (East Germany/recent examples?)
- The 1936 Berlin Olympics was dominated as much by Nazi propaganda as by
the athletic events.
2. Used by extremist groups to further their political agenda especially when such an
international platform invites wide media coverage:
- To support the terrorism cause egs. Munich Olympics/the bombing and killing
of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan during the World Cricket
Tournament in 2009.
- Difficult for host country to guarantee safety of athletes in a volatile world.
3. Diverted attention from individual sportsmen to political issues which have nothing to
do with sport.
4. Waste of sporting talent- talented sportsmen lose the opportunity to show their skills
either because sporting bans are imposed by countries (examples) or fear of terror
attacks –eg –In August 2009, the English badminton team pulled out of the World
Badminton Championship held in Hyderabad, India, because of reports of a possible
attack during the event.

6. ‘There is no place for the Arts in today’s technological society.’ Discuss.

Interpretation
Main thrust of the question: the effect of technology on the arts and how the arts has
lost ground to the popular entertainment provided through channels like the cables
and satellites of media networks.

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Students could refer to the various categories of art (high art, mass art, popular art
etc), painting, dance, literature, sculpture and music etc are all valid interpretations of
the forms of art.

Students must recognize the absolute nature of the statement and that the sensible
option is to disagree with it.

Possible stands:
1. Disagree that the arts has lost its ground and that although technology has a
greater role in today’s society, it is still relevant and significant in various ways.
2. Agree that the arts has not only declined in significance but that it also serves
little practical purpose.

Requirements of question:
1 Must show clear understanding of key terms ’ no place’ ‘the arts’ and
‘technological society’.
2. Explain briefly (introduction maybe) why people today perceive that art has
declined in importance- need to show how changes in society have led to its decline.
3. Discuss and illustrate the predominant role of technology today.
4. Discuss the relevance of the arts (refer to wide range of art forms) in relation to
today’s technological society. The link between technology and art must be
established consistently throughout the essay.
5. Ample coverage: various art forms, ideas/illustrations.

7. To what extent do young people in your country take an interest in volunteer

work?

Interpretation
Candidates need to show the attitude of young people in their country (Singapore)
towards participating in volunteer work. Volunteer work can be defined as an
altruistic activity, intended to promote general good to society or improve the quality
of life.

This encompasses a wide range of causes: from helping the disadvantaged, the
poor and the elderly to promoting causes related to the environment, animal rights,
civic consciousness, cultural and religious movements.

Schools

- interest in volunteer work – fostered since young in Singapore – CIP & Service
Learning in school.
- Schools include overseas learning expeditions which include elements of volunteer
work.
- volunteer work is an important part of many CCAs like the uniformed groups and
cultural societies

Tertiary Institutions

- wide range of similar organizations in tertiary institutions

- students are involved in charities & fund-raising
- volunteer committees

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 - groups which espouses a wide range of causes

Working Adults (Young People)

- increasing trend of young adults taking time from work to help out with volunteer
groups & community organizations.
- many young adults also volunteer to work gratis overseas with the Singapore
International Foundation in developing countries
- independent projects for charity – Medical students sailing on a yacht to raise funds
for Club Rainbow, corporate trainer racing in the Sahara to raise funds for Pocket
Money Funds
- volunteering help for disasters relief effort like the 2004 tsunami & Cyclone Nargis
in Myanmar
- volunteering for the various religious groups.
Diverse organizations – under the aegis of the National Youth Council, National
Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and the People’s Association Youth Movement.

Possible: While so many groups exist, Singapore is short of young volunteers as the
majority are too caught up with the rat-race. However, there is increasing interest in
volunteerism.

8. ‘The world would be a better place if religion did not exist’. What is your
view?

Important terms
 “better” – (very subjective) more peaceful, more prosperous, fewer social, political,
economic problems or conflicts
 “religion” -- particular structured system(s) of belief and worship based on belief in
supernatural forces/deities and/or which offers a comprehensive supernatural
explanation for human experience.

Possible approach
The world WOULD NOT be a better place if religion did not exist because of the reasons
below (see points under D.)
 This does not mean that there are no problems related to the issue of religion (see
points under C.)
Even without the existence of religion, the world would not be a better place because of
the presence of other problems e.g. political instability, societal problems, etc some
of which are caused by human failings such as greed, strife for power etc

Possible points that SUPPORT the above statement – that the world would
indeed be a better place if religion did not exist:
 Many past and present conflicts in our world took place with religion as a
contributing factor – people fight because they want to defend their religion/ they
think that THEIR religion is THE religion/misinterpretation of religious teachings –
gives rise to religious fundamentalism, Holy Wars etc. this would not have
happened if there were no religion to begin with
 Religion is used as a vehicle to further the cause of some groups of people --
Abuse of human rights and freedom in the name of religion e.g. gender apartheid
during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, where the Taliban claimed religious

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 reasoning and used Muslim faith as the basis of their poor treatment of women.
Without the existence of religion today, there will be one less tool to be
manipulated by man
 Religion was, and is, one more thing, and a very significant factor apart from
race, colour, gender etc, that segregates people and keep people apart e.g. the
Muslims and Hindus in India – source of tension regarding issues like inter-
religious marriages, religious rifts etc – without religion, there would be one less
source of tension in this problematic world
 With the advent of science and technology, man does not need to be so
dependent on religion for previously unexplained ‘mysteries’. Therefore the
existence of religion, which is about faith in a particular system of belief, might be
at odds with the presence and progress in the scientific field, which looks at facts
and logic. The existence religion might only complicate our understanding of the
scientific world, since technology appears to be the antithesis of religion

Possible points that DO NOT SUPPORT the above statement – i.e. to show that
the world will NOT be a better place without religion:
 Religion plays a very important role in our world today as it can be used as
“unifying” force for a society to hold together – essential to civil order, sense of
belonging among the people – this is far better than societies which run amok
with no “central” force, or with other guiding “principles” such as materialism,
selfishness, etc
 Religion used to serve, and still serves very useful functions in our past and
modern society – acts as a moral “check” on many secular issues in our world
especially today, e.g. issues related to capital punishment, drugs, abortion,
cloning – without this moral “check”, the world might very well degenerate into a
world with no regard for moral values whatsoever
 Religion promotes the good, ‘human’ side in man e.g. charity, compassion,
altruism, etc for the betterment and growth of man and society -- this helps in the
building of a better world especially in today’s world which places great emphasis
on profit-making, personal and corporate goals, achievements an selfish
materialism
 Religion does promote peace in our world; many conflicts take place because of
extreme attitudes to religion, not because of religion itself. Thus, religion is still
relevant and important in today’s world
 Helps man to search for meaning and answers to many fundamental questions
that other spheres such as science and tech still cannot answer, e.g. issues on
the human condition and human suffering, the purpose of human existence on
earth, the existence of good versus evil, questions like ‘how did the world come
about?, what happens after death?
 Religion provides emotional security and spiritual fulfilment in troubled times;
provides direction and assurance in an age of uncertainties and constant
changes. This is one aspect that other disciplines cannot do. Thus it does help to
make the world a better place to live in.

9. ‘Life for children today has never been better.’ Comment

Childhood is a broad term usually applied to the phase of development in humans

between infancy and adulthood.

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 Interpretation
The comfort and convenience of modern life and the increased availability of
opportunities have made the life of children better today than it was in the past

Recognise the absolute ‘never been better’ and take a balanced stand.

Suggested points:
Why life today is more difficult for children:

- children today spend numerous hours in endless activities and diversions

in day-care centres or better known as ‘learning centres. Children , no
longer can indulge in playful pursuit of their own interests.
- in entertainment, children are subjected to the sights and sounds of modern
entertainment industry ( TV/computer). They, no longer are able
to indulge in their playful pursuit of own interests.
- Rising parental demands and expectations of their children – to excel in
studies, and other non-academic interests - have brought about high stress
levels to their children
- Working parents/ dysfunctional families are unable to provide the
warmth and love , so crucial in the healthy development of a child.
- Deprivation of basic rights –in 3rd world countries children are forced into
cheap labour, prostitution; in developed countries- child pornography

In what ways it is better than it was in the past

Education
- proper design of curriculum of day-care centre tailored to the needs of the
growing child.
- Proper structuring of play activities designed for children relevant to
different age groups in schools and playgrounds
- Family educational programmes to educate parents on child-care.

Family
- Children are given more attention and care- possible because of 1 or
2-child families
- their psychological well-being is taken care of. Allowed greater
individuality and freedom of expression. Parents are more nurturing
because they have more knowledge of child psychology.

Society
-better living standards compared to past-basic needs are met for children
in many parts of the world. (Note exceptions- poor and war-torn countries)

10. ‘Science and ethics should not mix’. Discuss. (updated 28/9)

‘Science and ethics should not mix’. Discuss.

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Interpretation
• Whether science should be separated from ethics.

Requirements of question and some pointers:

1. Show a clear understanding of what science should be concerned with- to better

man’s life by coming up with new inventions/discoveries.

2. Show a clear understanding of what ethics mean- our sense of what is right and
wrong/morality. Candidates should also recognize that ethics is subjective to a
degree and although moral values are universal, our sense of what is morally
acceptable varies in different societies. Eg- Singapore and US or Germany have
different approaches to stem cell research.

3. Select the ethical concerns that science gives rise to:

- many scientific inventions involve ethical considerations

- animal testing vs animal rights
- genetic research vs sancity of human life
- nuclear energy vs safety
- GM food vs food safety
- Other issues related to medical science-eg how life-prolonging technology
has made euthanasia an issue that threatens the sanctity of life

4. Discuss why science should not be divorced from ethical issues

Reasons
a.Ethics are the foundation of science.

• Moral responsibility: Ethics is always behind invention. The scientist should

have a moral responsibility for his inventions/discoveries and should consider
ethics against his perceived notion of the greater good.
• Lab ethics, for example, demands that findings are based on truth (facts and
empirical proof) and any breach of ethics is morally and legally unacceptable.
When Hwang Woo-Suk, the South Korean scientist was discovered to have
fabricated his stem cell breakthroughs in 2005, he was fired from the
prestigious Seoul National University and charged in court for research fraud.

b. Science has become a business- pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer

have been guilty of selective data presentation and profiteering- accused of
illegally boosting sales of its top-selling drug Lipitor through an elaborate
campaign of misleading educational programs for doctors.

c. Science cannot be separated from ethics because it is a double-edged

sword that has great potential for good and harm(nuclear
technology/chemical and biological warfare) Since the fundamental purpose
of science is to improve man’s well-being, ethical guidelines, laws and
policies must be implemented to keep it in check.

d. To preserve the sanctity of life: eg, to embark on stem cell research, we

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 must first guarantee its integrity. Suggest ethical guidelines.
Other examples of such issues that threaten the sanctity of life-
euthanasia/abortion.

5. Why science and ethics should be separated

1. Science and ethics are mutually exclusive- one is objective while
the other is subjective being concerned with values and morals
which do involve a certain degree of personal judgement.
2. Science is amoral. This means the job of the scientist is just to
come up with scientific inventions and not decide how they should
be used. Government agencies, religious leaders and society
should make such decisions.
3. Ethics limit scientific progress. Eg critics said that embryonic stem
cell research could not expand under the 2001Bush policy that
barred the National Institutes of Health from funding research on
embryonic stem cells beyond using 60 cell lines that existed at
that time. (Obama overturned the policy by lifting the ban on
federal funding for embryonic stem cell research)

6. Show how a fine balance can be achieved without compromising ethical

concerns as far as possible.
• Eg- ‘Stem cell research will one day be a boon to humanity. We owe it
to posterity to pursue it. But we also owe posterity a moral universe not
trampled and corrupted by arrogant, brilliant science.’ (Charles
Krauthammer) It is because of this that we need strict regulation: no
human cloning, no embryos created solely to be harvested. Only
discarded ones from abortion clinics.

• Sometimes moral compromises have to be made to ease human suffering

and for the greater good: egs

a) animal testing which is considered a form of cruelty to animals is

necessary in testing certain life-saving drugs for the safety of humans. Every day,
thousands of people are saved from painful diseases and death by powerful
medical drugs and treatments. This incredible gift of medicine would not be
possible without animal testing.

b) Euthanasia vs sanctity of life: Life-prolonging technology with its ability to

prolong a patient’s life long after the quality of life had gone, has become a
problem with late-state terminally ill patients or those for whom dying is
prolonged torture. This has made euthanasia an issue today. Terri Schiavo
case- after a long 7-year legal battle, her feeding tube was removed. Although
euthanasia is illegal in many countries for ethical and other reasons, ultimately,
end-of-life decisions are a question of choice: it must really depend on a case by
case basis.

c) Ethical concerns might have to give way to pragmatism in a highly

competitive and globalised world. For example, some may regard the use of
embryos in stem cell research as unethical, but Singapore regards such research
as crucial for Singapore’s economic development.

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Suggested Conclusion:
• Ethics should be the very basis of science.
• However moral compromises may sometimes have to be made for the greater
good.
• The best approach is to strike the balance between sound science and moral
values.

11. ‘The more women are empowered, the more society benefits.’ Do you agree?

Understanding of what empowerment of women means: Empowerment refers to

increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of women in society in
general.
Interpretation of question: If women gained strength and influence in these areas, would
society be a better one?

Agree that the more women are empowered, the more society benefits:
Traditional roles of woman as child bearers and homemakers have changed.
With greater empowerment, social expectations such as early marriages, staying
married throughout life, stigma of divorces and remarriages have changed
dramatically. Women are no longer expected to be subservient but are expected
to play a more prominent role in society alongside with the male gender in areas:
• politics
• economics
• social issues
• arts and sport
Disagree: the more women are empowered, society may suffer some setbacks:
• the rising number of single unmarried women who seek to advance their career
aspirations alongside with men, particularly in the developed countries
• the problem of a declining birthrate, particularly in the developed countries with rising
career aspirations of women as their primary aim in life.
• quality of child care may take a beating in families where both parents
are preoccupied with advancing their own career aspirations.

12. It is more important to love what you do than to do what you love.’ Discuss.

Do what you love:

This is a question of personal decision which governs our choices whether at
work or studies or at play.
Factors influencing our decision include:
- personal values
- family expectations
- peer influences
- societal influences
But, the overriding factor is: Do what you love.

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This requires great efforts to plan and evaluate and prioritize all your options. Hence,
finding work you love is very difficult. But if you have the destination in sight, you will be
more likely to arrive at it, and if you know what work you love, you are practically there.
Love what you do:
Equally important is to love what you do. Having decided on what you do, you
must develop the ‘passion’ to love what you do.
Some benefits:
• increased productivity
• increased challenge
• happy and enjoy whatever you are doing
• better personal life and overall quality of life

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