XINMIN SECONDARY SCHOOL

SEKOLAH MENENGAH XINMIN

End-of-Year Examination 2008

Subject : Social Studies 2192/01

Level : Secondary 3 Express
Date : 03 October 2008
Duration : 1 hour 30 minutes
Setter : Ms Karen Ang / Mdm Juliet Yeo
Vetter : Mrs Wong Pui Leng

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES :
1. Write your name and index number on every piece of the writing
paper.
2. Section A: You must answer all parts of Question 1.
3. Section B: Answer one question.
4. Write your answers on the writing papers provided.
5. The number of marks for each part-question is shown in brackets.
6. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together,
with this cover page in front.
7. You are advised not to spend more than 45 minutes on each section.
8. Fill in the question number that you have attempted in the table
below.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

NAME [REG. NO.]

CLASS

Question No. Marks

Q /25
Q /25
Total /50

This paper consists of 6 printed pages including the cover page.

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Section A (Source-based Case Study)

Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates.

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the
questions.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to
those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use
your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

1 (a) Study Source A.

Why do you think the artist drew this cartoon? Explain your answer,
referring to details of the cartoon.
[5]

(b) Study Sources B and C.

How similar are these two sources? Explain your answer.

[6]

(c) Study Source D.

Is this source useful in helping us understand the dispute over South

Ossetia? Explain your answer.
[7]

(d) Study Source E.

Does this source prove that Russia is responsible for the ongoing
conflict over South Ossetia? Explain your answer. [7]

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Who is responsible for the ongoing conflict

between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

Georgia and Russia are neighbouring countries sharing a border. Georgia was
formerly a part of communist Russia until its independence in 1991. However, South
Ossetia, a region in Georgia, has sought independence from Georgia. This is
because most South Ossetians are of a different race from Georgians and speak
their own language. Russia has issued most South Ossetians with Russian
passports and has argued that it has a duty to defend them. This has partly caused
Georgia’s relations with Russia to worsen.

The USA is concerned about the stability in this region because the world’s second
largest oil pipeline runs through Georgia. As such, it has been rendering military
assistance to the Georgian army.

Hostilities broke out on 7 August 2008 when Georgia launched a military strike on the
province of South Ossetia, aiming to end its 16 years of semi-independence. This
triggered a counter-offensive by Russian troops who advanced beyond South
Ossetia into some areas of Georgia.

Who is responsible for the ongoing conflict over South Ossetia? Read the following
sources to find out.

A map of the region

GEORGIA

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Source A: A cartoonist’s view on the Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia.

Prime
Minister of
Russia

* The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceylon (BTC) pipeline is the world’s second-longest oil pipeline and pumps
about a million barrels a day. About one-seventh of the pipeline passes through Georgia, with
parts of it running only 55km from South Ossetia.

Source B: A view expressed by a South Ossetian woman on the Russia-Georgia

conflict.

We were bombed for three days and nights. We could not sleep. Our whole building
shook with the bombing. If Russia had not helped, we would have disappeared.

Look how many people died here! We can never join Georgia after this. Only Russia
takes us under its wing. We want to be with Russia.

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Source C: A view expressed by a Russian man on the Russia-Georgia conflict.

There are no good guys here. Not *Saakashvili, not the **South Ossetian separatists,
not the politicians from the West. I believe the Georgians were reacting to provocation
from Ossetian separatists, and the situation gave Russian forces the chance to make
their presence felt in Georgia.

But there is no justification for Saakasvili to order the attack on South Ossetia as it was
bound to lead to civilian deaths.
* Mr Mikhail Saakashvili, President of Georgia
** People fighting for the independence of South Ossetia

Source D: From an Official Statement on the Situation in South Ossetia made on

8 August 2008 by the President of Russia.

Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia has caused loss of life. Civilians, women, children and
old people, are dying today in South Ossetia, and the majority of them are citizens of the
Russian Federation.

As President of the Russian Federation and in accordance with the Constitution and the
federal laws, it is my duty to protect the lives and dignity of Russian citizens wherever
they may be.

It is these circumstances that dictate the steps we will take now. We will not allow the
deaths of our fellow citizens to go unpunished. The perpetrators will receive the
punishment they deserve.

Source E: From an Official Statement on the Situation in South Ossetia on

17 August 2008 by the President of Georgia.

One thing should be made very clear, Georgia will never give up any square kilometre of
its territory, no matter what happens. We will never reconcile with separation of parts of
territory from Georgia, with the attempts to legalise ethnic cleansing and with the
attempts to undermine Georgia’s democratic system.

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Section B (Structured-essay Questions)

Answer one question.

2. Healthcare in Britain and Singapore

(a) To what extent is promoting a healthy lifestyle an effective way for

Singapore to manage rising healthcare costs? Explain your answer.
[12]

(b) ‘The British welfare state does more harm than good in meeting the
healthcare needs of its people.’ Do you agree? Explain your answer.
[13]

3. Conflict in Multi-Ethnic Societies

(a) To what extent was the issue of citizenship rights a reason for conflict
between the Tamils and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka? Explain your
answer.
[12]

(b) ‘The decision to send the British Army to Northern Ireland did more to
worsen the conflict than to resolve it.’ Do you agree? Explain your
answer. [13]

4. Managing International Relations

(a) To what extent is having a citizen armed force a way to protect

Singapore from external threats? Explain your answer. [12]

(b) ‘Singapore benefits more from its bilateral relations than from its
participation in the United Nations.’ Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
[13]

END OF PAPER

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