4E5N Prelims 2021 (PAPER 2 - Insert) - V2

Name Index Number Class
O LEVEL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2021

LEVEL & STREAM : SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS / 5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC)
SUBJECT (CODE) : ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1128)
PAPER NO :2
DATE (DAY) : 26 AUGUST 2021 (THURSDAY)
DURATION : 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST
This Insert contains Text 1, Text 2 and Text 3.
INSERT
1
This document consists of 6 printed pages, including this cover page.
Setter: Mr Christon Cher
Section A [5 marks]
Text 1
Study the webpage below and answer Questions 1 – 4 in the Question Booklet.
www.yellowribbon.sg
We believe in helping ex-offenders rebuild their lives and

lower the possibility of being re-offenders. We hope to
do this through skills and long-term career development.
As the lead agency championing for hope, forgiveness,
acceptance and second chances, we strive towards
Singapore has come a long way
building a forgiving and safer Singapore.
since
Key statistics on ex-offenders after release from prison
1500 face difficulties integrating 1800 are jobless.

with their families.
VOLUNTEER LIFE FORCE

What are you waiting for? Join us NOW!
The Yellow Ribbon Run
Home Visitations
The Yellow Ribbon Community Project is a

grassroots-led initiative whereby
grassroots volunteers from participating
grassroots divisions will visit families of ex-
offenders and refer them to available
avenues of social assistance. You can be
the pillar that makes the difference.
Volunteers will be trained in the following

ways:
- Effective Communication Skills

- Basic Counselling
- Understanding Singapore’s Justice We require volunteers to organise our
System. yearly fund-raising run.
2
You can help in the following ways:
- Operate the First Aid Station
- Seek Sponsors
- Publicise the event
Contact us at: 65443234 to register as a volunteer.
Section B [20 marks]
Text 2
The text below tells the story of a father who brought his children to a nature reserve to
experience camping. Read the text carefully and answer Questions 5 – 13.
1 The Colorado river was a churn of chocolate brown from silt and the hurried
runoff from flash storms. The roaring and rumbling of the waters could be heard.
It was icy because the waters came from the depths of a reservoir behind the
Glen Canyon Dam. There was slight anxiety painted on Johnson’s face as he
witnessed the rampaging waters; he had dragged his children along for an 5
adventure in the great outdoors.
2 Nonetheless, when the rapids subsided slightly, they launched the boat in rough
waters. They clenched the sides of the boat. But soon, they could not wait for
the next roll through the rapids. When a wave curled over the boat and soaked
them to the bone, it was a numbing, pleasant sensation. Everyone hooted with 10
joy. In the calmer stretches, the canyon was quiet, save for the sound of
flycatchers and other birds gliding just above the surface. The cliffs rose around
every bend and their faces revealed colourful shades of yellow, brown and green
in the golden sunset. The waters were a calm blue. It was a welcome to nature’s
enormous amphitheatre. 15
3 In the evening, they feasted on prime rib and portobello mushrooms, cooked
over a gas grill. They spread ground covers and sleeping bags over soft sand
and watched the remains of the day slipping away. But still, the teenage Casey
experienced a little bit of Internet withdrawal. The result of the basketball finals
remained unknown in the digital desert. For Johnson, he had doubts if the stock 20
market had crashed or soared, and he imagined someone seething because he
had failed to respond to an email or text. The youngest member of the trip,
Marcus, thought he had it all ready with a portable charger powered by the sun.
He had plenty of power but no connection. When he could not get a single bar,
he looked as if he was starting to twitch. 25
4 “We should just let..it…go. Stare at the stars and drift,” Johnson suggested to
his children.
5 “I get it,” replied Casey. “This thing about being disconnected. But what if you
had pockets of opportunity to dip back in? Everyone I know likes to share -
publicly – what they’re doing. We are social travellers. If you can’t share it now, 30
is it really happening? Just a thought.” She frowned a little as she glanced at her
poor brother who was still fidgeting with his phone.
3
6 Johnson insisted that they should embrace the wilderness while half doubting
his convictions. He felt like camping was about well-off young people trying to
experience homelessness in a safe, natural setting. They soon slept under the 35
cloudless sky that glittered with stars.
7 The next day, they rose with a half-moon still visible in the dawning sky. They
went through a half dozen rocking rapids in the stretch of river known as Marble
Canyon. This was where the government wanted to audaciously build another
monstrosity of a dam that could suffocate the magnificent free flowing river. 40
Johnson signed a petition against it, with little hope that the mighty government
would listen. In the evening, they set up camp on a beach with more open views
than the night before. It soon rained and the cliff walls came alive with the
gurgling and gushing of water. What had been silent gave way to the sounds of
a storm-scape. The sky lit up in a nightmarish light show and he roared like an 45
angry giant behind the storm clouds. They rummaged their bags for rain gear in
the midst of the sensory overload. Johnson felt like a small speck facing the
enormity of Mother Nature.
8 Sensing that they needed to head to higher ground, they dragged themselves to
a safe spot. Soon, a helicopter could be heard above and spotlights pierced the 50
darkness. Johnson gave a sigh of relief. Apparently, the rain was not simply a
trickle of water from the heavens above; it had triggered a storm warning and
campers had to be rescued. It was a chilling note that had they remained, they
could have lost their lives. Regardless, they appreciated the triumphant return to
civilization by air. Upon reaching their destination, they tuned in to their phones. 55
The basketball finals result was predictable, no emails came in and, as it turned
out, they didn’t miss anything much. Yet, they learnt so much about the wonders
and fury of being with nature.
Adapted from National Geographic’s Unplugging the Selfie Generation 10.2016 Edition.
4
Section C [25 marks]
Text 3
The article below is about African villagers being vulnerable to snake bites and how providing
them with anti-venom is problematic. Read it carefully and answer Questions 14 – 19.
1 Simon Isomolo checked the fishing lines he had set the day before. Feeling
resistance on one, he thrusted his hand into the murky water. A sharp pain sent
him reeling. Blood oozed from two puncture wounds on his hand. Just below
the surface, a yellowish snake with black rings – probably a banded water cobra
– slithered from view. Isomolo’s companions helped him into the canoe and 5
paddled frantically back to their village. By the time they arrived, about three
hours since he was bitten, he was slipping in and out of consciousness. After a
traditional healer provided him with some herbs, he was brought to a hospital
at the capital by canoe. Before he reached, he died.
2 Isomolo’s story encapsulates the global snakebite crisis. Bitten in a remote 10

area, hours from the nearest hospital, he didn’t have a chance. As many as
138,000 people around the world die from snakebites each year, and most
deaths occur in poor, rural communities in developing nations. Many victims
live with amputated limbs and other permanent disabilities. One of the worst-
hit locations is sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 30,000 snakebites are believed 15
to occur each year. But some doctors believe that the true toll may be double
that figure. A major factor is the severe shortage of the only medicine that can
neutralise the toxins of dangerous snakes: anti-venom.
3 Complicating matters is that many victims, for lack of money or transportation,

or because they prefer spiritual healers, do not go to hospitals. The availability 20
of drugs is also scarce, even if the drug is on hand, it is too expensive for many
victims. Additionally, most of the reliable African anti-venoms need to be kept
refrigerated to stay stable and effective. With frequent power cuts, keeping
them cold can be nearly impossible. All these factors contribute to the
escalating snakebite crisis. 25
4 To draw attention to the snakebite crisis, the World Health Organisation (WHO)
added it to its roster of neglected tropical diseases. Elevating snakebites to this
level of concern will serve as a wake-up call to Africa’s health ministers. Experts
have long tried to alert authorities to the severity of this deadly crisis and the
desperate need for anti-venom research and development – with little success. 30
5 Experts have experimented with products available locally. This includes

Chinese-made pills and Indian-made anti-venoms. Even if the experiments
become successful, production of anti-venom can be discontinued because
producing anti-venoms is an expensive process and the majority of people who
5
need them live in developing countries and are unable to purchase them. Even 35
with a high-quality anti-venom, treating snakebites can be a hit or miss; the
chemical make-up of venom and its effects can vary from snake to snake, even
within a species. For instance, the Puf Adder’s venom can change from one
area to another and this makes the accurate usage of anti-venom complicated.
Recently, a company in Mexico developed an anti-venom that comes in freeze-

6 dried form. Not requiring refrigeration is a game changer for developing 40
countries. However, it is still being produced in small quantities due to high
costs and most rural Africans are not able to afford it. Cheaper anti-venoms are
available but unreliable as they are used to treat bites from Indian but not
African snakes.
45
While there have been calls for governments to subsidise snakebite victims,
7 there is a lot of inertia for legislations to pass due to corruption. Some
philanthropic organisations have resorted to education. Public awareness
campaigns in Guinea advise villagers to wear shoes when walking in places
likely to have snakes, and use the flashlight at night. With all these efforts, the
fight to protect the poor seems to be a flickering light in the darkness. With 50
efforts around the world, Africa can turn the tide.
Adapted from National Geographic’s Bites that Kill 12.2020 edition.

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Name Index Number Class

O LEVEL PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2021

SUBJECT (CODE) : ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1128)

DATE (DAY) : 26 AUGUST 2021 (THURSDAY)

DURATION : 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

This Insert contains Text 1, Text 2 and Text 3.

We believe in helping ex-offenders rebuild their lives and

Key statistics on ex-offenders after release from prison

1500 face difficulties integrating 1800 are jobless.

VOLUNTEER LIFE FORCE

The Yellow Ribbon Community Project is a

Volunteers will be trained in the following

- Effective Communication Skills

Contact us at: 65443234 to register as a volunteer.

Section B [20 marks]

2 Isomolo’s story encapsulates the global snakebite crisis. Bitten in a remote 10

3 Complicating matters is that many victims, for lack of money or transportation,

5 Experts have experimented with products available locally. This includes

Recently, a company in Mexico developed an anti-venom that comes in freeze-

Adapted from National Geographic’s Bites that Kill 12.2020 edition.

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