December 2022 — Gp Lah!

Is complete self-sufficiency in countries ever possible?

The notion of complete self-sufficiency was often seen as a myth within the modern world as the contemporary developments of globalisation reveal the hyper-connected world we live in today, where countries are succumbed to the interdependent nature of the global economy. It is not surprising to see that countries across the world are increasingly dependent on one another for their resources and this is also regarded as the norm and trait of today’s world. However, issues such as growing demand and potential import disruptions have surfaced recently, with the notable COVID-19 pandemic threatening many global supply chains and affecting the sufficiency and sustainability of resources within nations. This raises the question if countries should be pursuing complete self-sufficiency to minimise the threats from the external environment and to be able to maintain itself without outside aid or intervention. Even though some nations have pursued self-sufficiency to some degree and have adopted incremental progress over the past decade to provide for their own needs, in practice, self-sufficiency is arguably still viewed to be a relative concept along a continuum that is highly dependent on the global climate. This question raises the debate if complete self-sufficiency is even possible given the interdependent nature of our global economy today. Is there any interests or benefits to aim for complete self-dependency in countries? What are the factors that may influence, shape or limit such possibilities?

Protected: Can beliefs affect our ability to reason?

Governments should be responsible for funding a nation’s performing arts. Discuss.

• explore why a governments should be responsible to fund its nation’s performing arts
• explore the reasons why other sources should fund a nation’s performing arts
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward that governments should be responsible for funding.
• providing well-equipped venues for performances that would otherwise be unavailable
• ensuring that appropriate funds are allocated to different ventures
• funding would enable performances to go on tour to other areas
• such measures being a source of national pride, encouraging the continuance of national culture
• the high cost of some performances might deflect funding from other important areas
• government funding might make attendance within reach of the less
wealthy
• niche performances can still go ahead even if audience numbers are lower
• a prestigious project could attract other investment and visitors to the country.

To what extent are timed examinations a fair means of assessment?

• consider the extent to which timed examinations are fair
• evaluate the effectiveness of other methods of assessment
• make a judgement, based on the consideration of the evidence and argument put forward.
• timed examinations only assess a portion of the taught content of a course
• how time restrictions limit students’ thinking and ability to develop ideas, adding unnecessary pressure
• revising and cramming means material is stored in the short-term memory
• the added value of work-based and continuous assessment showing what people can really do
• there being evidence that the focus and time pressure in examinations often yield a high standard of work
• the examination being a level playing field where everybody is in the same position and therefore it is fair
• the nature of formal examinations minimising the potential for copying or cheating
• examinations often being marked externally which is fairer than internal assessment.

Consider the view that more scientists than artists are needed in the world today.

This essay explores the comparative usefulness of scientists and artists in the modern world. Knowing that the world today depends heavily on the use of technology for survival, it is not surprising that scientists are seen to be more useful. Artists are considered to be inconsequential to the overall survival of societies as their usefulness is often to abstract to be understood by the laypeople.

It is important to compare and contrast between the functions and purposes of scientists versus artists based on the modern world contexts. The comparisons must be based on recognised criteria. Ensure that the comparison is within characteristics of the modern world.