Gp Lah! – Page 42 – Get moving lah!

Desert Potential

A desert is not something remembered. It is in-fact avoided. But they hold great amounts of minerals and oils. Deserts have been a big part of history and even war.

Antarctica (5.4 million sq. mi.) Because it is covered with (solid) water, it is somewhat surprising that Antarctica is considered a desert, but it is classified as such due to its lack of precipitation.
Sahara (Northern Africa; 3.5 million sq. mi.) The Sahara is the world’s second largest desert, but its the hottest. The Atlas Mountains (which bound the western Sahara on the north) and the Sahel, a savannah-like strip, borders it on the south. It is dominated by rocky regions (hamada), sand seas (ergs), and salt flats (shatt) and dry river valleys (wadi) that are subject to flash floods. Its most asked-about inhabitants are the Berbers and Tuaregs.
Atacama (Chile; 70,000 sq. mi.) The Atacama’s chief claim to fame is the rain shadow of the Andes which makes it the driest (hot) desert in the world. Its area was the primary bone of contention in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883, Chile defeats Peru and Bolivia) that sought to control its nitrate resources (which were necessary for the production of explosives).
Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa; 360,000 sq. mi.) The Kalahari is a large region, not all of which is arid enough to qualify as a desert. It is known for its red sand, large game reserves (meerkats, gemsbok, springbok, steenbok), and mineral deposits (notably uranium). Most famous are its San Bushmen and their click language.
Mojave (U.S.; 25,000 sq. mi.) The Mojave is bounded by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountain ranges along the San Andreas and Garlock Faults. It lies between the Great Basin and the Sonoran plains and it contains the lowest and driest point of North America, Death Valley. It is most strongly associated with the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia).
Gobi (China and Mongolia; 500,000 sq. mi.) The Gobi, Asia’s second largest desert (after the Arabian Desert), is bounded on the north by the Altai Mountains. It is known for its role in the Silk Road trading route and the Nemegt Basin, where fossilized dinosaur eggs and human artifacts have been found.
Rub’ al-Khali (Arabian Peninsula; 250,000 sq. mi.) Its name means “Empty Quarter” in English and is considered the most inhospitable place on earth. It is known for the world’s largest oil field, the Ghawar, and for once being part of the frankincense trade.
Namib (Namibia and Angola; 30,000 sq. mi.) The Namib, a coastal desert, is known for its bizarre Welwitschia and medicinal Hoodia plants. It is thought to be the oldest desert in the world.
Painted Desert (Northern Arizona) shared by Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks, is known for its colorful, banded rock formations.
Negev Desert (Israel; 4,700 sq. mi.) The triangular Negev covers the southern half of Israel.
Taklamakan Desert (China; 105,000 sq. mi.) The Taklamakan is an extremely cold, sandy desert known for splitting the Silk Road into branches running north and south of it. It is bounded by the Kunlun, Pamir, and Tian Shan mountain ranges.
Great Sandy Desert (Western Australia; 140,000 sq. mi.) Part of the Western Desert, and the ninth largest in the world.

Can you identify what may be missing from the list above?

New Media has changed our lives for the better. How far do you agree?

“Those who control the media, control the mind”. Indeed, this statement holds much validity in today’s society as a result of the media’s significant presence in our lives and d ability to dictate our actions. Technological advancements have catalyzed the evolution of media, giving rise to new media in the form of the internet, smartphones and video games, amongst many others. Mankind has been positively affected by new media it is a tool that many uses in their daily lives. Despite the harmful aspects of new media, it can be agreed that new media has indeed changed our lives for the better. It has transformed the face of education, provided better avenues of entertainment and relief and has aided the masses in the dissemination of information. All of the aforementioned are unprecedented changes that have affected the individual and community, changing their lives for the better.

New media has played a pivotal role in positively transforming the educational scene globally. The Internet has become an increasingly effective platform for educators who wish to disseminate information and has provided students with greater opportunities for learning. Case in point would be Multiple Open Online Courses (MOOCs) which has educational material mostly in video format for nearly all age groups and subjects. Examples of MOOCs would be Khan Academy and Coursera, which ties up with universities such as Harvard University and Stanford University. Through this, individuals whose education was hampered due to poor socio-economic backgrounds or lack of basic literacy would be able to access education at their own convenience. This is also an important change because students can learn at their own pace, in comparison to the bullet train speed of information covered in schools. In South Korea, schools’ syllabi will be fully digitized by 2014, resulting in greater convenience for students and overall cheaper school fees in the long run because updating and replacing print material would not be required. Not only does this evolution from print material results in greater convenience, but it also improves flexibility in how education is provided because of the accessibility of a myriad of resources. In India, inexpensive tablet PCs will be distributed to schools to facilitate easier means of accessing information and providing facilities for students to learn effectively. This is a revolutionary change, akin to the benefits that South Korean students will receive as well. Although the provisions of tablet PCs and the significance of the internet has surfaced benefits, individuals from developing countries face an interesting conundrum. Those with low levels of educational qualifications or lacklustre economic backgrounds may see themselves as unable to afford such technology and may be lacking in media literacy, this may result in the inability to reap the full benefits that such services can provide. However, this is where subsidies by the government and private firms can come in to ease the accessibility of these services. The incentive in doing so would be that the long-term benefits outweigh the short term costs. Thus, through new media, education has evolved into being accessible to more and therefore has changed lives for the better.

Another aspect which new media has significantly affected is the ease of information dissemination. Through the internet, smartphones and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, information has managed to travel faster and further. Catastrophic events such as the Boston Bombings in 2013 went instantaneously viral through social media. Within minutes, everyone was informed about the massacre and received minute-by-minute updates on the situation. This enabled the instant mobilization of rescue missions and investigation into the injustice committed. Without new media, it would have been less likely that the masses, both locally and worldwide, would have been aware of this situation. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the city would have slowed down. The internet was also utilized in locating the criminals, creating relief as justice was being done. Another instance of the use of new media was the Arab Spring, where Facebook and Twitter were used to rally support for the cause and improve the regional situation so many wished to see a change in. Without such means, the movement would have been slower in garnering support and informing the masses of the causes. The dealing with the 2013 haze crisis in Singapore is testament to the positive change that resulted through new media. The government constantly posted regular updated on the National Environment Agency website, Twitter and online news channels to inform citizens about the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) levels. In the absence of such information, citizens would have underestimated the severity of the situation, resulting in detrimental impacts on their health. This aspect of informing established an effective means of protecting citizens’ welfare. Therefore, the new media has changed the way we are informed through the dissemination of information, resulting in positive change.

One of the functions of the media is to provide entertainment. New media has successfully filled in this role and changed lives for the better with creating outlets for release. According to the media catharsis theory, the media is an avenue for the release of one’s emotions. If an individual is angry, he or she simply switches on the game console and indulges in endless hours of DOTA or Grand Theft Auto. This is a transformation from more passive means of entertainment, such as watching television, as one is actively engaged in the script of the video game. After emerging triumphant, the individual feels more relieved and less burdened with emotions, moving on. This change lives for the better, as it is an outlet for the release of stress and anxiety. Video games could also serve as a means to bond over common interests and help in developing critical thinking skills. However, this is contrary to the cultivation theory that insists that engaging in such violent games may cause a criminal or murderer to emerge. Although trends have been observed, the instances of criminals and murders being significant gamers are relatively isolated, coincidental and do not factor in the other trigger factors of such inappropriate behaviour. Therefore, the ability to release one’s emotions and bond over common interests, new media in the form of video games can be claimed to have changed lives for the better.

Despite the aforementioned positive attributes of new media, it is worth acknowledging that new media has its limitations as well. Through the emergence of social media platforms, a rather narcissistic society has come to be. A 2012 Pen Research survey conducted revealed that 91% of Facebook users post photos of themselves from an increase from 60% in 2010. This can suggest that individuals are becoming more active in portraying themselves in a particular manner on social media, creating a self-absorbed and obsessed mentality. The vast and extensive nature of the internet has created opportunities for increased vulnerability for groups of users due to inappropriate material. The presence of pornography on the Internet and obscene videos such as Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball can imply that the internet is not a safe place for the young. However, many countries apply strict censorship laws and individuals also apply self-censorship to such material. However, despite the means of controlling the flow of inappropriate information, new media has its limitations making lives worse off.

In conclusion, new media has played a pivotal part in our lives. Overall, it has indeed changed our lives for the better in terms of education, entertainment, and awareness. Contrarily, the perils of such a platform are present as well. To ensure that new media continuously plays a positive role in transforming our lives, those controlling the media must exercise caution and responsibility in how what and why something is present in the media. The media should quintessentially serve the needs and wants of the greater society, however, idealistic that may seem. As new media is constantly changing, so is its impact on society, whether it be positive or negative. New media has indeed changed our lives for the better and it is up to us, the consumers, as well as those controlling the media to ensure that the status quo remains or changes for the better.

Foreign aid does not solve long-term problems. Discuss.

The Republic of Congo, Haiti, Mozambique and Tanzania are some of the poorest countries in terms of GDP. These countries have received foreign aid from various countries however, contrary to popular belief, foreign aid has not helped them grow economically. The condition of these countries might have improved for a short while, but in the long-run foreign aid has only deteriorated their condition. Thus, it can be said that foreign aid does not solve problems in the long term and only acts as a crutch.

Foreign aid has been counter-productive for many countries because it leads to corruption. It is a well-known fact that the majority of foreign aid helps the governments of poor countries line their pockets. The money never reaches those that need it the most. Most of the foreign aid is used by the country’s rulers and elites and leave nothing for the people who actually need this aid. For example, the United Nations has spent more than $14 billion in Syria over the last 5 years in providing humanitarian aid to innocent Syrians. However, recent investigations have suggested that the funds were used by ISIS leaders and militia groups to provide resources to their supporters. Similarly, Malawi received a considerable amount of foreign aid, however, corruption within the system led the elite politicians and businessmen to use more than $30 million for their own benefit. Thus, many critics believe that providing foreign aid does not help countries. Instead, the countries are left crippled and the elite enjoy all the benefits. Thus, foreign aid acts as a crutch and can end up being wasteful.

Supporters of the view suggest that foreign aid should not just be given in monetary terms but be given in terms of technical support. Donor countries should make sure that they do not make the country financially dependent. Instead, the donor countries should support countries to become self-sufficient. For example, Taiwan received financial aid and support from many countries from 1960s-1980s and successfully weaned itself off foreign aid. Taiwan is one of the most successful economies today. A well-known study in India documented how the spread of mobile phones in the Indian state of Kerala enabled fishermen to arbitrage price differences across local markets, increasing their profits by 8 per cent on average as a result. Kenya’s ubiquitous mobile banking service M-Pesa appears to have enabled poor women to move out of subsistence agriculture into non-farm businesses, providing a significant bump up the income ladder at the very bottom. Thus technological aid has a better effect compared to monetary aid in solving long term problems.

Nations with political instability do not reap benefits from foreign aid in the long-term. A prime example is Venezuela. Despite the population needing foreign aid for their welfare, the delivery of humanitarian aid has become a political battle between the president, Nicolás Maduro, and Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaidó. The country received foreign aid in terms of food and medicine from Russia and the Red Cross organisation respectively. However, no amount of foreign aid has helped to bring stability in the country. Thus, foreign aid acts as a crutch as it can provide people relief for a short time but cannot solve long term problems.

In conclusion, foreign aid cannot be always helpful in solving a country’s long-term problem if aid is primarily in monetary terms. Most of the times countries face issues that cannot be solved through financial aid. In most cases, foreign aid does not solve the problems but increases inequality and entrenches dependence. Foreign aid can only solve some short-term problems and not long-term problems.

Education is the most powerful weapon that can make the world a better place. Discuss.

A majority of governments across the world have recognized the importance of education as a tool to boost progress and make a world a better place. For example, the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations place priority on providing quality education. The administrators of SDG also validate their mission by attesting the number of people that have got out of poverty due to education. Supporters of education suggest that it is the most powerful weapon to bring change and it can help people to do greater good for the world.

Education brings equality to society and allows social mobility regardless of status. Education systems around the world have changed their systems to bring equality among people. An example of this can be the education system in Finland, where there are only one standardized test and all students in the same classrooms and provides extra educational assistance to those who need it. Moreover, private schools in Finland are non-existent. This ensures that students have equal access to education regardless of socioeconomic background. Thus, education is a social leveller and by bringing us closer to equality it makes the world a better place.

Education also empowers people and gives them the power to question those in power. In recent years there have been many student activists’ protests to question the authorities. An example of this can be the students from more than 130 countries, who skipped school for the global climate strike which gained widespread attention. Another notable example can be of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, where students organised protests and rallies against gun violence. The protest aimed to spread awareness about gun violence. Critics might point out that it is idealism that leads to this social change and not education. However, they should not forget that education is the tool that enables them to know about these issues and gives them the courage to stage these protests. Therefore, education makes the world a better place by giving students and youth power to question those in power.

Education, when controlled by governments, can be used as a tool to gain control over people. An example of this can be seen in Indian history, where Lord Macaulay, replaced native texts with English texts and also proclaimed that they wanted to create a class of Indians, that were Indian in race and blood but British in taste and morals. In present times, North Korea uses similar tactics where education is used to brainwash people. The children throughout their education learn about leaders like Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il and their greatness is emphasised in the books. In Pakistan, students are taught that India is the aggressor and they should do everything possible to counter India and its politics. Thus, education makes the world a difficult place to live in when it is used to dominate people.

While education makes the world a better place by bringing equality, rationality and giving power to the voiceless, education can have a negative impact on society when it is used for wrong reasons. Education, when used for wrong purposes, can lead to the subjugation of people. Thus, it is necessary to develop educational systems in a progressive way so that education in all senses makes the world a better place. By and large, education is the most powerful weapon to change the world for the better as it has reduced poverty and brought about greater equality among people.

Young people today never had it so good. Is this true of Singapore?

There is a widely held view that Singapore’s youth has grown up in sheltered, comfortable environments and enjoy high standards of living – a far cry from the struggles and hardship that the older generations had to overcome.

The young never had it so good. There is a widely held view that Singapore’s youth has grown up in sheltered, comfortable environments and enjoy high standards of living – a far cry from the struggles and hardship that the older generations had to overcome. While this view is not an unreasonable one, we must also consider the fact that youths today face challenges in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain. The prevailing set of challenges in the political, economic and social domains may be radically different from those in the past, but they are no less daunting and pernicious. It would be superfluous to agree that young people in Singapore lead easier lives than ever before.

Proponents of the view that young people have never had it so good until today point to the abundant education opportunities made available to youths today. It is undoubtedly true that compared to past generations, youth enjoy far greater access to learning in today’s day and age. In Singapore’s context, the government has gradually introduced a greater number of education bursaries and scholarships offered to students from less-privileged backgrounds to ensure that the education system remains a meritocratic one that rewards those who work hard, while not denying access to those who may not afford education. This is a vast improvement from the past where it was not uncommon for young people to skip school because of the need to stay at home to look after their siblings or to work in order to contribute to the monthly household income. In recent years, the government has created diverse education routes and pathways. The musically or artistically inclined can now choose to pursue their secondary education in the School of the Arts (SOTA), while budding athletes can opt to enrol in the Singapore Sports School. In this sense, today’s education landscape in Singapore has made life for young people much more accessible and empowering. If strictly measured by this yardstick, then we can say that young people never had it so good.

Apart from better education opportunities, young people in Singapore today enjoy higher standards of living compared to the generations that came before them. Rapid urbanisation and modernisation in the last few decades have witnessed attap-roof houses and family farms being replaced with high-rise flats, high-technology buildings and manicured streets lined with trees that are regularly pruned to prevent overgrowth. While communal public toilets, non-air-conditioned buses and potholes on muddy roads form a bulk of the memories of many older generations in Singapore, many Singaporean youth today cannot imagine sleeping without air-conditioning or deprived of the many creature comforts they have now. Many, as such, view the young people today as a mollycoddled bunch who are unable to survive physical hardship and discomfort. In addition to increased standards of living, the increase in spending on luxury and branded items amongst the young in Singapore today lead many to regard this as evidence that youth today have a much easier life as compared to before.

However, when one takes into account the circumstances and the new set of challenges that our young people have to face, the perspective that young people never had it so good before appears one-dimensional. In the economic sphere, the vicissitudes of what has been termed the ‘roller-coaster global economy’ has led to much fear and anxiety over jobs, inflation and economic uncertainty. The oldest millennials born in 1981 would have entered the workforce at a time when the global economy was suffering from an unprecedented collapse of the financial sector, and research by the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis go as far as to suggest that these millennials might be unable to accumulate sufficient wealth for retirement. Younger millennials born in the 1990s and 2000s have to contend with economic uncertainties like the US-China trade war, the implications of climate change on supply chains, and rapid unprecedented rates of technological disruption to traditional industries. This is a vast contrast to the situation in Singapore’s early days of economic development in the 1960s and 1970s which saw the creation of large numbers of jobs in the rapidly growing manufacturing industry, and strong and sustained economic growth rates. Young people in Singapore today thus face greater pressure to remain competitive and employable, contrary to the perception that they lead smooth-sailing lives with their whole lives charted out for them. From an economic perspective, young people today never had it so good.

Additionally, while young people today are generally more educated than past generations, the overall increase in education standards means that there are greater expectations to do well academically and it is even more difficult for one to stand out amongst a sea of university students, especially when 4 in 10 Singaporean youth will eventually be degree holders. Moreover, the influx of foreign talents in recent years has raised the bar for many graduates, making it more competitive in getting jobs. As a result, young people, despite being given more education opportunities, now face greater difficulty in getting their desired jobs, and often have to make do with jobs that do not match their qualifications or aspirations. A recent research study conducted by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute suggest a pernicious, worrying underbelly of underemployed millennial graduates, some of whom are earning less than $2,000 a month from their full-time jobs despite their education qualifications. This suggests that young people in Singapore may not necessarily be better off compared to past generations when we take into consideration the increasingly competitive and uncertain job landscape in which they have to survive and thrive in today.

In our world which is increasingly fraught with fear, insecurity and uncertainty, the young are living in a Singapore that is beset with novel challenges that previous generations did not have to grapple with. As the famous historian R G Collingwood once said, “every new generation must rewrite history in its own way”. In this light, when assessing this or any generation, both the positive and the challenging aspects must be taken into account. Therefore, notwithstanding the better education or job opportunities available to this generation, it would be inaccurate to say that the young in Singapore never had it good if we understand also the myriad issues surrounding today’s generation.

‘Longer life expectancy creates more problems than benefits.’ Discuss.

Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

Right up to the late nineteenth century, life expectancy was short, people were considered fortunate enough to live till their fifties. However, advancements in the field of medicine has changed this completely. People have started living longer thanks to vaccines and medical treatments. Though science should be celebrated for coming up with better cures for untreatable diseases, there is no denying that science has also led to problems by stretching the life expectancy of the people. Thus, it can be said that problems of longer life expectancy outweigh the benefits because it has led to deterioration in quality of life, plus has brought various social and economic problems.

Longer life expectancy has allowed people to have multiple career paths. They are not bound to follow a single career path. It can be thus said that longevity has allowed people to contribute much more to society with their skills and talents. Unlike the past, people do not have to regret for not being able to accomplish their plans because of a shorter life span. Longer life expectancy also allows for greater sharing of traditions and allows grandchildren to have more experience and exchange with their grandparents. Thus, it can be said that longer life expectancy has created many opportunities for people to fulfil their life goals.

However, longer life expectancy has also led to multiple problems like deterioration of quality of life. Though people today have access to medicines for various diseases, it has not helped in improving their quality of life. In fact, most patients suffering from terminal illnesses like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s derive little health improvements. People suffering from these illnesses gradually get worse and this makes people wonder if a long life is even useful. There are medical processes available today that prolong life but do not guarantee recovery for example, processes like dialysis, which are used for kidney failure are very painful and do not improve quality of life.

Similarly, in case of cancer, people are usually recommended to undergo chemotherapy, while it may seem to extend the life of the patient, it may put the patient in a lot of duress. While the drugs used in chemotherapy are powerful enough to destroy cancer cells, they also destroy the healthy cells within a patients’ body. For some patients the process chemotherapy is worse than the disease itself. Thus, it is evident that though medicines extend life, it creates more problems than benefits because people’s quality of life deteriorates.

Some might argue that longer life expectancy means that the older generation can guide and instruct the younger generation. The wisdom and skills of the older generation can help the younger generation overcome problems they face in their work or personal life. For example, senior employees can help younger employees to understand the challenges of work. However, it is not necessarily true that longer lives make older folk wiser. With our ever changing society it can also be said that wisdom of the past is not relevant today. Although there are seniors that are adapting to social and technological changes, but they are few in numbers. Thus, longer life does not mean that people live a wiser life and more than benefit it becomes a liability.

Another important point is that people who have a longer life expectancy can become a burden on their children. This can lead to poor living conditions. Though children love their parents, it is common to come across cases of parental abuse and children keeping their parents in poor condition because they can no longer care for them. Japan is a prime example of this point. Japan has the highest percentage of aging population, which is expected to rise to forty percent in 2050. With changing family dynamics, more parents are being left alone by their children, which leads them to die alone.

The future of the elderly seems even bleaker when we hear cases where parents are left alone on streets to fend for themselves or abused by their own children. For example, a survey conducted in India by Age well foundation, showed that 7o per cent of the elderly were harassed and mistreated by their own family members and relatives. Longer life expectancy of parents might put financial and emotional burden on the children leading them to take unexpected steps. Therefore, it can be said that longer life expectancy brings more problems than benefits.

In conclusion, longer life expectancy is more problematic than beneficial because it leads to crippling effects on the elderly, it also deteriorates the quality of life of people and puts an immense burden on the younger generation financially and emotionally. Long life is only good when it enables people to lead quality productive lives. Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

Gp Lah! Don’t just read. Write oso lah!

Eh, you write and send your essay lah! Dont be lazy.

All Gp essays here are unedited and written by students in 90 minutes. The essays are posted for students to learn and critique so that they can write better more insightful Gp essays.

If you would like to upload your essays, please contact Jit Sharma (email [at] thegptutor.com). If you want to upload Sec4 essays, can oso lah!

Interested in curated content besides essays? do check out Flipboard.

Eh, you write and send your essay lah! Dont be lazy. For starters, you can read this essay, Quite shiok!

General Paper Essay Questions 3/100

General Paper Essay Questions for GCE A-Levels exams. General Paper Essay Questions asked in past prelims.

Should the needs of the individual always be sacrificed for the good of society?
‘Affluence is a curse, not a blessing.’ Do you agree?
Assess the effectiveness of public campaigns in your society.
How far do you agree that culture has become too commercialised?
Can the death penalty be justified today?
How far should your society have restrictions to differentiate between citizens and foreigners?
Is it increasingly more difficult to believe in faith?
‘The arts, more so than the sciences, feed our minds.’ How far do you agree?
‘Only the individual can protect his own privacy.’ How true is this in the age of social media?
Should you worry that your children will have no air to breathe, no water to drink and no food to eat?
‘The greatest pleasures in life are often the simplest.’ To what extent is this statement true?
Can corruption ever be eliminated?

Protected: To what extent do you agree that science is more important than religion?

Essay Questions 2/100

Essay Questions Collection from Past Prelims. These are the essay questions from various JC’s past prelims.

To what extent has technology had a negative impact on work-life balance in your society?
Is less regulation always desirable?
‘Everyone is talking but no one is listening.’ Is this a fair comment on the new media?
‘The future of your society lies in the sciences rather than the arts.’ What is your view?
‘There is nothing to fear from failure.’ Do you agree?
‘The rise of women means the displacement of men.’ Discuss.
Should government policies be concerned mainly with economic gains? Discuss with reference to your society.
Is a world without racial conflict an impossible dream?
‘Mind your own business.’ To what extent is this good advice today?
‘Technology provides assurance in a world fraught with uncertainty and insecurity.’ Do you agree?
‘The success of social media is also its problem.’ Comment.
‘Educating for the future should focus not on academic excellence but on values.’ Do you agree?