Young Teenagers in Singapore have a relatively easy life - Comprehension Answers

1) It is that young Singaporean teenagers have a relatively easy life.

2) the greater part or number; the number larger than half the total

3) •(do not accept ‘pressures’ – too vague)
•tests
•fierce teachers
•tuition
•scolding if they do badly
•demands on your time of CCAs,
•burdens imposed on them by parents.

(accept any three of the above, 1 mark each)

4) ‘for goodness sake!’

5) The state (1) of being without/having insufficient money/cash (1)

6) All humans / all men and women, despite their age (1), suffer from the ‘human condition’.(1)

7) Singaporean teenagers do not have the responsibilities to others (1) that adults have. (1)

8) It refers to being asked to look after a younger brother or sister or cousin occasionally, even a few hours a day.

9) •Singaporean teenagers are studying / having an education, (1)
•while in other countries, their counterparts have to be child soldiers
(1)
•or are working at carpet-making looms or footwear machines. (1)

10) •He/she means that teachers are foreign / alien (1),
•because they get more holidays than the average working adult. (1)

11) It is to look at one’s situation from the point of view (1) of adults and
deprived teenagers. (1)

12) •exceptional (line 4) – unusual, uncommon, rare
•imposed (line 15) – forced, set something to be endured
•ailing (line 35) – sickly, unwell
•perspective (line 49) – mental view, point of view
•realm (line 52) – domain, dominion

13) Firstly, we have a relatively easy life in Singapore because….
•all our time is spent on education,
•developing our potential and
•growing to become a person
•useful (or not) to the world.
•Secondly, we need not worry
•about providing goodies such as
•money, meals, clothes and bills
•which are provided and paid for.
•Thirdly, we have fewer responsibilities.
•We need not look after children,
•Or worry about sickly elder relatives.
•Fourthly, unlike some countries’ teenagers,
•we need not become child soldiers
•or workers making carpets or footwear.
•Lastly, we get many holidays a year.

Summary: 15 points, 1 m for each point. The other 10 marks are for Language.