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Jiang Education Centre SS II Sem 2 week 11

Issue: Is the government doing enough to revent the spreead of dengue fever

in Singapore?

Source A: An article in Today Online on how the NEA can improve on its

handing of the dengue problems in Singapore.

Public officials should also work on finding long-term solutions in tackling such

mosquito-borne diseases. The National Environment Agency (NEA) should co-

ordinate its efforts with other government bodies such as the Building &

Construction Authority (BCA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Have the NEA

and BCA ever held a joint comprehensive review of the design and construction

features of high-rise and low-rise buildings that contribute to mosquito breeding? The

NEA identified roof gutters to be a major breeding ground for mosquitoes. Yet many

older bus stops still have roof gutters. Why don't the NEA and LTA seal off these

gutters? Surely this would have been a quick and inexpensive solution? The roof

gutters of houses are often difficult to reach and few home owners bother to clean

them. Could the relevant agencies introduce new laws that ban the use of gutters in

houses?Perhaps the NEA should also consider introducing legislation to cover these

areas as well: Rooftop water tanks, lift wells, basement water-sumps, as well as

drains and basement car parks.

Source B: Extract of a newspaper report on how the NEA is dealing with the

spread of dengue in Singapore.

"On the train there are 2 million commuters every day so the train is a very good

medium for us to spread the dengue prevention message." Sadi Dalson Chung of

the Environment Health Department of the NEA. On the ground, NEA has also

increased its serach and destroy efforts to reduce the Aedes Mosquito population...it

carried out more than 170,000 inspections of the premises for breeding grounds,

including parks and vacant lands. It is also working with the town councils, to flush

out breeding grounds on roof tops and pump rooms.

Question

Study sources A and B.

To what extent is Source A similar to Source B? Explain your answer.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,

Jr.

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Jiang Education Centre SS II Sem 2 week 11

Steps

Step 1.Identify the issue. Immediately know that there must be opposing views or

similar views regarding the issue.

Step 2. Find the basis of comparison(BOC) for similarity.

"Both sources are sharing about Singapore's efforts in battling Dengue Fever."

OR

"Both sources are sharing about where the Aedes Mosquitos are breeding."

Step 3. Determine the structure of answer to be:

BOC for similarity

Inference from source A

Evidence from source A

Explanation of evidence from Source A

Connector [ Similarly/Likewise]

Inference from source B

Evidence from source B

Explanation of evidence from Source B

BOC for difference

Inference from source A

Evidence from source A

Explanation of evidence from Source AConnector [ On the other hand/However]

Inference from source B

Evidence from source B

Explanation of evidence from Source B

Step 4. Next determine if there is a chance for difference or similarity in purpose.

Answer for difference in purpose is based on the structure: AMO vs AMO

BOC for purpose

Determine Audience of Source A , Message of Source A and the Outcome on how

the Audience will react to the Message.

Connector[ However]

Determine Audience of Source B , Message of Source B and the Outcome on how

the Audience will react to the Message.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,

Jr.

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Jiang Education Centre SS II Sem 2 week 11

Model answer

The answer has 2 parts - 1 paragraph for similarity and 1 paragraph for difference

since the question is "How similar..."

Paragraph 1 [ Similarity - BOC + IEE vs IEE ]

Source A and B are similar only to a small extent.

Both Source A and B are talking about where the NEA has identified to be the Aedes

mosquito breeding areas. Source A states that the NEA has identified the breeding

grounds of the Aedes Mosquito on the roof gutters of homes. I say so because

Souurce A says, "The NEA identified roof gutters to be a major breeding ground for

mosquitoes." This means that the NEA is aware of the source of mosquito breeding.

Similarly, In source B, it says that the NEA has "carried out more than 170,000

inspection of the premises for breeding grounds, including parks and vacant lands.",

This means that the NEA is sure where the mosquitos are breeding and so they

have carried out checks on these areas. Hence, Source A and B are similar to some

extent.

However, Source A and B differ in their opinion on whether the NEA has done

enough to stop dengue Fever from spreading. Source A states that the NEA has not

done enough whereas Source B states that the NEA is putting in a lot of effort.

Source A says that, " Why don't the NEA and LTA seal off these gutters? Surely this

would have been a quick and inexpensive solution? The roof gutters of houses areoften difficult to reach and few home owners bother to clean them. Could the

relevant agencies introduce new laws that ban the use of gutters in houses?" This

means that the NEA is currently NOT working closely with other agencies to reduce

the spread of the illness which is why Source A is asking for the NEA to take action

to prevent mosquito breeding such as taking action to prevent breeding in roof

gutters which apparently has not been done. On the other hand, Source B stateas

that the NEA has done quite a lot to stop the illness from spreading. I say so

because it is stated that the " NEA has also increased its serach and destroy efforts

to reduce the Aedes Mosquito population...it carried out more than 170,000

inspections. This means that the NEA has out in more effort to ensure that the Aedes

Mosquito is eradicated and wiped out so that Dengue fever is controlled via it many

thousands of inspections. Hence, Source A is saying that the NEA is not doing

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,

Jr.

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Jiang Education Centre SS II Sem 2 week 11

enough to control the spread of Dengue but Source B is saying that the NEa has put

in quite a bit of effort to curtial the disease.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,

Jr.

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