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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.
2
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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.
3
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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.
4