CCHMS Prelim 2010

Paper 2 Answers

FROM PASSAGE A

From Paragraph 1

1 Based on the information in Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2, why is the era [2 m]

referred to known as the Dark Ages?

The era referred to known as the Dark Ages as humanity then were not
enlightened / uneducated (1 m) but thus lived in ignorance / were ignorant
(1 m).

• I m for showing an understanding of why the era is known as the Dark

Ages (not enlightened / uneducated / misinformed )
• 1 m for the result of this lack of enlightenment/education (people living
in ignorance
• The answer need not be linked to diseases.

From Paragraph 2

2 Why were the herbs taken by the pregnant women harmful to the [2 m]
foetuses?

The herbs taken by the pregnant women filled their bloodstream with
poisons (1 m) which the frail foetuses were incapable of combating (1 m).

• 1 m for linking the herbs with the poisons (this point must be in the
answer before the 2nd mark can be awarded)
• 1 m for frail fetuses incapable of combating the poisons

From Paragraph 7

3 Why does the writer place the words “help them heal” in inverted commas? [2 m]

The writer places the words “help them heal” in inverted commas to show
sarcasm/irony (1 m). The saliva which was meant to cure and heal had the
opposite effect of making things worse through infection or death. (1 m)

• 1 m to show that the writer is being sarcastic/ironic (Sarcasm/irony on

its own is not awarded a mark as the reason for the sarcasm/irony must
be shown.)
• 1 m to show the opposite effect which must be specified, i.e. the saliva
which was meant to cure and heal had the opposite effect of making
things worse through infection or death. (The specific reason for the
sarcasm/irony must be given.)

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CCHMS Prelim 2010
Paper 2 Answers

FROM PASSAGE B

From Paragraph 1

4 How do we know that the writer does not approve of pseudoscience? [1 m]

We know that the writer does not approve of pseudoscience as he refers to

it in the same breath as ‘quackery’.

• Students need to refer to the word ‘quackery’ (referring to the

craft/trade of an unskilled or unqualified person who claims to be a
doctor/physician).

5 What benefit do we gain from science? [1 m]

Science inculcates a culture of free, open and vigorous debate.

• Lifting allowed as this requires identification of the correct answer.

From Paragraph 2

6 What does the writer mean when he says that those advocating [2 m]
pseudoscience tend to cultivate “cultures of the echo chamber”?

Those advocating pseudoscience tend to create an environment/situation

(1m) whereby supporters merely agree with / support and repeat (1 m) the
prevailing view.

• 1 m awarded for understanding of the word “cultures”.

• 1 m awarded for understanding of the word “echo”.

7 In your own words, explain why discouraging words are not found on [3 m]
forums devoted to “alternative” medicine.

Discouraging words are not found on forums devoted to “alternative”

medicine because anyone who expresses doubt/incredulity/opposition (1
m) will be ostracised / avoided by (1 m) the other members and even
expelled/removed from the forum (1 m)

From passage
“anyone expressing too much scepticism about the prevailing view on such
forums invariably finds himself first shunned by other members of the
discussion forums and then, if he persists, booted from the forum by the
moderators”

• 1 m for rephrasing of “scepticism”

• 1 m for rephrasing of “shunned”
• 1 m for rephrasing of “booted from”

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CCHMS Prelim 2010
Paper 2 Answers

From Paragraph 3

8 Why are the supporters of pseudoscience adverse to scientific debate? [1 m]

Supporters of pseudoscience are adverse to scientific debate because

they cannot win on science, reason and evidence.

• Lifting allowed as this requires identification of the correct answer.

• No marks for “They don’t have the goods” alone as this does not reveal
understanding.

9 What are the consequences of such an aversion to scientific debate? [2 m]

Any two
• They do not really discover what does and what does not actually work.
• They become progressively less able to defend their views in an
evidence- and science-based argument.
• Some no longer even know how to react to criticism other than by
lashing out.

From Paragraph 4

10 Explain why Simon Singh is facing an uphill battle. [2 m]

Simon Singh is facing an uphill battle because of Britain’s notoriously

plaintiff-friendly libel laws (which favour the plantiff) [1] which means that it
will be difficult for him to defend himself / he may very well lose [1] the
lawsuit.

• 1 m for Britain’s notoriously plaintiff-friendly libel laws

• 1 m for the high likelihood of Simon Singh losing the lawsuit.

11 Why does the writer use the word “fortunately” in referring to Simon [2 m]
Singh’s case becoming a cause célèbre?

Because of the attention the case has attracted, Sense About Science has
rallied public opinion in Simon Singh’s favour and of reforming the U.K.’s
antiquated anti-free speech libel laws.

• 1 m for referring to public opinion/support of Simon Singh and/or

science
• 1 m for referring to reforming the U.K.’s antiquated anti-free speech
libel laws.

From Passage A and Passage B [5 m]

12 For each of the following words or phrases, give one word or short phrase
(of not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word
or phrase had in the passage.

a) subjected to (Passage A line 5)

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CCHMS Prelim 2010
Paper 2 Answers

under the power/authority of

b) ground (Passage A, line 52)

pulverized/crushed into powder

c) proposition (Passage A, line 59)

matter / task

d) victim (Passage B, line 36)

the person inflicted with harm / suffering from harm

e) antiquated (Passage B, line 43)

obsolete / outmoded / ancient and no longer relevant

From Passage A

13 Passage A discusses how the prescriptions and procedures in the Dark [25 m]
Ages were designed to cure but were more likely to kill. Summarise why
this was the case.

USE THE MATERIAL FROM PASSAGE A, LINES 5 TO 48.

Your summary, which must be in continuous prose, (not note form) should
not be longer than 150 words (not counting the words given to help you
begin).

Begin your summary as follows: The people of the Dark Ages were
subjected to the superstitious paranoia …

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CCHMS Prelim 2010
Paper 2 Answers
Passage A discusses how the prescriptions and procedures in the Dark Ages were
designed to cure but were more likely to kill. Summarise why this was the case.
Begin your summary as follows: The people of the Dark Ages were subjected to the
superstitious paranoia …
Points from passage
1. of an unlearned society.
2. Pregnant women were considered
beneath the care of a learned
physician
3. and they followed so-called
“remedies”
4. which often led to premature birth and
even miscarriage.
5. A full-term baby had no assurances of
a long and healthy life
6. as the medieval superstition of
washing babies in dirty dishwater /
stringing a rabbit’s foot around a
baby’s neck
7. meant that few children survived
infancy and few survived childhood
8. The men and women rarely visited a
doctor or saw a dentist.
9. Instead, they succumbed to the
superstition of their parents or region
10. which were more about preventing
disease than actually curing it
11. but ironically made many people
succumb to disease.
12. They would then turn to the local
herbalist,
13. the vast majority of whom were snake-
oil salesmen / produced a wide range
of ineffectual ointments and tonics.
14. They would then turn to physicians
who had a penchant for bloodlettings
15. as a means of “draining out” the
illness,
16. which was often applied to those who
suffered unexplainable fatigue and
illness
17. and thus typically proved fatal
5
Rephrasing (in own words)
Of an uneducated society.
Expecting women did not qualify for
the care of a knowledgeable physician.
Thus, they followed what was
incorrectly considered medication and
therapies
which usually led to premature birth
and spontaneous abortions.
A full-term baby was not guaranteed a
long and healthy life
as the irrational belief that babies
should be washed in dirty dishwater /
that a rabbit’s foot should be hung
around a baby’s neck
resulted in few children living through
infancy and childhood.
People hardly consulted doctors or
dentists,
submitting instead to the irrational
beliefs they were raised with
which were meant to prevent diseases
rather than cure diseases
but which ironically led to people falling
ill.
They then turned to the herbalists,
many of whom had as their main
priority selling their ineffective
medication.
As a last resort, they turned to
physicians who preferred/liked letting
out blood
which they believed drained out the
illness.
Prescribed for those who suffered from
exhaustion/weariness and illnesses,
bloodletting often led to deaths.
CCHMS Prelim 2010
Paper 2 Answers

Points from passage

The people of the Dark Ages were subjected to the superstitious paranoia of an
unlearned society. Pregnant women were considered beneath the care of a learned
physician. Thus, they followed so-called “remedies” which often led to premature birth
and even miscarriage. A full-term baby had no assurances of a long and healthy life
as the medieval superstition of washing babies in dirty dishwater / stringing a rabbit’s
foot around a baby’s neck meant that few children survived infancy and few survived
childhood. The men and women rarely visited a doctor or saw a dentist. Instead, they
succumbed to the superstition of their parents or region which were more about
preventing disease than actually curing it but which ironically made many people
succumb to disease. They would then turn to the local herbalist, the vast majority of
whom were snake-oil salesmen / produced a wide range of ineffectual ointments and
tonics. They would then turn to physicians who had a penchant for bloodlettings as a
means of “draining out” the illness, which was often applied to those who suffered
unexplainable fatigue and illness and thus typically proved fatal.

Suggested summary in own words

The people of the Dark Ages were subjected to the superstitious paranoia of an
uneducated society. Expecting women did not qualify for the care of a knowledgeable
physician. Thus, they followed what was incorrectly considered medication and
therapies, leading to many premature birth and spontaneous abortions. Full-term
babies were not guaranteed long and healthy lives as the irrational belief that babies
should be washed in dirty dishwater resulted in few children living through infancy and
childhood. People hardly consulted doctors or dentists, submitting instead to the
irrational beliefs they were raised with which were meant to prevent diseases rather
than cure diseases but which ironically led to people falling ill. They then turned to the
herbalists, many of whom placed priority on selling their ineffective medication. As a
last resort, they turned to physicians who preferred letting out blood which they
believed drained out the illness. Prescribed for those who suffered from
exhaustion/weariness and illnesses, bloodletting often led to deaths.

148 words for 17 points