A-Level General Paper 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In GP essay writing, what is the function of a 'counter-argument'?
- To weaken your own argument
- To show awareness of opposing views, which when rebutted strengthens your overall argument (Correct answer)
- To confuse the examiner
- To replace your main argument
Correct answer: To show awareness of opposing views, which when rebutted strengthens your overall argument
A counter-argument acknowledges the opposing view, demonstrating intellectual maturity. When followed by a rebuttal, it strengthens your case by showing you have considered and can defeat opposing perspectives.
Question 2: What is 'populism' in political science?
- Policies favouring the wealthy
- A political approach claiming to represent ordinary people against a corrupt elite, often simplifying complex issues (Correct answer)
- A type of economic policy
- Democratic elections in all countries
Correct answer: A political approach claiming to represent ordinary people against a corrupt elite, often simplifying complex issues
Populism pits 'the pure people' against 'the corrupt elite', appealing to common folk through simplified narratives. It can be left-wing or right-wing and often exploits social divisions.
Question 3: Why is biodiversity important?
- It improves the aesthetics of nature only
- It underpins ecosystem services (food, clean water, medicine, climate regulation) and is intrinsically valuable for ecological stability (Correct answer)
- Biodiversity has no practical value
- It only matters for scientific research
Correct answer: It underpins ecosystem services (food, clean water, medicine, climate regulation) and is intrinsically valuable for ecological stability
Biodiversity provides ecosystem services essential to human survival — food security, clean water, medicine, climate regulation, and resilience. Reduced biodiversity weakens ecosystems and threatens these services.
Question 4: What role does technology play in modern warfare, according to current affairs debates?
- Technology makes warfare safer for all parties
- Technology (drones, cyber weapons, AI) transforms conflict — reducing some risks for technologically advanced nations while creating new ethical dilemmas and escalation risks (Correct answer)
- Technology has not changed warfare
- Technology always prevents wars
Correct answer: Technology (drones, cyber weapons, AI) transforms conflict — reducing some risks for technologically advanced nations while creating new ethical dilemmas and escalation risks
Modern warfare technology raises issues: drone strikes reduce risk for operators but lower the threshold for conflict; cyberwarfare enables non-state attacks; AI weapons raise accountability questions; arms races intensify.
Question 5: What is the difference between 'equality' and 'equity' in social policy?
- They mean the same thing
- Equality gives everyone the same; equity gives people what they need based on their circumstances to achieve fair outcomes (Correct answer)
- Equality is better than equity
- Equity means everyone earns the same salary
Correct answer: Equality gives everyone the same; equity gives people what they need based on their circumstances to achieve fair outcomes
Equality treats everyone identically (same resources, same rules). Equity recognises different starting points and provides differentiated support to achieve fair outcomes — e.g., Singapore's differentiated school support for disadvantaged students.
Question 6: What is 'brain drain' and what are its consequences?
- Loss of technological infrastructure
- The emigration of highly educated and skilled individuals from developing countries to wealthier nations, depriving their home countries of talent (Correct answer)
- The removal of education programmes
- When students drop out of education
Correct answer: The emigration of highly educated and skilled individuals from developing countries to wealthier nations, depriving their home countries of talent
Brain drain occurs when talented professionals leave developing nations for better opportunities abroad, reducing human capital in source countries and potentially reinforcing global inequality.
A-Level General Paper 3
In GP essay writing, what is the function of a 'counter-argument'?