Source Based Question on the ERP

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions.

You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

Theme: Understanding Governance
Issue: ERP – a pragmatic or an irrelevant policy for Singapore?


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is an electronic system of road pricing. It uses a dedicated short-range radio communication system to deduct ERP charges from smart-cards inserted in the in-vehicle units of vehicles each time they pass a pricing point when the system is in operation. The pay-when-you-use principle helps make motorist more aware of the true cost of driving. This way, road usage can be optimised.

The scheme was set up by the authorities to keep the roads significantly free of congestion. It is a mode of control to maintain a good flow of traffic at any one time on our limited road space. A fair pricing system is adopted as payment is only required with the usage of roads during peak hours. This is to encourage motorists to take alternative routes in order to reach their destinations, which gives rise an optimized road usage. In addition, the scheme is designed to make driving more expensive in Singapore, a country where almost every citizen aspires to own their own set of wheels.



1 a. Study Source A

What impression is the citizen trying to create here regarding the ERP scheme with his online posting? Explain your answer.

1 b.

Study Sources B and C
To what extent are they different? Explain your answer.





1(a) Study Source A

What impression is the citizen trying to create here regarding the ERP scheme with his online posting? Explain your answer. (5)

Question target: Making Inference with purpose

L1 Paraphases source, or wrong inference made (not about intended impression created) (1 mark)

e.g. We see ERP gantries all over on the Singapore map.
The cartoonist is mocking the ERP scheme.

L2 Inference, unsupported 2m for 1 unsupported inference and 3m for 2 unsupported inference (2-3 marks)

e.g. The citizen is trying to get all Singaporeans to go against the ERP policy.

L3 Inference, supported 2m for 1 supported inference and 3m for 2 supported inference (4 marks -5 marks)

e.g. The citizen is trying to get all Singaporeans to go against the ERP policy. In this source we see that the citizen is mocking (inference on purpose ) the policy by showing that the government plans to place ERP gantries all over Singapore as shown in the Source (content) This is, to ridicule the policy and to deem it as useless and irrelevant. (explanation) (Remember ICE)

(b) Study Sources B and C

To what extent are they different? Explain your answer. (7)

Question target: Comparison of sources

L1 Difference in source type (1 mark - 2 marks)

e.g. Source B is a textual source while Source C is a cartoon (3 marks)


L2 Differences AND/OR Similarities in content, unsupported

Eg: Infering the Difference
Sources B and C differ in portraying the citizens’ reaction to the ERP scheme. Source B seems to be receptive towards the scheme while Source C seems to be unreceptive towards the scheme.
AND / OR

Infering the Similarity

Both sources acknowledge that ERP is needed in Singapore.


L3 Differences OR similarities in content, with support (4 marks-5 marks)

Award 3m for 1 difference OR 1 similarity, supported
Award 4m for 2 differences OR 2 similarities, supported

e.g.Sources B and C differ in portraying the citizens’ reaction to the ERP scheme. Source B seems to be receptive towards the scheme while Source C seems to be unreceptive towards the scheme. (Infering the differences)

This is seen from the line in Source B, “We will definitely see the public transport system becoming more prevalent and numbers of cars being brought down to inevitably make way for more efficient public transport.” The word “definitely” used here suggests that the speaker is very confident that the ERP will bring about lesser congestion. (Content and Explanation)

Source C, seems to think otherwise judging from the displeasure facial expression of the lady in the cartoon. She seems displeased that she would have to “pay” for owning a car. (Content and Explanation)

L4 Differences AND similarities in content, supported I

Award 4 marks 1 difference AND 1 similarity, supported
Award 5m for 2 differences AND 2 similarities, supported



L5 Similarities in tone / purpose, explained (7 marks)

e.g. Both source differ in their tone towards the ERP scheme. (Infer on tone)

Source B is obviously supportive of it and thinks that it is a brilliant idea as “We will definitely see …numbers of cars being brought down …” He believes that the ERP will work for the good of Singapore. (Content and Explanation)

The cartoonist in Source C mocks and ridicules the ERP policy as being ridiculous. The mechanic’s answer “Yes – when the ERP starts!” and the incredulous facial expression of the lady strongly suggests that the policy is nothing more but to “punished car owners rather than to ease traffic congestion. (Content and Explanation)

(c) Study Sources D and E

Both sources gave opposing views on the effectiveness of the ERP. Does it make one of them wrong? Explain your answer. (6)

Question Target: Comparing Reliability of 2 sources

L1 Both sources are different , so one must be wrong Or identify differences but no explanation OR Provenance only (1 mark)

e.g. Since Source D is published in the Straits Times, it must be correct as Singapore newspaper will not publish inaccurate views. Source E, on the other hand, is merely an opinion and is not checked and corrected as anything can be uploaded into the Internet.

L2 Choice based on content only (3 mark)

e.g. Source E is more right compared to Source D. Source D is merely based on his opinions and not on facts. He was merely giving his views on what he thinks about the ERP. Source D, on the other hand, carries more weight as the speaker actually compares Singapore to that of Bangkok and then concludes that Singapore will end up like Bangkok if the congestion on the roads are not checked. I accept Source E to be the one that is right.

L3 Not wrong, just about differences based on things, place, time or people
Different view point (4 marks)

e.g. Since the ERP scheme is a debatable topic, it is undoubtedly something that can be argued for or against. Both are not wrong. They are merely based on different opinions or people.

The speaker in source D could be a driver himself who has seem no impact of the ERP scheme itself and thus questions it while the speaker the Source E could be a pedestrian who would not feel the pinch of the ERP rates.

L4 Choice based on Biasness, Tone , purpose, explain (5 marks)

e.g. Source D is obviously the wrong one here. The speaker has a negative attitude towards the ERP scheme and questions the justification of the scheme over and over again, shown in the line “I am confused and annoyed by policies affecting car ownership in Singapore.” He mocks the government’s wisdom in policy making and seems to try to illicit negative attitude from other fellow Singaporeans towards this policy.

Source E, on the other hand, justifies the ERP policy by comparing it to another country which faces a bad traffic congestion as shown in “Without the ERP, we might turn into a Bangkok.”

L5 Choice, based on Cross-reference to other sources or contextual knowledge (6 marks)

e.g. The line in Source E, “Without the ERP, we might turn into a Bangkok” implies that Singapore will face bad traffic congestion if left unchecked and that the ERP will help prevent that. This can be supported by Source F, “So if we want more cars on our roads, and at the same time, we also want smooth-flowing traffic on these roads, then invariably ERP rates will go higher and the coverage will be more extensive. This is the key trade-off.” This supports the fact that the ERP is needed to help prevent traffic congestion, a similar point pointed out in Source E. This, by itself, contradicts the speaker in Source D when he says that, “I am confused and annoyed by policies affecting car ownership in Singapore.” The speaker seems to think that ERP is merely an annoyance and not a necessity as painted by both Source E and Source F.




Study Source F

Does this source help in your understanding that the implementation of the ERP is a pragmatic approach? Explain your answer (7)

Question target: Utility of source

L1 Uncritical Acceptance that the Source is useless OR useful (1 mark)

e.g. Source F is useless as evidence he is not the Minister of Transport himself


L2 Useful, because Minister did say that it is for the best interest of the country (2 marks)


L3 Useful, because of the information it reveals (3 marks -4 marks)

e.g. Source F is useful as evidence as it tells us that it is not possible to have a higher number of cars on the road and a smooth-flowing traffic. And as such, the ERP has to be implemented even though the government knows that “it is an unpopular policy.” This means that the scheme is done out of pragmatism.


L4 Useful, because it is by a Minister of Singapore itself. (4 marks)

e.g. Source F is useful as it comes from a Singapore minister himself. Being a minister, his main aim is to ensure that everything done such as policy-making is for the best interest of the country whether or not the policy is popular with the citizens.


L5 Useless due to missing information that Source F contains by referring to other sources (5 marks - 7 marks)