UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION

HUMANITIES

Duration

: 3 hours

Please read the follow instructions carefully.

1.

This examination has THREE (3) sections A, B and C, and comprises FOUR (4)
printed pages.

2.

Answer FIVE (5) questions from any of the three sections. Candidates intending
to offer Economics or Computing must answer at least THREE (3) questions from
the Economics section, i.e. section A.

3.

Write your answers on the answer paper provided. Begin each question with a
fresh sheet of paper.
Write the Section number and question number clearly.
Each question carries 20 marks.

4.

At the end of the examination, attach the cover paper on top of your answer
script.
Complete the information required on the cover page and tie the papers
together with the string provided.

5.

Do not take any paper, including the question paper and unused answer paper,
out of the examination hall.

SECTION A

ECONOMICS

A1.

Discuss the ways in which the following conditions might affect the
opportunity cost of watching the live broadcast of the World Cup Final
tonight.
a.
You have a final examination paper tomorrow.
b.
Not only do you have a final examination paper tomorrow, but
there is a special movie tonight that your girlfriend (or boyfriend)
wants to go to.
c.
The World Cup Final will be shown on TV again next week.
d.
The one-month school vacation starts tomorrow.
[20 marks]

A2.

In the market for rock music CDs, explain whether the following event
would cause an increase or a decrease in demand or an increase or a
decrease in the quantity demanded. Also explain what happens to the
equilibrium quantity and market price.
a.
The price of CD packaging material declines.
b.
The price of CD players declines.
c.
The booming economy increases the income of the typical CD
buyer.
d.
Many musicians suddenly develop a fondness for rock music.
[20 marks]

A3.

What are the tools that the central bank of your country can use to
change the money supply? How do these tools change the money
supply? Which tool do you think is used most frequently? Explain.
[20 marks]

A4.
a.
b.

A5.

Compare two methods of calculating gross domestic product

(GDP).
Does GDP give an accurate picture of the economic well being of
the population? Explain your answer.
[20 marks]

Expansionary fiscal policy during a depression will have a greater

positive effect on real GDP if the government borrows the money to
finance the budget deficit than if it creates new money to finance the
deficit. True or False? Explain your answer.
[20 marks]

SECTION B

GEOGRAPHY

B1.

Why do some relatively abundant renewable natural resources become

scarce? Use specific examples to illustrate your answer.
[20 marks]

B2.

Examine the human and environmental impacts of rice intensification

schemes in a specific Asian country.
[20 marks]

B3.

Industrial investment location factors vary across sectors and

industries. Examine different location factors with reference to a
specific country and regions within that country.
[20 marks]

B4.

Examine why there has been a growth of large metropolitan regions

and some of the human geography implications of this with reference
to one mega city.
[20 marks]

B5.

Can tourism ever be eco-friendly? Discuss with reference to specific

cases.
[20 marks]

SECTION C

HISTORY

C1.

Western Imperialism in Southeast Asia differed both in intensity and

scope as competing nations applied administrative rule both "directly"
and "indirectly". Discuss the characteristics of these two approaches
to colonial rule in Southeast Asia and speculate as to why in cases of
"direct" rule, Southeast Asians tended to respond more aggressively
than in colonies where "indirect" rule was implemented.
[20 marks]

C2.

In reference to Benedict Anderson's notions and arguments about the

emergence of the "imagined community", in what ways is the nationstate different from pre-colonial Southeast Asian political forms or
communities?
[20 marks]

C3.

In post-World War II South and Southeast Asia, the forming of new

nations was a noticeable pattern, due in part to the eventual
withdrawal of the European colonial powers. At the same time, nearly
every new nation faced civil war or social instability. How might the
existence of multiple languages, religions, values, and ethnicities be a
challenge to nationalism in South and Southeast Asia?
[20 marks]

C4.

In recent times, "globalization" has been a key phrase referring to the

inter-connectedness of peoples, resources, and goods. For many
observers today, this is a new development that is particular to the
late 20th century. In what ways would the relations between Europe
and Asia in the 17th-19th centuries challenge this view?
[20 marks]

C5.

In the mid-20th century, India and China took relatively different

political and economic paths.
Describe these differences and
speculate as to how the role of 19th century colonial pressures
affected the direction each country took.
[20 marks]

END OF PAPER