SINGAPORE CHINESE GIRLS’ SCHOOL
PRACTICE TEST 1 (2009)
SECONDARY THREE
HISTORY FULL
Name: ______( ) Date: 1st July 2009
Class: Secondary 3 ____ Marks: / 50
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Parent’s Signature: ______
THIS PAPER CONSISTS OF 3 PRINTED PAGES AND 2 SECTIONS.
PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWERS ON WRITING PAPER AND STAPLE IT IN FRONT OF THE QUESTION PAPER.
PLEASE DO NOT USE CORRECTION TAPE.
SECTION A: SBQ War in Europe (1939-1945)
Study the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you to interpret and evaluate the sources. There are a total of 5 sources and 4 questions in this section.
Topic Question: What were international relations like in the late 1920s and 30s?
Background Information
Although World War II was triggered by the German invasion of Poland in 1939, events in the late 1920s and 30s had a significant impact on international relations which made war in Europe more likely. The failure of the Disarmament Conference in Geneva 1932, the Munich Conference of 1938 and the signing of bilateral pacts between France and USSR in 1934, the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935, the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in 1939, the Anglo-Polish Treaty of 1939 all signal the weakening commitment to the League’s ideal of collective security.
Question 1
a) Study Source A
What does Source A say about the achievements of the League of Nations from 1919-1928? Explain your answer. [6]
b) Study Source B
What is Source B saying about the relationship between the Big Powers in 1938? Explain your answer. [6]
c) Study Sources C and D
In what ways are Sources C and D similar in their observations about international relations in the mid-1930s? Explain your answer. [6]
d) Study Source E
Does Source E prove that USSR is to blame for destabilising international relations in the 1930s? Explain your answer. [7]
TURN OVER
Source A: A political cartoon published in The Evening Standard (A British newspaper) on 29th December 1928.
Caption: Peace (sadly): “This looks very like the point we started from.”
Source B: A political cartoon published in The Evening Standard (A British newspaper) on 30th September 1938.
Caption: “What, no chair for me?”
Source C: Report by Stalin to the 17th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) on 26th January 1934.
“One result of the long-drawn economic crisis has been the rising tension in the political situation in capitalist countries, both within these countries and in their mutual relations. The intensified struggle for foreign markets, the disappearance of the last vestiges of free trade…which demonstrate extreme nationalism in economic policy have made the relations among the various countries extremely strained… It is not surprising that *bourgeois pacifism is now dragging out a miserable existence, and that idle talk of disarmament is giving way to ‘business-like’ talk about armament and rearmament…Quite clearly things are heading for a new war…Still others again, think that war should be organised against USSR…we know that plans are being hatched in the leading political circles of certain European states.”
*bourgeois: middle-class.
TURN OVER
Source D: A memorandum by the British Foreign Secretary, which was discussed at the gathering of the British Empire government leaders in London, 1937.
“But there are many who say that economic appeasement provides the key to our difficulties, and it is certain that with most of our political problems there is an economic problem *inextricably intertwined…what is a serious danger is the extent to which Germany is moving away from the economic system of Western Europe into an attitude not unlike that of Soviet Russia…If this attractions were developed in the direction of Russia, who can supply so many German needs, the danger might become greater, and a division might establish itself between two economic systems in Western and Eastern Europe. It is therefore, of urgent importance to restore Germany to her normal place in the Western European system.”
*inextricably: difficult to disentangle
Source E: Georges Bonnet, the foreign minister of France from 1938-9, writing in his memoirs, published in 1961.
“I learnt of the Germano-Soviet Pact on 23rd of August and immediately concluded that a drastic change in international relations had happened. Stalin had given Hitler a free hand and hoped to see the nations of Europe embroiled in war while the USSR stayed on the sideline …To me Stalin’s intentions seemed perfectly clear, and I feared any attempt to save Poland would only lead to its complete destruction and seriously compromise France’s permanent interests. The pact broke the power equilibrium to the benefit of our adversaries… it allowed Stalin, in the event of war, to stay outside the conflict, to keep his forces intact, and to impose Communism in Europe and Asia, perhaps throughout the world. Such extremity had to be warded off at any price...”
References:
Source A: The British Cartoon Archive –University of Kent http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/record/LSE0515 (accessed 8th June 2009)
Source B: The British Cartoon Archive –University of Kent, http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/record/LSE2568 (accessed 8th June 2009)
Source C: Adapted from Overy, R. (2008). Origins of the Second World War (3rd edition). London: Longman Pearson. P. 104-5.
Source D: Adapted from Overy, R. (2008). Origins of the Second World War (3rd edition). London: Longman Pearson. P. 112.
Source E: Adapted from Overy, R. (2008). Origins of the Second World War (3rd edition). London: Longman Pearson. P. 123-4.
SECTION B: SEQ: War in Asia-Pacific (1937-1945)
Read the question carefully and answer both parts of the question.
Question 2
a) Was Protectionism the most important factor leading to the outbreak of war in Asia-Pacific? Explain your answer. [12]
b) “Japan’s expansionist foreign policy is justifiable given that it was more a defensive rather than an offensive measure.” Do you agree? Explain your answer. [13]
-End of Paper-
Singapore Chinese Girls School Practice Test 1 (2009), Full History, 3rd July 2009
Level of Response / Level Descriptor and Rubrics / Mark Allocation1 a / Study Source A:
What does Source A say about the achievements of the League of Nations from 1919-1928? Explain your answer / 6 m
L1 / Quotes the source without understanding.
E.g. Source A is saying “this looks like the point we started from.” / 1 m
L2 / Makes inferences, unsupported
E.g. This source says that the League of Nations had failed to achieve its stated goal of disarmament. / 2 m
L3 / Makes inferences, supported
-one piece of evidence (3) -two pieces of evidences (4)
This source says that the League of Nations had failed to achieve its stated goal of disarmament and had not progressed much in 10 years.
This is seen in the signpost which says 1919 “To disarmament oopmteen miles” and it is significant that the 1919 had been changed to 1929. This illustrates that only the years have changed, but the situation had not progressed.
In fact, that they are ‘oopmteen miles’ away from disarmament suggests that they have an extremely long journey ahead before they can reach the final destination. / 3-4 m
3 m
4 m
L4 / L3 + Inferences made with reference to tone.
The tone adopted here is one of disappointment.
This is seen from the caption where Peace says “sadly” that “this looks like the point we started from” showing her (and the cartoonist’s) dismay that the League had been walking around in circles and had not moved forward in making disarmament a reality. / 5m
L5 / L3 or L4 + Inferences made with reference to purpose.
E.g. Source A is drawn by a British cartoonist, whose purpose in publishing this cartoon would be to criticize the League of Nations for its failure and to influence public opinion so that it can in turn put pressure on the politicians to take a more serious stand on making disarmament a reality, in order to prevent future wars from occurring. / 6 m
Level of Response / Level Descriptor and Rubrics / Mark Allocation
1b / Study Source B:
What is Source B saying about the relationship between the Big Powers in 1938? Explain your answer. / 6 m
L1 / Quotes the source without understanding.
E.g. Source B is saying there is no chair for Stalin at the meeting. / 1 m
L2 / Makes inferences, unsupported
E.g. This source says that there were tensions in the relationship between the Big Powers in 1938. / 2 m
L3 / Makes inferences, supported
-one piece of evidence (3) -two pieces of evidences (4)
This source says that there were tensions in the relationship between the Big Powers in 1938.
Firstly, the relationship between USSR and the other powers (Britain, France, Germany and Italy) was very strained, and this is evident from the cartoon which shows that Stalin had been left out of the Munich Conference of 1938. This tension was largely due to the fear of Communism, which for a while banded the 4 Big Powers together.
Secondly, there are tensions even amongst the 4 Big Powers, represented by Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier. This is due to the unequal relationship between the former two, both dressed in military outfits and looking very unwielding (with their hands crossed), and the latter two, who look rather obliging in their civilian attire, and willing to appease both Hitler and Mussolini. / 3-4 m
3 m
4 m
L4 / L3 + Inferences made with reference to tone.
The tone adopted here is one of comic irony, as seen from the caption “what, no chair for me?” and the portrayal of a friendly-looking Stalin, twirling his moustache with a smile on his face. / 5m
L5 / L3 or L4 + Inferences made with reference to purpose.
E.g. Source B is drawn by a British cartoonist, whose purpose in publishing this cartoon would be to mock the exclusion of the USSR from the important Munich Conference which was to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia (the map of Czechoslovakia can be seen in the background), and to criticize the policy of Appeasement that was supported by Chamberlain and Daladier. In doing so, he hopes to influence the public into seeing the dangers of appeasing Hitler, and to mobilize them into campaigning for the end of the policy of Appeasement. / 6 m
Level of Response / Level Descriptor and Rubrics / Mark Allocation
1c / In what ways are Sources C and D similar in their observations about international relations in the mid-1930s? Explain your answer. / 6 m
L1 / Similarity based on source content, supported but no common criteria.
Source C and D are similar. Source C says …. Source D says…. / 1 m
L2 / Similarity based on provenance/type, with common criteria.
E.g. Sources C and D are similar in source type as they are both official sources/said by people in government. / 2 m
L3 / Similarity based on source content, supported and with common criteria.
1 similarity (3), 2 similarities (4)
Firstly, Sources C and D are similar in their observations about international relations in that they both agree that economic problems had contributed significantly to political problems in Europe. (Common criteria)
Source C says that “one result of the economic crisis has been the rising tensions in the political situation in capitalist countries” which has seen the rise of nationalism and militarism, which now threaten the peace in Europe.
Source D also agrees that “it is certain that with most of our political problems there is an economic problem inextricably entwined” and that including Germany in the western European economy was necessary to avoid threatening the political stability of Europe.
Secondly, they are similar as they both agree that the fear of communism featured prominently in international relations. (Common criteria)
Source C implies that because USSR is communist, unlike the other capitalist states, therefore, there is talk amongst certain European states that “war should be organized against USSR.”
Source D also insinuates that Germany’s drift towards the USSR might make it vulnerable to communism (“an attitude not unlike that of Soviet Russia”), and that there was a need to bring Germany back into the capitalist Western European system. / 3 -4m
3m
4m
L4 / Similarity based on tone/perspective, supported
Tone: Both Sources C and D express a measure of urgency in their tone.
Source C suggests that war is approaching fast (“quite clearly things are heading for a new war”) and that there was an acute need to ensure that the USSR is ready for it.
Source D also expresses that it was of “urgent importance” to include Germany in the Western European System to prevent her drift towards Communist USSR.
OR
Perspective: Both sources are quite narrow in their perspectives and are preoccupied with the Capitalist West versus Communist USSR divide.
Source C is concerned with illustrating the weakness of the capitalist countries due to the recent economic crisis, and how they are ganging up against the USSR by plotting to wage war on her.
Source D similarly, makes Germany’s drift towards Communist Russia out to be a “serious danger” to the political and economic stability of Europe, and perceives the conflict in narrow West vs. East terms. / 5 m
L5 / Similarity based on purpose/motive, supported
The two sources are similar in their purpose as they both seek to influence the thoughts of fellow decision-makers, seeing that both sources were presented at official meetings. In doing so, the authors of the sources hope to garner the support of their peers for their proposed policies – in Stalin’s case, it would be to continue with the 5-year plans to build USSR up militarily against attacks from the West; and in the case of the British Foreign Secretary, to justify and continue with the policy of appeasing Germany, so that the latter will not turn to Communist Russia. / 6 m
Level of Response / Level Descriptor and Rubrics / Mark Allocation
1d / Study Source E:
Does Source E prove that USSR is to blame for destabilising international relations in the 1930s? Explain your answer.
/ 7 m
L1 / YES/NO, based on provenance, source
Yes it proves that USSR is to blame as it is by Bonnet, the foreign minister of France 1938-9 and as a diplomat, he is a reliable source of information.
No it does not prove that the USSR is to blame, as it is by Bonner, the foreign minister of France 1938-9 and as he is not a reliable source of information as he is biased against the USSR. / 1 m
L2 / Uncritical acceptance of source, supported by source content
e.g. Yes, the source proves that the USSR is to blame, as it says that “Stalin had given Hitler a free hand…” / 2 m
L3 / NO. Detects bias in source, supported
3 m for detecting bias
4m for e.g. from source in support
e.g. The source says but does not prove that USSR is to blame, as it is quick to jump to simple conclusions, which suggests that the source may be biased. (3 m)
The biased nature of the source is clear as it tries to portray, beyond a doubt, that USSR, led by Stalin was to blame for giving Hitler a “free hand.” Bonnet in Source E says that he “immediately concluded” and later again, that to him, “Stalin’s intentions seemed perfectly clear.” (4m) / 3-4m
L4 / Makes cross-reference to other sources AND/OR contextual knowledge to check reliability
5 m for one relevant cross-references
6m for two relevant cross-references
Although Source E is keen to prove that the USSR was to blame for destabilizing the political situation in Europe by entering an alliance with Hitler’s Germany, Source B clearly shows that it was the Western powers, led by Britain and France who first gave in to Hitler’s demands for Sudentenland in Czechoslovakia, thereby making the rest of Eastern Europe vulnerable to subsequent German attacks. 5m
Sources A and C also suggest other possible factors that may have destabilized international relations, such as the failure to disarm as seen in Source A, and the economic crisis, mentioned in Source C, which has led to “the rising tension in the political situation…(and) ‘business-like’ talk about armament and rearmament.” 6m / 5 -6m
L5 / L4 + linking to provenance to support
Finally, Source E is not a reliable source as it is a retrospective account of the situation written in 1938-9, and Bonnet’s reflections may have been skewed such as to put all the blame on USSR and thereby absolve himself of any blame for contributing to the outbreak of World War II as the pro-Appeasement foreign minister of France. / 7 m
LORMS for History Practice Test 1 SEQ (3rd July 2009)