YISHUN TOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL

SEC 3 SOCIAL STUDIES

SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS PRACTICE
Name: _____________________ ( ) Date: Term 1 Holidays
Class: ________ Duration: 1hr

Due: Term 2 Week 1

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

1 (a) Study Source A.

What is the message of the cartoon? Explain your answer with
reference to source details. [5]

(b) Study Source B.

Is the author supportive of the Integrated Resorts? Explain your
answer.
[6]
(c) Study Source C.
Why did the Prime Minister make this speech? Explain your
answer. [6]

(d) Study Sources D and E.

How far do the sources disagree? Explain your answer. [7]

Does the Integrated Resorts provide more benefits or harm to the society?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions.

In 2005, the Singapore government made a decision to build two casino-based resorts. These
Integrated Resorts (IRs) would have world-class amenities such as hotels, restaurants, shopping,
convention centres and theme parks. The decision was made after six-months of public debate
during which several Singaporeans openly shared their unhappiness with the casino proposal.
Many Singaporeans were against the Integrated Resorts as they argued that the casinos in the
resorts will encourage more Singaporeans to gamble and contribute to a rise of social ills
associated with gambling.
Study the sources to find out more if the Integrated Resort provides more benefits or harm to the
society?

1
Source A: A cartoon published on an online forum

Source B: A view expressed by a Singaporean working in a government

linked company, April 2005.

The two integrated resorts would bring in US$3.6 billion in annual revenue. Many jobs
will also be created to boost Singapore’s economy. Nevertheless, I am aware of the
terrible consequences casinos in integrated resorts have. But I am also keenly aware
that whether casinos are allowed in Singapore, gambling as a problem will still prevail.
I know of youths who struggle with the problem even now. If it is not 4-D or Toto, it
would be betting on football, legally or otherwise. Many factors contribute to a person
becoming a gambler. A person can be exposed to the temptation of making a quick
buck in many ways. It doesn’t have to be a casino. I believe that Singapore can
manage the social costs of casinos. We have to trust the judgment of our government
and the strength of Singaporeans.

2
Source C: Adapted from a speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during
parliamentary debate on 18 April 2005

We are losing ground in tourism. Our market share is declining and tourists are
spending less time in Singapore. The feedback we have been getting is that Singapore
is seen as unexciting. We have not been investing in tourism infrastructure projects that
are crowd pullers while our neighbours are building Integrated Resorts. The question
we have to consider is: will Singapore be part of this new world, or will we be bypassed
and left behind? We cannot stand still. We are facing stiffer competition from other
countries which are building Integrated Resorts. If we do not change, where will we be
in 20 years’ time? Losing our appeal to tourists will result in many good jobs being lost,
and all Singaporeans will suffer. We cannot afford that.

Source D: Speech by Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong, a Non-Constituency

Member of Parliament, during a parliament debate on the
proposal to develop the Integrated Resorts in Singapore.

Now that casinos are going to be introduced, the people have every right to question
how effective the additional measures and safeguards announced by the Government
to prevent gambling addiction will be. More importantly, we want to be assured that
none of our loved ones will ever become addicted to gambling, resulting in bankruptcy,
crimes and/or even suicide
Consider that, even without a casino, the police are already having real big problems
dealing with illegal loan-sharks syndicates. With a casino, it will only get from bad to
worse

Source E: An extract of a report in an American Health Journal on the

Singapore Model, May 2008

The government wants a holiday resort that is modelled after Atlantis on Paradise
Island in the Bahamas. It will go towards making a vibrant Singapore that is attractive
to Singaporeans and draw skilled foreign talent to settle here.
To succeed, tourism has to contribute with a quantum leap. The aim is to double the
number of foreign visitors. The government has proposed several safeguards which
will include a daily fee of $100 or an annual fee of $2000 for Singapore residents to
enter the casino. There is also a ban on advertising the casino in local media and the
extension of credit to Singaporeans who want to gamble. This should be enough to
curb the possibility of growing addiction to gambling among local Singaporeans as they
will be turned off by the high entrance fee.