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SingaporeSocial StudiesQuick questions
Exploring Citizenship and Governance
Quick questions on Balancing the needs of citizens: N(A)-Level Social Studies governance
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are different groups have different needs?Show answer
A society is made up of groups in different situations. Lower-income families need help with basic costs; the elderly need healthcare and support in old age; young families need housing and childcare; people with disabilities need access and support to work. Because these needs differ, treating everyone exactly the same does not meet everyone's needs equally.
What are helping those with greater needs?Show answer
One way the government balances needs is by giving more support to those who need it most. In Singapore, lower-income households often receive larger subsidies for housing, healthcare and education, and there are schemes targeted at the elderly and people with disabilities. The idea is that giving extra help to those who start with less is a fairer way to share resources than giving everyone the same.
What are managing trade-offs between groups?Show answer
Because resources are limited, helping one group more can mean less for another. More support for the elderly may mean less for young families; more help for low-income households may feel unfair to those who pay more in taxes. The government must manage these trade-offs and explain its choices, aiming for an overall balance that most citizens can accept, even if no choice pleases everyone.
What is no Singapore example?Show answer
Mention real forms of targeted help, such as larger subsidies for lower-income households.
What is q1?Show answer
State two groups in society that may need extra support, and one need for each. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why giving everyone exactly the same support might not be fair. [3 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain one trade-off the government faces when balancing the needs of different groups. [3 marks]
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