Question 1: How does Science and Technology affect our life and health?
(10
Marks)
The Strategy: For a 10-mark question, avoid just saying "medicine saves
lives." Divide your answer into distinct structural layers showing both
positive transformations and emerging dependencies or risks.
High-Yield Answer Structure:
Introduction (2 Marks): Define the interaction. State that S&T has shifted
human life expectancy and quality of life from a state of natural vulnerability
to one of technological mediation.
Positive Impacts on Life & Health (4 Marks):
Biomedical Innovations: Eradication of diseases via vaccinology, gene editing
(CRISPR), and advanced diagnostics (MRI, CT scans) which shift healthcare
from reactive treatment to predictive prevention.
Public Health Infrastructure: Water purification systems, refrigeration for food
preservation, and sanitation engineering that drastically lowered infant
mortality rates.
Negative/Nuanced Impacts (4 Marks):
Lifestyle Diseases (Sedentary Technology): Automation and screen-centric
lifestyles have contributed to global rises in obesity, cardiovascular issues,
and mental health challenges (social media echo chambers, dopamine loop
dependencies).
Socio-Technical Disparities: High-end medical treatments create a bio-divide
where health optimization is privatized for the wealthy, while basic health
technologies remain inaccessible to marginalized groups.
Question 2: Demonstrate the impact of Science and Technology in shaping
the international order (10 Marks)
The Strategy: This is a classic question about power dynamics and
geopolitics. Connect S&T directly to how nations assert authority, control
wealth, and interact globally.
High-Yield Answer Structure:
Introduction (2 Marks): State that the international order is fundamentally a
reflection of technological asymmetry. Nations that pioneer scientific
revolutions dictate international law, trade routes, and military boundaries.
Hard Power & Military Dominance (3 Marks):
The Nuclear & Defense Paradigm: The development of atomic energy and
modern defense systems (hypersonic missiles, drone warfare) establishes
deterrence structures and determines who sits on global security councils.
Soft Power & Economic Globalization (3 Marks):
Digital Infrastructure & Sovereignty: Global communication networks
(submarine fiber cables, satellite constellations like Starlink) allow
superpowers to project cultural influence and control global data flows.
Techno-Imperialism/Monopolies: Control over critical supply chains—such as
advanced semiconductor manufacturing plants (microchips)—shapes
international trade treaties and foreign policies.
Conclusion/Synthesis (2 Marks): Bring in an STS framework: The international
order is a co-produced system where political ambitions drive scientific
funding, and the resulting technologies lock in geopolitical hierarchies.
Question 3: Suggest the importance of Science and Technology in modern
global society (10 Marks)
The Strategy: "Importance" can feel broad, so structure this by looking
forward at global survival, coordination, and sustainability. Think of this as
the "Global Solutions" question.
High-Yield Answer Structure:
Introduction (2 Marks): Frame modern global society as an "Information
Society" facing complex, trans-boundary challenges that cannot be resolved
without unified technological intervention.
Core Pillars of Importance (6 Marks):
Environmental Governance & Sustainability: S&T is the only vehicle capable
of decoupling economic growth from ecological collapse through green
energy transitions (solar grids, electric transport) and carbon-capture
mechanisms.
Global Connectivity & Knowledge Democratization: Distributed cloud
technologies and open-access scientific repositories cross-pollinate ideas
across borders, allowing local innovations to scale globally instantly.
Resource Optimization: Precision agriculture (IoT sensors, drone crop
monitoring) and automated supply chains ensure food and resource security
for an expanding global population.
The Regulatory Caveat (2 Marks): Conclude by highlighting that S&T is only
beneficial if governed ethically. Mention the Precautionary Principle—stating
its true importance lies in how society establishes frameworks to manage
emerging risks like unchecked artificial intelligence or synthetic biology.