Ms. S.

Mohammed
Social Studies: Form 5
CSEC Social Studies: January 2020- Sample Answers

Section A
Answer All Four Questions from this Section

Individual , Family, Society

1. (a) (i) Define the term ‘marriage’. (2mks)
Answer: A marriage is a lawfully recognized union between a man and a woman.

(ii) Outline ONE reason why a married couple would choose legal separation
rather than divorce. (2mks)
Answer: A married couple may choose legal separation because it gives them time
to work on issues in the marriage and live separately at the same time. Also legal
separation is not as final as a divorce would be in ending a marriage.

(b) Outline TWO factors that contribute to the changing roles and
responsibilities of family members in the Caribbean. (4mks)
Answer: Two factors that contribute to the changing roles of the family are:
1. The status of women in the society and their roles have changed. Originally ,
the role of the woman was homemaker but now she is also a breadwinner
and decision maker. This was made possible through equal rights laws for
men and women where they both have equal opportunities in the society.
2. More women are joining the workforce and have equal opportunity for jobs.
This means that they are at home less so the males have to share in
 household responsibilities and child rearing. Due to this traditional roles
have changed.

(c) (i) Suggest THREE actions that parents may take to prepare children to
become responsible adults. (6mks)
(ii) Explain why EACH action you suggested in (c ) (i) may be effective in
helping parents to prepare their children to become responsible adults. (6mks)

Answer:
Action 1: Parents can assign certain tasks and responsibilities based on the age of
the child and make them accountable for those tasks.

Explanation 1: By assigning tasks to children from a young age eg. washing their
own dishes after eating, will help them to learn household responsibilities for when
they have their own home. This should be done for both boys and girls so no one
will grow up with the thinking that household chores are gender related.

Action 2: Parents must use sanctions to allow children to learn the consequences
for the responsibilities given to them.

Explanation 2: Rewards can be given from time to time when children uphold their
responsibilities so that they will be encouraged to continue. If the children do not
keep their responsibility they must be given appropriate punishment so that they
will learn that there are consequences to every action. This will help them as
adults.
Action 3: Parents should teach children various life skills so that they can be
responsible adults.

Explanation 3: Life Skills such as cooking, laundry, money management and

communicating with others are important and should be taught to children from an
early age as these are the skills needed to become responsible adults later on. Many
adults without these lifeskills have a hard time coping in adulthood.

Question 2:
(a) (i) State the name of the MAIN type of government system which existed
in Commonwealth Caribbean countries before independence. (1mk)
Answer: The main type of government system in Commonwealth Caribbean
countries before independence was the Crown Colony system of government.

(ii) State ONE characteristic of the type of government system you named above.
(1mk)
Answer: One characteristic of the Crown Colony government is that each colony
was ruled by the Queen of England and had a governor who acted on behalf of the
queen.

(b) (i) State TWO types of government systems adopted by Commonwealth

Caribbean countries after they gained independence. (2mks)
Answer: Two types of government systems after independence were Constitutional
Monarchy and Republicanism.

(ii) Outline ONE difference and ONE similarity between the two types of
government systems identified in (b) (i). (4mks)
Difference: The difference between the two types of government systems is that
there is a Governor General who is Head of State and representative of the Crown
in a Constitutional Monarchy whereas in a Republicanism system of government,
the President replaces the Crown as Head of State.

Similarity: The similarity between the Constitutional Monarchy and

Republicanism is that they both have elected Prime Ministers who hold executive
power to make decisions for the internal and external affairs of the country.

(c) The government of your country is having difficulties providing adequate

healthcare for citizens due to limited resources.
(i) Suggest THREE strategies this government may employ in its effort to create
and maintain a healthy population. (6mks)
(ii) For EACH Strategy provided in (c) (i), explain ONE reason why it is to be
successful. (6mks)

Strategy 1: The 1st strategy can be to hold community campaigns to address and
educate people on the areas of physical activity, tobacco use, diseases etc.

Explanation 1. The above strategy may be successful because persons can learn
about health issues and how to keep healthy if they didn't know. This information
can reach large groups of people with these community campaigns and it can
emphasize the importance of keeping healthy. People will have more information
on how to keep themselves healthy.
Strategy 2: Another strategy is to upkeep the health centres and hospitals in the
country by using some of the funds to ensure that the healthcare system is
functioning well.

Explanation 2: When health centres and hospitals are upkept, citizens can get
proper healthcare when they are ill and this will help persons to get better and
become healthier. The more sick people in a country, the more people will be away
from work and this will affect the country’s economy. Therefore if the healthcare
system works well, people can get the medical care they need in a timely manner.

Strategy 3: The government can put measures in place at schools to ensure that
children are eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Explanation 3: This measure can be done by having healthy meals in the school
feeding programme and allowing only healthy meals, drinks and snacks to be
brought to school. Also school cafeterias will have to sell nutritious items to
students. This will ensure that children are eating healthy and as a result will grow
up to be healthy adults in the society.

Sustainable Development and Use of Resources

Development of Human Resources
Question 3:
(a) (i) Define the term ‘dependency ratio’. (2mks)
Answer: Dependency Ratio is the term used to describe the ratio of the number of
dependents to the number of economically active people.
(ii) The Dependency Ratio of a Caribbean Country was 51.5. What does that
mean? (1mk)
Answer: This means that the Dependency Ratio is high in the Caribbean Country.

(b) (i) Which age group comprised the largest percentage of the population in
1990? (1mk)
Answer: The age group which comprised the largest percent of the population in
1990 was 25-29.
(ii) State TWO ways in which the age structure of the population changed from
1990 to 2015. (2mks)
Answer: Two ways in which the age structure of the population changed from
1990 to 2015 is:
- Persons in the age group 60-64 increased in 2015.
- Persons in the age group 15-19 decreased in 2015.

(iii)Outline ONE way in which understanding the changes in the age-sex

structure of the population may help the government to plan its spending. (2mks)
Answer: One way in which the understanding of the changes in age-sex structure
of the population may help the government to plan its spending is that it can assist
the government to know how many dependents there are in the country to provide
more schools for the younger generation and health care in the case of an ageing
population.

(c) The development of human resources requires Commonwealth Caribbean

governments to place greater emphasis on technical and vocational education
and improving access to tertiary education.
(i) Suggest to the Minister of Education THREE changes that could be made to
the programmes in educational institutions that may help to prepare citizens for
the world of work in the technical age. (6mks)

(ii) Explain how EACH of the Changes you suggested in (c) (i) is likely to be
successful.

Change 1: One of the changes that can be made at educational institutions is to

make Information Technology a compulsory subject area for CSEC.

Explanation 1: Due to the increase in use of Technology in the workplace, it is

important that every person at the Secondary School level learn at least the basics
and be qualified in this technological area. This would prepare for the world of
work in the technical age because almost every area of business is computerised
and people will already know how to use the systems.

Change 2: Another change can take place in the syllabus of the Primary Schools
where the use of Information Technology and Computers can be introduced from
an early age.

Explanation 2: During the pandemic, we have seen the use of technological devices
being used by children of all ages to accommodate distance learning. Many parents
and children had to learn these methods to do this. By teaching this at the primary
school level, technology use will be a norm and when they get older they will be
able to function at the workplace because they will be accustomed to the use of
technology.
Change 3: Educational Institutes at Secondary and Tertiary level can teach areas of
the jobs that use technology and allow students to practice the areas that are
applicable to the world of work.

Explanation 3: Educational Institutes may focus on teaching content for knowledge

only and the students don't have practical skills for the workplace especially when
it comes to technology. By changing this method and also teaching practical skills
for the workplace, persons can have a better understanding and be more prepared
for the world of work.

Development and Use of Resources

Regional Integration
Question 4. Natural Disasters- A Major Challenge to Development in the
Caribbean Region

Write an essay on the Topic above in which you:

● Define the term ‘natural disaster’ and name TWO different types of natural
hazards that can affect the region.
● Explain TWO ways in which natural disasters affect the economies of the
Caribbean Countries.
● Suggest THREE ways in which Caribbean Countries may work together to
cope and recover quickly from disasters.
● Outline ONE reason why EACH is likely to be successful. (20mks)
Answer:
A natural disaster is a sudden and terrible event in nature that results in serious
damage to a country. There are many different types of natural disasters in the
Caribbean. Two natural disasters or hazards that affect the Caribbean region are
hurricanes and earthquakes.When these natural disasters occur in the Caribbean, it
affects the economy of the countries in a negative way. One way in which the
economy is affected is that many persons' property and possessions may be
destroyed as a result of natural disasters which means that there will be a high
dependence on the government to provide grants to assist citizens in this crisis.
This may put a strain on the economy and it may slow down the development of
the country as well. Another way the economy is affected, is the damage of
businesses and plantation of crops due to natural disasters. This means that there
will be a loss of jobs and money in the country because of this damage. The
country will now have to work on spending to rebuild and this affects the economy.
The countries in the Caribbean Region face similar challenges when it comes to
Natural Disasters and with Regional Integration, they can come together to assist
each other in these times to cope and recover. One way in which this can be done is
to have volunteers from the Caribbean Countries go to the country that faces the
disaster to help with the clean up and re-building. This may be successful because
the more hands on board to assist will help the country to get back on its feet at a
low cost. Another way they can assist each other is by Countries raising funds to
assist the affected country to recover from the disaster. This would be helpful as the
government of that country would not have to use a lot of the country’s funds for
relief grants and rebuilding exercises. A third way in which Caribbean countries
can help each other is by ensuring that all countries have proper information
through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency on approaching
natural disasters and assisting countries in better preparing for them. This may be
successful because the more prepared a country is for a natural disaster, the better
they will be able to cope with it. Eg. Securing homes, having emergency shelters
ready etc.

Section B
Answer ONLY ONE question from this section
Question 5: COMMUNICATION
THE MASS MEDIA- Hindrance or Gateway to Regional Cooperation
Write an essay on the topic above. In your essay, define the term ‘mass media’ and
state TWO forms of media that are used in the Caribbean. Then explain TWO
ways in which the Mass Media may support Regional Integration.

For ONE of the forms of Mass Media you stated above, suggest THREE ways in
which that form of mass media can help to preserve the culture of the Caribbean.
Explain why EACH three ways is likely to be successful. (20Mks)

Answer:
Mass Media can be defined as the means of communication that reaches a large
number of people in a short time. There are many forms of media used in the
Caribbean, two of which are the television and the internet. The use of the media in
the Caribbean is very important and this can also assist in supporting Regional
Integration. One way the media may support regional integration is that through
the use of the internet, it can allow people to access information and websites in the
Caribbean so they can keep updated as to what is happening in the region. Another
way the media may support regional integration is that it makes meeting people
around the region much easier through video conferencing especially for
businesses so they can also buy and sell products and services across the region as
well. The use of the internet as a form of mass media is essential in helping to
preserve the culture of the Caribbean. The internet can be used to access
information such as videos, pictures and writings about our Caribbean History so
that students and adults can learn. This would prove to be successful as people in
the Caribbean can learn about their history and culture right in the comfort of their
homes and can also teach the younger generations. Another way the internet can
assist in preserving the culture of the Caribbean is by countries in the region
promoting programmes via the internet that teaches Caribbean ways, values and
norms for all persons. This would be successful because it will act as a medium to
teach Caribbean people the way of life and therefore preserve our culture. A third
way the internet can assist in preserving the Caribbean culture is through
encouraging nationalism and national pride on various platforms such as social
media. This may be successful because persons that feel a sense of national pride
will be encouraged to make the necessary steps to preserve their culture. It can be
concluded that the mass media can be a gateway to regional integration.