Question

Read the following passage carefully:

(1)	In a room filled with people, each face illuminated by the soft glow of their smartphones, moments drift away like autumn leaves in the wind. The constant hum of notifications fills the air, punctuating conversations like an incessant drumbeat. Every vibration or ping sends fingers flying to screens, a response ingrained by years of digital conditioning. The once reliable tick-tock of analog timepieces has been overshadowed by the constant flicker of notifications on the wrist watch, blurring the boundaries between the virtual and the real.
(2)	Anxiety gnaws at the edges of consciousness when the phone is out of reach, a phantom limb syndrome that leaves us feeling incomplete without our digital appendage. The fear of missing out permeates every moment spent away from the screen, driving us to constantly check for updates and notifications.
(3)	Thumbs move with the speed and precision of skillful pianists, tapping out messages and scrolling through feeds with practiced ease. Yet amidst the flurry of activity, the true rhythm of life remains unheard, drowned out by the dissonance of digital noise. The weight of constant connectivity forms a hunch upon our shoulders, a physical manifestation of the burden we carry in an age of information overload. Our minds are perpetually on high alert, scanning for the next wave of excitement that comes with each like, share, or comment.
(4)	And yet, for all our efforts to stay connected, we find ourselves increasingly isolated in a sea of digital faces. Genuine connections are fleeting, drowned out by the constant clamour for attention. In the pursuit of digital validation, we sacrifice the wealth of lived experience, trading meaningful moments for fleeting glimpses of connection. The true essence of life lies not in the pixels on a screen, but in the depth of human connection and the richness of shared experiences.
(5)	As we navigate this brave new world of constant connectivity, let us not forget the value of presence and the beauty of being fully engaged in the moments that matter most. For in the end, it is not the number of likes or followers that defines us, but the depth of our connections and the richness of our experiences that truly matter.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

1. According to paragraph 1, what effect do smartphone notifications have on the people in the room?     (1)
2. How does the author use the metaphor of 'autumn leaves in the wind' to interpret the passing of time in the setting described?      (1)
3. Read and complete the following sentence suitably.      (1)
   The phrase ‘a phantom limb syndrome that leaves us feeling incomplete without our digital appendage’ suggests that just as an amputee might feel pain in a limb they no longer have, individuals can feel a sense of loss or incompleteness when they are separated from their digital devices.
   Choose the correct response from the two options to complete the sentence.
   The concern this analogy points towards is about ______________.
   1. a deep (psychological) dependence on technology for a sense of wholeness or connection
   2. excessive physical damage that can be caused due to constant use of digital devices
4. Complete the following suitably with ONE advantage, with reference to paragraph 2.     (1)
   Designating specific hours each day to intentionally avoid checking digital devices can help ______________. 
5. Why does the writer refer to digital noise as 'dissonance' in paragraph 3? Because-  (1)
   1. It creates a jarring and chaotic environment that disrupts focus.
   2. It contributes to a sense of overload, overwhelming the senses.
   3. It interferes with our ability to engage with meaningful aspects of our life.
   4.  It induces stress by interrupting with regular updates about the device.
6. Provide ONE textual evidence with reference to paragraph 3, to prove the following:
   The need to be perpetually engaged with digital notifications manifests in the body.     (1)
7. In the line, ‘Yet amidst the flurry of activity, the true rhythm of life remains unheard…,’ what does the phrase 'true rhythm of life’ refer to? (Paragraphs 3-4)    (2)

8. Complete the analogy with one word from paragraph 4.     (1)
   Whisper : quietly : _______: loudly

   1. validation
   2.  fleeting
   3. essence
   4. clamour
9. Why is it fair to say that the statement ‘And yet, for all our efforts to stay connected, we find ourselves increasingly isolated in a sea of digital faces’ from paragraph 4, employs irony?      (1)
   1. Despite the intent to connect more effectively, the result is the opposite.
   2. The writer mocks the seriousness with which people approach digital connectivity.
   3. The writer exaggerates the effects of digital connectivity to highlight its impact.
   4. Use of ‘a sea of digital faces’ to symbolically represent digital platforms.
10. Assess the potential challenges OR benefits of relying on survey outcomes for designing health interventions, as outlined in paragraph 5.   (2)

Answer 1

1. Smartphone notifications create a constant hum that interrupts conversations and draws attention to screens, blurring the boundaries between the virtual and the real.
   [language/expression may vary, but the idea should remain relevant.]
2. The metaphor suggests that moments are fleeting and easily lost, like autumn leaves drifting away with the wind, highlighting how time slips unnoticed amidst constant digital distractions. [language/expression may vary, but the idea should remain relevant]
3. The concern this analogy points towards is about a deep (psychological) dependence on technology for a sense of wholeness or connection.
4. Designating specific hours each day to intentionally avoid checking digital devices can help reduces the anxiety associated with the need to constantly be connected.
5. It interferes with our ability to engage with meaningful aspects of our life.
6. “The weight of constant connectivity forms a hunch upon our shoulders, a physical manifestation of the burden we carry in an age of information overload.”
7. The 'real rhythm of life' refers to the natural, meaningful, and typically quieter moments comprising human existence and relationships outside digital chaos. The author guides our attention to actual life experiences that are often overlooked or drowned out by the constant noise of digital activity, such as face-to-face chats, silent reflection, nature appreciation, and real-world encounters.
   [language/expression may vary but the idea should remain relevant]
8. Whisper : quietly : clamour: loudly
9. Despite the intent to connect more effectively, the result is the opposite.
   (Option B is satire, C is hyperbole, and D is metaphor)
10. They are – (2 points to be elaborated for either)
    Benefits: Survey results can provide a deep insight of the individual needs and preferences of different demographic groups, improving the effectiveness of health interventions by making them more targeted and relevant. Furthermore, adopting these data-driven insights can encourage stakeholder engagement, encouraging an integrated approach to health and sustainability.
    Challenges: Relying on survey results may pose issues, such as the possibility of bias in the data collection process, which can distort results and lead to ineffective solutions. There is also the issue of survey weariness among participants, which may reduce engagement and data accuracy. Furthermore, converting survey results into real solutions takes money and ongoing stakeholder commitment, which may not always be possible.