The Palaeolithic Period started 2.5 to 2 million years ago. This is the earliest
period of man's history that is marked by the use of tools made of chipped
stone. It ended about 10,000 years ago. Cave paintings from this period
consistently show an absence of people attacking people. The hunter-gatherer
were generally peace loving. When groups started to grow large enough to cause
conflict, man's ancestor is supposed to have migrated out of Africa, 1.8 million
years ago. Modern man appeared on the scene only about 200,000 years ago.
Man's progress to civilization continued in the Mesolithic period, Neolithic
period, Bronze Age and Iron Age. Each period saw a steady increase in the
sophistication of weapons and warfare. It would almost look as if fighting wars
is an innate quality of the human being. Man's civilisation truly started when
he started to look for peace and peaceful co-existence.
Today, the world has rapidly become much smaller. How is this possible? Just
fifty years ago, it took much longer for news to reach the far corners of the
world. Today, with the mobile phone and internet technology, it is not just news
that reaches us in real time, as they occur, but we also get to see the events
live.The various avenues of social media give the world's citizen direct
access to people all over the world. This is a new phenomenon that has gained
ground over the last decade. This also means that people get to share their
concerns, values and interests. The social media has had a direct impact on the
values and beliefs of cultures around the world. Knowledge of conditions and
values in each country are freely available to today's generations.
Compared to 5 decades ago, people are more pro-active about their basic rights.
They also hold companies and governments accountable to transparency. For
example, the days of secretly testing experimental drugs on the unsuspecting
peoples of poorer countries is a thing of the past. In fact, today there are
activists who demonstrate against the testing of experimental drugs even on lab
animals. This is just one example of righteous demonstrations that occur all
over the world. People have moved on from human rights to animal rights.
Demonstrations occur in places like the United States when the police force is
perceived to use excessive force when apprehending suspects to a crime. Social
responses and social unrest are not a matter of a few people shouting slogans.
Whole communities, towns and cities can go into shut-down because of such social
disturbances.
Disillusionment with the authorities today leads to demonstrations all over the
developed world. It is only in the less developed countries, where there isn't
as much freedom, that we do not see as many social uprisings. Demonstrations can
easily get out of hand due to the instant information retrieval that comes from
the use of social media.
When employees' unions announce strikes in the developed countries, their
freedom to do so are guaranteed by their legal rights. The unions are not
responsible for the losses incurred by the employer. In today's world, these
losses can be massive because most successful companies are massive because of
mergers and globalisation.
The above mentioned are just a small representation of the how there can be a
lack of peace even in the absence of war. We in Malaysia are lucky that we do
not have such problems. This is a result of the responsible governments that we
have had over the years. The needs and rights of citizens and employees are
guaranteed without the need of unions having to go on strike.
The non-confrontational approach that has proven so successful in our history is
more valuable than we can imagine. The value of the peace that exists here can
truly be appreciated when we imagine a situation where it has disappeared, and
people are protesting and agitating all the time. This is true of many
countries, where there are strikes and demonstrations nearly every day. The
pasar malams and al fresco dining that is very common throughout Malaysia is a
true example of how peaceful the country and its people are. Inter-racial and
inter-religious tolerance and acceptance are typically Malaysian.
This can surely be emulated elsewhere.
Gone are the days when governments went to war. Today, terrorist organisations
wage insidious war without the limitations of national boundaries. It is up to
each citizen to be alert to misguided individuals and to report them to the
relevant authorities before our invaluable peace is destroyed. |
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Answer the following questions using complete
sentences |
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1. |
From paragraph 1, what
reveals the fact that pre-historic man did not attack each other in the
Paleolithic Period ? |
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2. |
(a) From paragraph 2, what
were the intervening periods in man's history between the Paleolithic
period and today ?
(b) From paragraph 2, why do
you think a period in man's history is called the Iron Age ? |
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3. |
(a) From paragraph 3, how has access
to news changed in the last fifty year ?
(b) From paragraph 4, give two
examples of how today's generations benefit from the availability of social
media. |
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4. |
(a) From paragraph 5, do you
think it is alright to test drugs on lab animals ? Give your opinion.
(b) It is up to each citizen
to be alert to misguided individuals and to report them to the relevant
authorities. What do you understand by this statement ? |
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5. |
'This can surely be emulated elsewhere.'
What is the characteristic of Malaysia that is worthy of emulation
elsewhere ?
Characteristic :
Reason: |
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6. |
Based on the passage, write a
summary of :
• The benefits of peace in
Malaysia
• The curse of war |
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| Answers |
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1. |
Cave paintings from that period consistently show an absence of scenes
of man attacking man. |
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2. |
(a) They were the Mesolithic
period, Neolithic period, Bronze Age and Iron Age
(b) It was a time when man
learned how to use iron to make weapons and utensils. ( Any suitable
answer ) |
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3. |
(a) Fifty years ago, news was
slow to reach people. Today, news is disseminated around the world as
events unfold.
(b)
(i) Social media helps people
share their concerns, values and interests.
(ii) With social media, the
conditions and values in each country are freely available to today's
generations. |
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4. |
(a) It may be a necessary
evil. It is imperative that drugs are tested on animals before humans
are allowed to use them. It is the use of lab animals to test cosmetic
products that is reprehensible. ( Any suitable answer )
(b) Terrorists organisations
infiltrate societies all over the world and wreak havoc on nations.
Hence, for the sake of peace and the country, it is important that we
are alert to spot these misguided who do not worry about killing
innocent citizens. ( Any suitable answer ) |
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5. |
Characteristic: The
characteristic of Malaysia that is worth emulating is the inter-racial
and inter-religious tolerance and acceptance.
Reason: Malaysian have worked
together so well to make the country one of the most progressive and
peaceful countries in the world. Malaysia has become a preferred
destination for migrants from many Asian countries because of our peace
and prosperity.
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6. |
Malaysia is a prime example of peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
Different races live together in peace and harmony despite the
differences of religion and culture. The nation's history since
attaining independence 58 years ago shows tremendous improvement in all
sectors. Since independence, there has been hardly any reason for the
people to agitate and demonstrate the government. Peace and harmony
consciously promoted by both the government and the people has meant
that the country has become one of the most progressive of nations. The
curse of war and civil strife in their home nations has meant that for
many Asians, Malaysia is a preferred destination to find and peaceful,
harmonious and profitable existence. During war millions risk their
lives fleeing to look for other places to build a life. |
