CAPE CARIBBEAN STUDIES
PAST PAPER REVIEW
2003
SHORT PAPER

QUESTION 1

Plural society is a term used by some authors to describe society and culture in the Caribbean today. Explain what is meant by plural society.

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

A plural society is one in which many racial and ethnic groups live , however they tend to live separate lives, where there is little or no social interaction with each other.

QUESTION 2

Plantation society is another term used to describe Caribbean society and culture. Briefly describe TWO features of a plantation society.

(4 marks)

RESPONSE

Low level of community integrationHierarchical class relationsUnstable family organizationMonocrop society or dependent on one main industry.

QUESTION 3

Outline TWO practices of people living in the Caribbean that have contributed to accelerated soil erosion.

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

OvergrazingDeforestationPloughing up and down hillsides

QUESTION 4

Describe TWO methods of soil conservation that may be used to combat the problem of soil erosion.

(4 marks)

RESPONSE

Contour ploughingReforestation practices

QUESTION 5

Name TWO territories where there are still significant numbers of indigenous peoples living today.

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

GuyanaBelizeDominicaSuriname

QUESTION 6

Give TWO explanations for the pattern of distribution of indigenous peoples in the Caribbean today.

(4 marks)

RESPONSE

The virtual genocide of the indigenous peoples by the Europeans accounts for their very small numbers.The fact that the Carib descendants came in after the Arawaks accounts for their existence in the lower half of the chain.

QUESTION 7

Describe THREE ways in which the education of Caribbean nationals abroad has influenced Caribbean culture.

(6 marks)

RESPONSE

FoodDressIdeologies

QUESTION 8

Describe THREE ways in which enslavement of people in the Caribbean has contributed to the erasure of their cultural practices.

(6 marks)

RESPONSE

Genocide of the AmerindiansThe conversion of the Amerindians to ChristianityAfricans giving up their native customs because of harsh treatment by European slave masters.African slavery bringing together persons from different tribes on a plantation, and the effects of the process.

QUESTION 9

Social and economic equalization is one index of development. Explain briefly what this term means.

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

The difference between social classes in terms of the income earned and the quality of life experienced.

QUESTION 10

Increase in modern knowledge is also widely accepted as an index of development. Explain briefly what this term means.

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

This refers to the modernizing institutions such as schools and factories, who through the use of technology are thought to promote urban, industrialized societies.

QUESTION 11

State the difference between the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) an the Gross National Product (GNP).

(2 marks)

RESPONSE

GDP is the total market value of the output (goods and services) of a country in a given year, whereas GNP is the value of output plus any income derived from abroad.

QUESTION 12

Describe TWO factors or relationships, in Caribbean countries that tend to maintain inequitable patterns in the distribution of wealth.

(6 marks)

RESPONSE

Technological not everyone has access to the benefits that can be derived from technology, especially in terms of advertising businesses.Social nepotism in society or prejudices that may prevent people from certain areas from moving up the social ladder.

QUESTION 13

State what is meant by the term urbanization.

(1 mark)

RESPONSE

This refers to an increase in the population of a country living in the urban and periurban (just on the outskirts of) area.

QUESTION 14

Explain TWO positive effects that urbanization has had on development in the Caribbean.

(4 marks)

RESPONSE

Cultural development in all the art forms tends to have a better chance of flourishing in areas where there are large numbers of persons who can participate and pay the artistes for their services and products.More persons exposed to urban values, which promote the idea of development.

QUESTION 15

Identify ONE negative effect that urbanization has had on development in the Caribbean.

(1 mark)

RESPONSE

Rise in crimeTraffic congestionLand degradation

QUESTION 16

It is a common complaint of sportsmen and sportswomen in the Caribbean that they cannot achieve the full professional status that they seek in various sporting disciplines. Suggest THREE factors that prevent such individuals from becoming fully professional.

(6 marks)

RESPONSE

Lack of sporting facilities for trainingLack of sporting scholarships availableLack of adequate funding and investment in the sport, especially for females.

QUESTION 17

Identify TWO examples of social injustice in the Caribbean and show how EACH can impact negatively on economic growth and development.

(6 marks)

RESPONSE

Gender inequalities has stifled ambitions and the potential of professional women and the contributions they could make to development.Child abuse leads to a deterioration in family life, and produces individuals who become a charge of governments and of social welfare organizations.