GP Tuition Notes

by Mr Irwin See

Analysis of Answers for GP Paper 2 Exercise #10

(Nostalgia)

1. The author is implying that nostalgia was seen as a condition to stay away from or the reason for
melancholy, and thus, it was completely negative regardless of the degree it was experienced.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

2. The word ‘rose-tinted’ means seeing the world only in positive ways, and here, it suggests that peace
was overly-idealized by the soldiers, who merely remembered the positive aspects of peace.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

3. The author means that nostalgia is commonly experienced by many around the world, and hence, it is
a shared sentiment of humankind.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

4. The first effect is that nostalgia spurs people to better relate to others and promotes community
cohesion. The second effect is that nostalgia serves as a solution for individuals who experience
solitude and social detachment.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

5. The author uses brackets to provide additional information that nostalgia can be used not merely for
alleviating social conditions, but also employed for medical treatments.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

Click: www.irwins-study.com | Call: 98-333-156 | Come: Tampines & Bukit Timah

 GP Tuition Notes
by Mr Irwin See

6. (See Summary Answers at the end)

7. The author’s purpose is to use two analogies to help readers understand that nostalgia functions like
both a pathway and a bank account. Firstly, just like how the brain gets used to functioning in certain
ways over time, similarly, nostalgia is a process of picking specific memories that we want to revisit, in
order to solidify positive experiences with the passage of time. Secondly, just as an inexhaustible bank
account is limitless and never runs out of resources, in the same way, nostalgia can be used to build up
a collection of memories that can be revisited endlessly and is always accessible.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

8. The author describes storytellers as ‘professional nostalgics’ as they are proficient in using the feelings
of nostalgia because their livelihoods depend on their ability to think differently from the rest and in
more unconventional ways.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

9. The author means that nostalgic memory is both painful and pleasurable in that while nostalgic
memory is often associated with grief and dejection, at the same time, it also reminds us of the
significance of loved ones whom we have lost and the close relationships we once enjoyed.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

10. The ‘danger’ that the author is referring to is the fact that nostalgia can be exploited by others to
make people act in ways that they would normally not, if they were thinking properly.
*Useful points to take note of:

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the answer!)

Click: www.irwins-study.com | Call: 98-333-156 | Come: Tampines & Bukit Timah

 GP Tuition Notes
by Mr Irwin See

6. Summary Question (ANSWERS)

# Points from the Passage Paraphrased Points

1 Nostalgia seems to be a kind of inbuilt…(line 19) *NATURAL
OR Nostalgia benefits us because it is an
Nostalgia spontaneously rushes in…(line 22) innate/inherent/inborn/natural response/tool
2 neurological defense mechanism (line 19) *PROTECTIVE
OR
which can be marshalled to protect us…(line 20) guards against/shields us/fortifies us/buffers us from
OR
as a defence against the present…(line 46)

3 against negative thoughts…(line 20) *THOUGHTS/EMOTIONS

anxiety/worry/despair/pessimism
4 and situations (line 20) *CIRCUMSTANCES
OR
Particularly in times of hardship and difficulty… posed by threatening/unfavourable circumstances
OR OR
uncomfortable states…(line 21)
during painful/intolerable/harsh/trying/unbearable
OR
through difficult periods…(line 45) times

5 Nostalgia compensates for…(line 21) *TRANSFORMS

OR
counteracts these things…(line 23) Nostalgia neutralizes/mitigates/lessens/transforms the
OR impact/pain/harm/suffering/trauma
…posed as a redemption sequence…(line 42)

6 …can temporarily affect your perceived body state *TIME/PERCEPTION

(line 26)
OR momentarily change/shift our
…to temporarily alter their perception of the state perspectives/mindsets/views of our current situations
they were in…(line 30)
OR
…the temporary change in perception (line 31)

7 …allowed them to crucially persevere just a bit longer *MENTAL STRENGTH

(line 31)
OR helps us to hold on further/endure through stressful
…which are correlated with mental fortitude (line 34) times
OR
…and in doing so it perhaps builds resilience (line 36)

8 Nostalgia helps build resources like optimism (line 34) *FUTURE

OR
…and a hope for the future (line 46) boosts positivity/expect better prospects

9 …or inspiration (line 34) motivates/encourages/spurs/drives us

10 …or creativity (line 34) promotes resourcefulness/imagination/ingenuity

Click: www.irwins-study.com | Call: 98-333-156 | Come: Tampines & Bukit Timah

 GP Tuition Notes
by Mr Irwin See

11 Nostalgia grounds us…(line 35) anchors us/stabilizes us/gives us a realistic perspective

12 …and gives us a base (line 35) provides a yardstick/standard/benchmark

13 …on which to evaluate the present as a temporary to make us realize that the present is short- lived/
state (line 36) transient/will not last forever/is not permanent

14 ...reminding them (children) to think of happier assists children in remembering more

moments (line 45) joyful/pleasant/blissful times/memories

15 …also builds gratitude (line 52) develops a thankful/appreciative spirit

16 …and connectedness towards others (line 52) growing closer to others/better relate to
others/empathize with others
17 …and tends to make children less selfish (line 53) makes them less self-centred/inconsiderate

Sample Summary Answer

Nostalgia benefits us because it is an [innate response]1 which helps us to [guard against]2

[pessimism]3. By [momentarily changing our perspectives of our current situations]6, nostalgia [mitigates
the painful impact]5 [brought about by unfavourable circumstances]4, hence [allowing us to endure through
stressful times]7. Moreover, nostalgia [boosts positivity]8, [spurs us on]9, and [promotes resourcefulness]10.
Consequently, we are able to [be anchored in reality]11 as [we have a yardstick to compare the present and
the past]12 leading us to [realize that the present is not permanent]13. With regard to children, nostalgia
serves to [help children remember more blissful times]14 and in the process, [develops in them a thankful
spirit]15 while [allowing them to better empathize with others]16, and thus [making them less self-
centred]17. (117 words)

(*Do join our GP tuition lessons at www.irwins-study.com for an in-depth explanation of the Summary
Question & Application Question answer!)

Click: www.irwins-study.com | Call: 98-333-156 | Come: Tampines & Bukit Timah