A Level H2 History Practice Paper 1

A-Level History H2 Examination - Source Based Skills

Name: _________________________ Class: _________________________ Date: _________________________ Score: ________ / 60

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Total Marks: 60

Instructions:

• Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
• For source-based questions, read each source carefully before answering.
• Marks are indicated in brackets at the end of each question.
• You should spend approximately 4–5 minutes per 10-mark question and 8–10 minutes per 20-mark question.

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Section A: Source Comparison and Reliability (Questions 1–10)

Source A: Adapted from a speech by the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Adam Malik, at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, 1976. He stated: "ASEAN was born out of a shared desire for economic development and regional stability. Our primary goal is to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region."

Source B: Adapted from a 1975 academic article by a Western historian, Dr. Michael Leifer, titled "ASEAN and the Security of Southeast Asia." He argued: "The founding of ASEAN in 1967 was fundamentally a political and security response to the perceived threat of communist expansion. Economic cooperation was a convenient public rationale, but the core motivation was anti-communist alignment."

Source C: Adapted from a 1967 internal memorandum from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declassified in 1995. It noted: "While public statements emphasize economic and cultural cooperation, the underlying strategic purpose of this association is to present a united front against the spread of communism in Indochina. We must be cautious not to appear as a military alliance."

Source D: Adapted from a 1970 speech by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, at the United Nations General Assembly. He declared: "ASEAN is a testament to the peaceful intentions of its members. It is not a military pact. It is an organization dedicated to the well-being of our peoples through economic and social cooperation."

Source E: Adapted from a 1998 retrospective analysis by a Singaporean diplomat who was involved in ASEAN's founding. He recalled: "In 1967, the Cold War was at its height. The Vietnam War was escalating. All five founding members were staunchly anti-communist. While we spoke of economic cooperation, the unspoken bond was our shared fear of communist takeovers. Economic development was the means; political survival was the end."

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Question 1 (10 marks)

(a) Compare and contrast the evidence provided by Sources A and B on the motivations for the founding of ASEAN.

[Answer space – 10 lines]

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