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A-Level Biology Tuition Singapore/H2 Biology Tuition/JC Biology Tutor

REVISING H2 Biology FOR ‘A’ LEVELS IN 3 STEPS

Topic 8 – Isolating, Cloning and Sequencing DNA

1. Describe the natural function of restriction enzymes.

2. Outline the procedures for cloning a eukaryotic gene in a bacterial plasmid leading to the production of a named protein.

3. Explain how the problem of using prokaryotic bacteria to express a eukaryotic protein is solved.

4. Distinguish between a genomic DNA and cDNA library.

5. Discuss the polymerase chain reaction.

6. Discuss the advantages and limitations of the polymerase chain reaction.

7. Discuss gel electrophoresis.

8. Outline the process of southern blotting.

9. Discuss the use of RFLPs in the following:
a. Genomic mapping
b. Disease detection
c. DNA fingerprinting

10. Discuss the goals, benefits and ethical implications of the Human Genome Project.

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A-Level Economics Tuition Singapore/H2/H1 Economics Tuition

Hi H2/H1 Economics Tuition Students

Demand and Supply Essay

A viral infection destroys a few major sugar cane plantations in many countries.
(a) In the light of the above statement, explain how this can lead to a sharp rise in the price of sugar. [10]
(b) Evaluate the measures taken by the government to help the consumers cope with the sharp rise in the price of sugar. [15]

Part (a)
Introduction
Define demand and supply
Demand is the willingness and ability of consumers to buy a particular good per period of time.
Supply is the willingness and ability of producers to produce and sell a good in a given time period.

State direction of answer:
Price of sugar is determined by intersection of demand and supply curves. Any change in demand or supply will affect the equilibrium price.

Body
Point of Discussion

1:The infection will reduce supply of sugar cane and shift the supply curve to the left, leading to an increase in the price of sugar cane.
E/E
As sugar cane is a factor of production of sugar, cost of producing sugar will increase. Hence, it becomes less profitable to produce sugar and the supply of sugar will drop.

Draw Graph Price Vs Quantity

At the original price of 0P0, there is a shortage. When there is a shortage, it means that the quantity supplied is less than the quantity demanded. Those consumers who could not get the goods will bid a higher price for them. The shortage will exert an upward pressure on the price. At the same time, some consumers may not be willing to pay the higher price. So, they will reduce their quantity demanded. Sellers will also increase their quantity supplied in response to the increase in price. Thus, as price rises, quantity demanded

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A Level GP/General Paper Tuition Singapore

’The arts disturb while the sciences reassure.’ How true is this?

Anyone who has watched the dark psychological thriller released this year, ‘Black Swan’, will certainly remember Natalie Portman’s ballerina character’s horrific descent into insanity, as a result of being forced to adopt a persona in a performance so unlike her originally sweet, gentle personality. Her terrifying hallucination of droplets of blood appearing on the bathtub and manic fearing of the many twisted self-portraits she had painted and hung on her bedroom wall sent many
stomachs in the audience churning, who, yet, were unable to prise their eyes away from the tragedy unfolding in front of them. This is a prime example of the sheer ability of the arts to disturb, as it exposes sides and shades of human nature when pushed to its utmost limits, and makes us wonder, secretly, if we too are indeed capable of such emotions. Science, on the other hand, due to its dealings with tangible, concrete entities and definite formulas and theories, seems to be of a
more stable, constant nature, and is thus more reassuring to our human minds. However, due to the large scope of issues that the spheres of science and arts entail, as well as our human ability to turn the uses of the sciences and the arts either for comfort-giving or disturbing purposes, it cannot be said that the sciences completely provide a reassuring salve from the inconstancy of our world, nor can the arts be attested to be only capable of unsettling us.

Proponents of the view may say that the arts have the ability to unseat us due to its dealings with controversial issues and opinions usually silenced in the mainstream media prior to their expression while the sciences have bestowed upon us many inventions that have made our lives
more comfortable and convenient, and also because the sciences deal with concrete formulas and ideas accepted by the public until and if they are refuted by a new discovery. Indeed, the play ‘Blackbird’ performed by the Singapore Repertory Theatre last year elicited a slew of shocked,
horrified and undoubtedly disturbed responses from the audience, unsettled by the portrayal of a younger girl’s sexual relationship with a much older man. Emma Yong’s unforgettable portrayal of that girl, Una, coming back after many years to her former lover, not for revenge, for she still loves him and is unsure of the purpose of their meeting – disturbs audiences firstly because of the touchy, usually avoided issue of romantic relationships between people of widely disparate ages, as well as its clever sidestepping of our human sense of justice, and revenge against our oppressors and purveyors of evil. Emma Yong’s vulnerability as the girl onstage probably made the audience inadvertently wonder at the complexities of the human heart which they might never grow to understand, and thus inevitably brought some measure of unsettlement due to the ‘unknown’ rearing its head. In contrast, the sciences seem to have brought us not only reassurance of the mind in the definite, concrete formulas we learn of in Chemistry – an acid mixed with water will be diluted in that proportion – but also material comforts which technology has brought us in the 20th century, be it the efficient public transport system Singapore enjoys, our air-conditioned office buildings, or even the medical processes of In-Vitro fertilisation that have brought many a barren couple much joy at seeing a child they thought they would never be able to conceive. However,
what these creations of art and scientific innovations hold in common is the fact that both were initiated by human beings – and we, therefore, wield the power to ensure either the reassurance or disturbance, of both the spheres of the sciences or arts.

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A-Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/H2 Chemistry Tuition/JC Chemistry Tutor

Glossary of Terms

1. State
A concise answer with little or no supporting argument, e.g. a numerical answer that can be obtained ‘by inspection’ is required.

2. List
A number of points, generally each of one word, with no elaboration is required. Where a given number of points is specified, this should not be exceeded

3. Explain
Reasoning or some reference to theory is required (depending on the context)

4. Describe
State in words (using diagrams where appropriate) the main points of the topic. It is often used with reference either to particular phenomena (where answers should include reference to observations associated) or to particular experiments.

5. Discuss
A critical account of the points involved in the topic should be provided.

6. Outline
Be concise i.e. restrict the answer to giving the essentials only.

7. Predict
Make a logical connection between other pieces of information. Such information may be wholly given in the
question or may depend on answers extracted in an early part of the question.

8. Deduce
Used in a similar way as predict except that some supporting statement is required, e.g. reference to a law/principle, or the necessary reasoning is to be included in the answer

9. Comment
It is an open-ended instruction, inviting one to recall or infer points of interest relevant to the context of the question, taking account of the number of marks available.

10. Suggest
It is used in two contexts, i.e either to imply that there is no unique answer (e.g. in chemistry, two or more substances may satisfy the given conditions describing an ‘unknown’), or to imply that candidates are
expected to apply their general knowledge to a ‘novel’ situation, one that may be formally ‘not in syllabus’.

11. Find
Can be interpreted as calculate, measure, determine etc

12. Calculate
A numerical answer is required. In general working should be shown.
Note:The misuse of units and/or significant figures is liable to penalty.

13. Determine
It implies that the quantity cannot be measured directly but is obtained by calculation, substituting measured and known values of other quantities into a standard formula.

14. Sketch
When applied to graph work, the shapes and/or position o the curve need only be qualitatively correct but some quantitative aspects (e.g. passing through the origin, having an intercept at a particular value) may be looked for.

In diagrams, a simple and freehand drawing is acceptable but care should be taken over proportions and the clear exposition of important details.

15. Construct
Often used in relation to chemical equations where one is expected to write a balanced chemical equation,not by factual recall but by analogy or by using information in the question.

16. Compare
Both similarities and differences between things or concepts should be provided.

17. Classify
Group things based on common characteristics.

18. Recognise
Often used to identify facts, characteristics or concepts that are critical (relevant/appropriate) o the understanding of the situation, event, process or phenomenon.

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A-Level Mathematics Tuition Singapore/JC Maths/H2 Math Tuition and Tutor

Hi A-Level/H2 Math Students

A Level Mathematics – Final Lap
Date Day Time Remark
26-Oct Sat 5.30pm to 7.30pm Pure Math Preparation
2-Nov Sat 5.30pm to 7.30pm Pure Math Preparation
9-Nov Sat 5.30pm to 7.30pm Statistics Preparation

Please contact Hp 98639633 for Exam Based Questions

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A-Level Physics Tuition Singapore/H2 Physics Tuition/JC Physics Tutor

Hi A-level/H2/JC Physics Tuition students

A Level Physics – Final Lap
Date Day Time Remark
2-Nov Sat 7.30pm to 9.30pm Planning
9-Nov Sat 7.30pm to 9.30pm P2 Preparation
16-Nov Sat 7.30pm to 9.30pm P3 Preparation
23-Nov Sat 7.30pm to 9.30pm P1 Preparation
26-Nov Tue 10am to 12pm P1 Preparation

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O Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/Chemistry O Level Tuition/Tutor

Energy Changes

Important Definitions

1. An exothermic reaction is a reaction that gives out heats energy to the surroundings.

2. An endothermic reaction is a reaction that absorbs heat energy from the surroundings.

3. Activation energy is the minimum energy that reacting particles must posses in order for a chemical reaction to take place.

4. An clergy profile diagram is used to show the activation energy of a reaction.

5. A fuel is a substance that burns easily in air to give out heat energy.

6. A fuel cell is a chemical cell in which the chemical energy of a fuel is converted directly into electrical energy.

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O-Level Singapore/O-Level/Physics and Chemistry Tuition/Physics Tutor

Key Points – Sound

1. Sound is a longitudinal wave produced by a vibrating source in a medium. It comprises compression and rarefaction.

2. Unlike electromagnetic waves, sound waves cannot travel through vacuum. They requires a medium to propagate.

3. The speed of the sound depend on the type of medium it travels in. Sound travels faster in solids, followed by liquids and travels the slowest by in gases.

4. The speed of sound is 330 m/s

5. The speed of sound increases when the temperature of the air increases.

6. The loudness of the sound increases as the amplitude increases.

7. The pitch of the sound wave increases as the frequency increases.

8. When sound is reflected after striking a hard surface, an echo is formed.

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O-Level Singapore/O-Level/Pure Physics Tuition/Physics Tutor

Key Points – Sound

1. Sound is a longitudinal wave produced by a vibrating source in a medium. It comprises compression and rarefaction.

2. Unlike electromagnetic waves, sound waves cannot travel through vacuum. They requires a medium to propagate.

3. The speed of the sound depend on the type of medium it travels in. Sound travels faster in solids, followed by liquids and travels the slowest by in gases.

4. The speed of sound is 330 m/s

5. The speed of sound increases when the temperature of the air increases.

6. The loudness of the sound increases as the amplitude increases.

7. The pitch of the sound wave increases as the frequency increases.

8. When sound is reflected after striking a hard surface, an echo is formed.

For more key points and exam based questions with full worked solution, please contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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O-Level Additional Mathematics Tuition Singapore

S3 – Revising Logarithms and Practice Exam base questions

S4 – Revising Integration and its application and practice 2008 O level Papers

One.Tuition Place wishing all the Best to students taking Additional Mathematics on 24/10 and 25/10.

If you need help please in this topic contact Mr Ong @9863 9633

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O Level E Maths Tuition Singapore/Tuition O Level E Maths/Tutor

S3 – Teaching Coordinate Geometry Part 1 and practice exam questions

S4 – Revising Statistics practice 2008 O Level Papers

One.Tuition Place wishing all the Best to the students taking Elementary Mathematics on 22/10 and 23/10.

From O-Level Elementary Mathematics Singapore Tutor

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A-Level Biology Tuition Singapore/H2 Biology Tuition/JC Biology Tutor

REVISING H2 Biology FOR ‘A’ LEVELS IN 3 STEPS

Topic 7 – Diversity and Evolution

1. Discuss the binomial nomenclature of a species and hierarchical classification.

2. Describe the classification of species into taxonomic groups.

3. Explain the various concepts of the species.

4. Explain how species are formed with reference to geographical isolation, physiological isolation and behavioural isolation.

5. Explain the relationship between classification and phylogeny.

6. Explain why variation is important in selection.

7. Explain, with examples, how environmental factors act as forces of natural selection.

8. Explain how natural selection may bring about evolution.

9. Explain why the population is the smallest unit that can evolve.

10. Explain how homology supports Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

11. Explain how biogeography and the fossil record support the evolutionary deductions based on homologies.

12. Explain the importance of the use of genome sequences in reconstructing phylogenetic relationships.

13. State the advantages of molecular methods in classifying organisms.

14. Explain how genetic variation may be preserved in a natural population.

15. Briefly describe the neutral theory of molecular evolution.

For exam based questions and solutions, please contact Hp @9863 9633

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A-Level Economics Tuition Singapore/H2/H1 Economics Tuition

Hi H2/H1 Economics Tuition Students

Sample Essay DD and SS

1. “Motorists face more misery at petrol pumps as oil prices hit record high. The government has proposed to use price controls and subsidies to curb the problem.”

(a) Explain why the price of oil would increase. [10]

Suggested Answer:

1(a) Analysis of Question (to be done in 1-2 mins)

Command word:
Explain – requires you to select and apply economic concepts and principles (in this case dd/ss analysis) to analyse the rise in price of oil

Key word:
Price – to look at demand and supply factors that would cause the price to increase

Key word:
Increase – Note to talk about a rise in the price of oil

Question requirement
This question requires you to clearly explain how the causes (dd and ss factors) lead to the effect (increase in oil price), (Causal Link)

Schematic Plan (to be done in 2-3 mins)

Increase in oil price —-> Increase in demand
– global expansion
– rising national income in emerging countries
– expectations of future increase in prices
——–> Price of oil increase

Increase in oil price —-> Fall in supply
– depletion of oil resources
– political tension in the Middle East has limited oil production
– OPEC cut back SS to increase price
——-> Price of oil increase

Write out full essay (to be done by following closely to the outline in 15 mins)

Introduction:
Define key concepts
The price of a commodity like such as oil is determined by demand and supply conditions where demand is defined as the amount of goods consumers are willing and able to buy in a given period of time, at a given price, ceteris paribus whereas supply is defined as the amount of goods producers are willing and able to sell in a given period of time, at a given price, ceteris paribus. Therefore, changes in demand and supply conditions will cause changes in the price of oil. An equilibrium price occurs when the quantity demanded by consumers is equal to the quantity supplied by producers. A rise in the price of oil can either be caused by an increase in demand for oil or a decrease in supply for oil or both. In this essay, we will be looking at both the demand and supply factors that influence the price of oil to change.

Body: Factor 1 – Global expansion (DD)

The global economic growth has led to an increase in the demand for fuel to power production in most countries. This global economic growth is due to the global expansion. As a country’s output and production increase, the demand for a raw material like oil would increase as well since oil is needed to run the machinery in the plants and factories. Rising national income and strong economic growth would in turn induce optimism in investors who would increase their investment, thus increasing production and the demand for oil. These would thus lead to an increase in the demand for oil, causing the demand curve to shift right from D0 to D1 as shown in Figure 1. During the immediate period, quantity demanded Q2 is greater than quantity supplied Q0 resulting in an initial shortage of Q0Q2 at the original price level P0. In the short run, this shortage will exert an upward pressure on price as unsuccessful buyers are willing to pay a higher price for oil. However, as price rises, there are some consumers who are not willing to pay the higher price. Thus, quantity demanded for oil falls along the demand curve D1. On the other hand, as price rises, quantity supplied will increase along the supply curve S0 as producers are motivated to supply more oil as their profit level will rise when consumers are willing to pay a higher price. Eventually, a new market equilibrium is reached at point E1. This shows that due to global expansion, the equilibrium price and quantity of oil has increased from P0 to P1 and from Q0 to Q1 respectively.

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A-Level Chemistry Tuition Singapore/H2 Chemistry Tuition/JC Chemistry Tutor

TO Master to PERFECTION before A’levels – Part 3

4. Electrochemistry
• Predict qualitatively how the value of an electrode potential varies with the concentration of the aqueous ion
*Could be a disguised change e.g.adding NaOH (aq) to ppt. Mn+.

Refer to our consolidated list last term

5. Chem Eqm
• Apply LCP to deduce qualitatively (from appropriate information)
the effects of changes in concentration, pressure or temperature, on a system at equilibrium.
• Deduce whether changes in concentration, pressure or temperature or the presence of a catalyst affect the value of the equilibrium constant for a reaction

E.g. Given Kc ↑ when temp ↓, predict if reaction is exo/endo.
6. Ionic Eqm
• Explain the choice of suitable indicators for acid-base titrations,given appropriate data
• Explain how buffer solutions (i)control pH (ii) describe and explain
their uses, including the role of H2CO3/HCO3– in controlling pH in
blood

3 main points.
With equations with SINGLEHEADED arrows

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A Level GP/General Paper Tuition Singapore

IS OUR AGING AND SHRINKING CITIZEN POPULATION REALLY SUCH AN URGENT ISSUE?

Last year, our first cohort of Baby Boomers, those born after the Second World War in 1947, turned 65. Between now and 2030, over 900,000 Baby Boomers or more than a quarter of our present citizen population will enter their silver years. By 2025, our citizen population will start to shrink if we do nothing. At a Total Fertility Rate of 1.2, for every 100 Singaporeans in this generation, there will be 60 Singaporeans in the next generation, and only 36 in the generation after that. And this poses a huge challenge to the sustainability of our Singaporean core population.

What does this mean for the lives of Singaporeans? For our seniors, many will continue to live active, healthy lives. But as age catches up, they and their families will want the assurance that their needs can be met, and that there will be enough care-givers and health workers to look after them.

Today, our Singaporean workforce is still growing, slowly. But as our Baby Boomers retire, and fewer school leavers enter the workforce, our citizen workforcewill start shrinking by 2020. What does this mean? Today, we have 5.9 working-age citizens for each citizen aged 65 and above. By 2030, this will fall to 2.1, or roughly one-third. We can mitigate this by creating more opportunities for Singaporeans to continue working beyond the current retirement age. But, the support ratio will still fall significantly.

What does this mean for Singaporeans? Higher taxes on those working, to fund subsidised healthcare for a much larger number of seniors. Slower business activity and less investment in new sectors leading to fewer job and career opportunities. Young Singaporeans may decide to leave for more exciting opportunities in other growing cities. This would hollow out our population and workforce further. This is a real worry not just on a national level, but for parents too who wonder whether their children will go abroad in search of better opportunities, and they will be left here alone here during their silver years.

Take Japan as an example. In 2011, 23.3 percent of Japan’s population was aged 65 years and above, the highest in the world. In 2011, for the first time, Japan’s largest diaper maker, Unicharm Corporation, reported that it sold more adult diapers in Japan than baby diapers.
Japan moved from an aging population as defined by the World Health Organisation where 7% are over 65, to an aged population where 14% are over 65, in 24 years. This is much faster than Italy, which took 61 years, Sweden 85 years, and France 115 years.4 So Japan took 24 years. Singapore will age even faster, taking just 18 years to make the same transition. We are projected to be an “aged” population by 2016.Japan’s population started falling in 2005, and is expected to fall by one
million people every year in the coming decades. The Japanese population will shrink by around 30 percent by 2060, with 40% above the age of 65.7

The social and economic implications are enormous. Singapore is a much smaller country with a much smaller population and economy. If we do not take decisive actions now to sustain our Singaporean core population, we will decline more quickly and sharply than Japan.

In conclusion, our shrinking and aging citizen population would cause serious trouble for the further development of the nation due to the lack of manpower and pool of talents. Hence its is critical and urgent to make sure some efforts are made by the government to solve this issue for the long term benefit of the country.

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