Theme B: Paper 1 Section B Part 1

Question 1

What are the command words you might see in short answer questions?

Answer 1

The command words include: which, give, identify, name, explain, and suggest.

Question 2

What does the command word ‘identify’ require?

Answer 2

‘Identify’ requires you to give a point or example without further development.

Question 3

What does the command word ‘explain’ require?

Answer 3

‘Explain’ requires you to make a point and then develop it to show your understanding.

Question 4

What does the command word ‘suggest’ require?

Answer 4

‘Suggest’ requires you to show your understanding when reasons are less clear cut.

Question 5

Identify one reason why a coalition government might be formed after an election.

Answer 5

If no single party has a working majority.

Question 6

Explain two differences between the Labour and Liberal Democrat party philosophies.

Answer 6

1. The Liberal Democrats are more libertarian than Labour, committed to individual freedom, while Labour supports more government intervention.
2. Labour favours raising higher tax rates to pay for services, claiming to be the party of working people, whereas the Liberal Democrats say they are not as closely linked to any social class.

Question 7

Which of these formally appoints Black Rod?

Answer 7

A. The monarch.

Question 8

Name one stage that a bill has to go through in the House of Commons before it receives Royal Assent.

Answer 8

Report stage.

Question 9

Which of these is not a job of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 9

C. Deciding when to raise interest rates.

Question 10

Suggest one advantage for the government of using indirect taxation rather than direct taxation.

Answer 10

Indirect taxes are cheaper to collect.

Question 11

What are party philosophies about?

Answer 11

Party philosophies are about the principles members support, not specific details that may change with each election.

Question 12

What is the role of Black Rod?

Answer 12

The role is a senior officer in the House of Lords with responsibility for major ceremonial events, and is officially appointed by the monarch.

Question 13

What do ‘name’ questions test?

Answer 13

‘Name’ questions test recall of knowledge and do not need development.

Question 14

Who controls interest rates?

Answer 14

Interest rates are controlled by the Bank of England.

Question 15

Explain two advantages of having the House of Lords as a ‘revising chamber’.

Answer 15

This question requires you to provide advantages without further development.