An original Thinka practice paper modelled on the structure and difficulty of the 2025 HKDSE History paper. Not affiliated with or reproduced from HKDSE.
卷一 (Data-Based Questions)
本卷全部試題均須作答。
4 題目 · 60 分
題目 1 · Data-Based Questions
15 分
1. Social welfare and administrative improvements in Hong Kong during the 1970s Study Sources A and B.
SOURCE A The following table shows the Hong Kong Government's annual expenditure on social services and education as a percentage of total government expenditure between 1971 and 1979.
SOURCE B The following extract is adapted from an official speech delivered by Governor Sir Murray MacLehose to the Legislative Council in October 1973.
"The expansion of our public housing programme is not merely an engineering task; it is the essential basis for family health, communal stability, and self-respect in our community. A community living in overcrowded, squalid conditions cannot be expected to develop a strong sense of civic pride or trust in local institutions. At the same time, we are moving ahead with establishing an independent anti-corruption agency to ensure clean governance. Economic growth alone cannot guarantee social harmony; public funds must be actively channelled into public welfare, free compulsory primary education, and better medical clinics to build a cohesive and secure Hong Kong."
(a) According to Source A, identify one main trend in the Hong Kong government's spending priorities during the 1970s. Cite one clue from Source A to explain your answer. (3 marks)
(b) With reference to Source B, identify two justifications given by Governor MacLehose for increasing government expenditure on social programmes. (4 marks)
(c) 'Governor MacLehose\'s governance in the 1970s marked a fundamental shift from non-interventionist rule to proactive social reform.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to Sources A and B, and using your own knowledge of Hong Kong's development in the 1970s. (8 marks)
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解題
(a) Trend: A steady and continuous expansion in government spending on social welfare, education, and housing relative to total public expenditure throughout the 1970s. Clue: For example, social welfare spending rose from 2.1% in 1971-72 to 6.2% in 1979-80, while housing and community development increased from 7.8% to 15.5%.
(b) Justifications from Source B: 1. Cultivating civic pride and communal stability: MacLehose argued that adequate housing was essential for family health and civic self-respect, noting that overcrowded squalor prevented people from trusting local institutions. 2. Fostering social harmony and good governance: He noted that economic growth alone was insufficient and that direct public investment in education, medical clinics, and anti-corruption agencies was necessary to maintain stability and trust.
(c) Assessment of the shift in governance: - Agree (proactive social reform): Source A demonstrates systematic increases in welfare, education, and housing expenditure. Source B shows a clear philosophy prioritizing public well-being, clean governance (ICAC, 1974), and compulsory education (expanded to 9 years in 1978). Own knowledge confirms the Ten-year Housing Programme (1972), New Town developments (Sha Tin, Tuen Mun), Home Ownership Scheme (1976), and labor legislation improvements. - Counter-perspective / Continuity: The government still upheld fiscal prudence, low direct taxation, and 'positive non-interventionism' (coined by Philip Haddon-Cave in the 1970s), avoiding Western-style universal welfare entitlement.
評分準則
(a) [3 marks] - Identification of a valid trend (e.g. rising share of social spending across the board) (1 mark) - Clear quotation/data citation from Source A to support the identified trend (2 marks)
(b) [4 marks] - Identification and elaboration of first justification with reference to Source B (2 marks) - Identification and elaboration of second justification with reference to Source B (2 marks)
(c) [8 marks] - Level 3 (6–8 marks): Balanced and in-depth discussion assessing both the extent of proactive reform and continued laissez-faire/positive non-interventionist principles; effective use of Sources A and B and extensive historical knowledge (e.g., 9-year free education, ICAC, Ten-Year Housing Programme, New Towns). - Level 2 (3–5 marks): Unequal or one-sided argument, general use of sources with limited historical knowledge. - Level 1 (1–2 marks): Superficial answer relying purely on sources or personal knowledge with minimal historical grounding.
題目 2 · Data-Based Questions
15 分
2. The Late Qing Reforms and the 1911 Revolution in China Study Sources C and D.
SOURCE C The following is an excerpt from a memorial submitted by Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai to the Qing Imperial Court in 1905 requesting the abolition of the imperial civil service examination system (keju).
"The reason China has remained impoverished and weak in the present world is that modern knowledge has not spread among our people. The traditional examination system requires candidates to memorise ancient essays and compose eight-legged essays, which are completely divorced from modern statecraft, military affairs, industrial manufacturing, and international law. As long as the civil service examination remains the sole ladder of social advancement, ambitious talents will not enter modern schools. To save the country from national peril, the examination system must be abolished immediately so that the nation's youth can wholeheartedly devote their energy to modern scientific, technical, and political education in new schools."
SOURCE D The following table lists selected political associations, newspapers, and events organized by Chinese reformers and revolutionaries between 1900 and 1911.
| Year | Event / Organisation | | :--- | :--- | | 1902 | Liang Qichao founded the New Citizen Journal (Xinmin Congbao) in Yokohama, Japan, advocating constitutional monarchy. | | 1905 | Sun Yat-sen united several revolutionary bodies to establish the Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance) in Tokyo, putting forward the Three Principles of the People. | | 1906 | The Qing court issued an imperial decree announcing preparations for constitutional governance (Yubei Lixian). | | 1908 | The Qing court promulgated the Outline of the Imperial Constitution (Qinding Xianfa Dagang), granting paramount executive and military authority to the Emperor. | | 1911 (May) | The Qing court established the 'Imperial Clan Cabinet' (Huangzu Neige), in which eight out of thirteen ministers were Manchu nobles. | | 1911 (Oct) | The Wuchang Uprising broke out, igniting the 1911 Revolution. |
(a) According to Source C, why did Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai propose the immediate abolition of the imperial civil service examination system? (3 marks)
(b) Based on Source D, identify two major political approaches pursued by Chinese intellectuals and politicians to transform China's government between 1900 and 1911. Cite one piece of evidence from Source D for each approach. (4 marks)
(c) 'The Late Qing Reforms (1901–1911) inadvertently accelerated the downfall of the Qing Dynasty rather than preserving it.' Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to Sources C and D, and using your own knowledge. (8 marks)
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解題
(a) Reasons in Source C: 1. The traditional examination focused on archaic memorisation and eight-legged essays that were detached from practical modern needs (science, industry, statecraft, military). 2. It hindered modern education: as long as keju remained the main path to prestige and office, students would not enroll in modern schools, thus perpetuating national weakness.
(b) Two approaches from Source D: 1. Constitutional monarchism / Reformism: Advocated by figures like Liang Qichao through publications (New Citizen Journal, 1902) and constitutional preparations enacted by the Qing court (1906). 2. Armed revolution / Republicanism: Advocated by Sun Yat-sen and the Tongmenghui (1905), aiming to overthrow the Qing monarchy through uprising (Wuchang Uprising, 1911).
(c) Evaluation of the prompt: - Agree (accelerated downfall): Educational reform (Source C) produced a new class of modern intellectuals and students who were receptive to revolutionary ideas. Military reforms created the New Army (Xinjun), which became the backbone of the Wuchang Uprising. Constitutional deceit (Source D, e.g. the 1908 Imperial Constitution preserving imperial power and the 1911 'Imperial Clan Cabinet') alienated moderate constitutionalists and gentry, pushing them toward supporting the revolutionaries. - Counter-perspective / Modernisation efforts: The Late Qing Reforms genuinely introduced institutional modernisation (abolition of keju, modern ministries, establishment of provincial assemblies, legal codes), but failed due to bad timing, imperial insincerity, and deep ethnic distrust.
評分準則
(a) [3 marks] - Accurate explanation of the flaws of the traditional examination system (1-2 marks) - Clear link to the need to promote modern school education/national salvation (1-2 marks) (Total max: 3 marks)
(b) [4 marks] - Identification and evidence for Approach 1 (e.g. Constitutional Reform / Liang Qichao / 1906 decree) (2 marks) - Identification and evidence for Approach 2 (e.g. Armed Revolution / Sun Yat-sen's Tongmenghui / Wuchang Uprising) (2 marks)
(c) [8 marks] - Level 3 (6–8 marks): Balanced discussion that evaluates how reforms backfired (New Army turning against Qing, gentry alienation over railway nationalisation and Imperial Clan Cabinet, radicalized students) versus constructive modernising intentions; well supported by Sources C, D, and extensive historical facts. - Level 2 (3–5 marks): One-sided analysis or descriptive narrative with limited integration of sources. - Level 1 (1–2 marks): Irrelevant or poorly supported statements.
題目 3 · Data-Based Questions
15 分
3. The League of Nations and the breakdown of collective security in the 1930s Study Sources E and F.
SOURCE E The following is an excerpt from the Covenant of the League of Nations adopted in 1919.
"Article 10: The Members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all Members of the League. In case of any such aggression or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression, the Council shall advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.
Article 16: Should any Member of the League resort to war in disregard of its covenants... it shall ipso facto be deemed to have committed an act of war against all other Members of the League, which hereby undertake immediately to subject it to the severance of all trade or financial relations... It shall be the duty of the Council in such case to recommend to the several Governments concerned what effective military, naval or air force the Members of the League shall severally contribute..."
SOURCE F The following is adapted from a British political cartoon published in 1935 concerning the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
In the cartoon, a large lion labeled 'League of Nations' is shown sitting at a table with its claws completely wrapped in thick bandages labeled 'Economic Sanctions without Oil' and its teeth labeled 'Committees of Inquiry'. Outside the door, a fierce armed figure representing Mussolini marches forward carrying a sword, stepping on a scroll titled 'Abyssinian Independence'. In the background, British and French delegates are seen whispering to each other, with one saying: "We must not push him into Hitler's arms!"
(a) According to Source E, what collective security measures were available to the League of Nations against an aggressor state? (3 marks)
(b) What was the cartoonist's attitude towards the League of Nations' handling of the Abyssinian Crisis in Source F? Cite two clues from Source F to support your answer. (4 marks)
(c) 'Structural weaknesses within the League of Nations were more responsible for its failure in the 1930s than the self-interested policies of Britain and France.' Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to Sources E and F, and using your own knowledge of international relations in the period 1931–1939. (8 marks)
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解題
(a) Measures available in Source E: 1. Respecting and preserving territorial integrity through Council advice (Article 10). 2. Imposition of automatic economic and financial sanctions (severance of trade and financial relations) (Article 16). 3. Recommending military, naval, or air forces from member states to enforce the covenant (Article 16).
(b) Cartoonist's attitude in Source F: Critical / Mocking / Condemnatory of the League's ineffectiveness and cowardice. Clues: 1. The League is depicted as a toothless, clawless lion with its claws bound in 'Economic Sanctions without Oil' and teeth labeled 'Committees of Inquiry', showing its actions were feeble and non-threatening. 2. British and French delegates prioritize appeasing Mussolini ('We must not push him into Hitler's arms!') while Mussolini openly destroys Abyssinian sovereignty.
(c) Evaluation of structural flaws vs. British and French self-interest: - Structural flaws of the League: Lack of a standing military force (Source E only 'recommends' force); requirement for unanimity in the Council; absence of key powers (the USA never joined, USSR joined late and was expelled, Germany and Japan withdrew in 1933). - Role of British and French self-interest: Both powers prioritized national interests and appeasement over collective security. E.g., during the Manchurian Crisis (1931), the League only sent the Lytton Commission without meaningful sanctions; during the Abyssinian Crisis (1935), Britain and France excluded oil from sanctions and secretly devised the Hoare-Laval Pact; both ignored the remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1936) and the Munich Agreement (1938).
評分準則
(a) [3 marks] - Identification of economic/financial sanctions from Source E (1 mark) - Identification of military contribution recommendation/Council advice from Source E (1 mark) - Clear explanation showing how they function collectively (1 mark)
(b) [4 marks] - Identification of the cartoonist's negative/critical attitude (2 marks) - Citation and explanation of two relevant visual/textual clues from Source F (2 marks)
(c) [8 marks] - Level 3 (6–8 marks): Comprehensive evaluation balancing structural institutional flaws (e.g. no armed force, unanimous voting, absence of USA) against major powers' pursuit of national interest/appeasement (Hoare-Laval Pact, Manchuria, Abyssinia, Munich); effective synthesis of Sources E and F with historical knowledge up to 1939. - Level 2 (3–5 marks): Focuses mainly on one side of the argument or offers descriptive narration without rigorous comparative weighting. - Level 1 (1–2 marks): Vague or inaccurate understanding of the League's mechanisms and history.
題目 4 · Data-Based Questions
15 分
4. Superpower confrontation and the Berlin Crises during the Cold War Study Sources G and H.
SOURCE G The following is an excerpt from a speech by US President John F. Kennedy delivered in West Berlin on 26 June 1963.
"Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us. I know of no town, no city, that has been besieged for eighteen years, that still lives with the vitality and the force, and the hope and the determination of the city of West Berlin.
While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it, for it is an offence not only against history but an offence against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together."
SOURCE H The following table outlines key events regarding Germany and Berlin between 1948 and 1961.
| Year | Event | | :--- | :--- | | 1948–49 | The USSR blocked Western access to Berlin (Berlin Blockade); the Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift. | | 1949 | Formation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany). | | 1955 | West Germany joined NATO; the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact. | | 1958 | Soviet Premier Khrushchev issued an ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Western troops from Berlin within six months. | | 1959–61 | Over 200,000 East Germans fled annually to West Germany through the open border in Berlin, causing a severe 'brain drain' of skilled workers and professionals. | | 1961 (Aug) | The East German government, supported by the USSR, constructed the Berlin Wall to halt emigration to the West. |
(a) According to Source G, what were two criticisms made by President Kennedy against the construction of the Berlin Wall? (3 marks)
(b) With reference to Source H, explain two underlying reasons why the Soviet Union and East Germany constructed the Berlin Wall in August 1961. (4 marks)
(c) 'The crises over Berlin in the period 1948–61 demonstrated that ideological confrontation was the primary driver of the Cold War in Europe.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to Sources G and H, and using your own knowledge of the Cold War up to 1961. (8 marks)
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解題
(a) Criticisms in Source G: 1. It was a tangible proof of the failure and oppressive nature of the Communist system, showing that it had to imprison its own people to keep them from fleeing. 2. It constituted an offence against humanity and history by tearing families apart (separating husbands, wives, siblings) and dividing a unified people.
(b) Reasons from Source H: 1. Massive population loss / 'Brain drain': Between 1959 and 1961, over 200,000 skilled workers and professionals fled every year via the open border in Berlin, severely undermining East Germany's economy. 2. Strategic and military pressure: Berlin remained an enclave deep within the Soviet bloc; Soviet attempts to force the West out (1958 ultimatum) had failed, making physical containment necessary to stabilize East Germany.
(c) Evaluation of ideological confrontation vs. other factors (geopolitics, security, economic considerations): - Ideological confrontation: Source G clearly frames Berlin as a battleground between Western freedom/democracy and Soviet communist tyranny. Capitalism vs. Communism shaped the division of Germany into two rival states (FRG vs. GDR in 1949). - Geopolitical and security concerns: Source H highlights strategic bloc competition (NATO in 1955 vs. Warsaw Pact). The USSR sought buffer security against a rearmed West Germany. Economic disparities (Marshall Plan vs. Comecon) and practical demographic collapse (the refugee crisis) compelled the USSR to act.
評分準則
(a) [3 marks] - Identification of ideological criticism (failure/weakness of communism) (1-2 marks) - Identification of humanitarian criticism (division of families/offence to humanity) (1-2 marks) (Total max: 3 marks)
(b) [4 marks] - Identification and explanation of the demographic/economic factor ('brain drain' / refugee exodus) with reference to Source H (2 marks) - Identification and explanation of the political/strategic confrontation (failed ultimatum / stabilizing GDR) with reference to Source H (2 marks)
(c) [8 marks] - Level 3 (6–8 marks): Balanced discussion analyzing the significance of ideological rivalry alongside geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors (e.g. Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, German rearmament, NATO/Warsaw Pact); coherent use of Sources G, H, and historical knowledge of the period 1948–1961. - Level 2 (3–5 marks): One-sided focus on ideology or military factors alone; narrative response with limited analytical comparison. - Level 1 (1–2 marks): Fragmentary answer lacking depth and historical accuracy.
“Government policies were far more important than external factors in driving Hong Kong’s economic transformation in the period 1950–1980.” Comment on the validity of this statement. Explain your answer.
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解題
A high-scoring answer should evaluate both dimensions before arriving at a justified conclusion:
1. Arguments supporting the importance of government policies: - Positive non-interventionism: Maintained a low-tax regime, free port status, and free flow of capital, attracting foreign direct investment. - Infrastructure and housing: Construction of resettlement estates and public housing (e.g., Shek Kip Mei, Ten-Year Housing Programme) provided low-cost accommodation, stabilising wages and production costs for export-oriented light industries. - Industrial support and trade promotion: Establishment of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and industrial estates provided institutional backing. - Education and technical training: Expansion of primary, secondary, and vocational education supplied a literate, skilled workforce.
2. Arguments supporting the importance of external / non-governmental factors: - Outbreak of the Korean War and UN Embargo (1950–1951): Abruptly halted entrepôt trade with Mainland China, compelling Hong Kong to switch to export-oriented industrialisation (textiles, plastics, electronics). - Influx of mainland capital, technology, and labour: Entrepreneurs (notably Shanghainese textile industrialists) brought machinery, capital, and managerial skills; refugees provided abundant, adaptable, and cheap labour. - Favourable international economic climate: Post-WWII economic expansion in Western markets (e.g., the US, Western Europe) provided vast consumer demand for Hong Kong’s manufacturing exports. - Preferential trade systems: Commonwealth Preference tariff arrangements offered competitive export advantages in British Empire markets.
3. Conclusion: A balanced synthesis demonstrating that while external catalysts created the necessity and opportunities for transformation, pragmatic colonial government policies provided the essential stability and infrastructure that enabled Hong Kong to capitalise on those opportunities.
評分準則
Marking Criteria (Total: 15 marks):
- 13–15 marks: Exceptional answer with comprehensive historical knowledge across 1950–1980. Demonstrates clear, balanced evaluation comparing government policies with external factors. Arguments are logically structured, well-supported with specific historical evidence, and conclude with an insightful assessment. - 10–12 marks: Competent and balanced answer covering both aspects. Sound historical knowledge with good examples, though analysis may be slightly less thorough or the conclusion slightly less developed. - 7–9 marks: Fair attempt, but exhibits some imbalance (e.g., focusing heavily on government policies while neglecting external factors, or vice versa). Narrative tends to describe rather than analytically evaluate relative importance. - 4–6 marks: Weak answer showing limited historical knowledge or major chronological gaps. Essay is largely one-sided, assertive, or descriptive with little sustained argumentation. - 1–3 marks: Very poor answer displaying serious factual errors, vague generalisations, or significant misunderstanding of the question prompt. - 0 marks: Completely irrelevant or blank.
題目 2 · essay
15 分
“Economic integration in Western Europe after the Second World War was primarily motivated by security concerns rather than economic benefits.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer with reference to the historical developments in the period 1945–1992.
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解題
A high-scoring answer should systematically compare security motivations and economic incentives across the period 1945–1992:
1. Arguments supporting security concerns as the primary motive: - Prevention of future European wars: The Schuman Declaration (1950) and European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, 1951) sought to make Franco-German war 'not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible' by pooling war-making resources (coal and steel). - Cold War containment of Communism: Western European integration was reinforced by US Marshall Plan aid (OEEC) and NATO to build a robust Western bloc capable of resisting Soviet expansionism. - Anchoring West Germany: Economic structures (ECSC, EEC) provided a peaceful framework to integrate West Germany into the Western alliance without threatening its neighbours.
2. Arguments supporting economic benefits as the primary motive: - Post-war economic recovery and reconstruction: Need to overcome post-war devastation, dollar shortage, and trade bottlenecks through mutual cooperation. - Elimination of trade barriers: The Treaty of Rome (1957) established the European Economic Community (EEC), aiming for a common market, customs union, and common agricultural policy (CAP) to achieve economies of scale and boost living standards. - Global economic competitiveness: By the 1980s, the Single European Act (1986) and Maastricht Treaty (1992) were largely driven by the desire to compete effectively against economic rivals such as the US and Japan by ensuring the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labour.
3. Conclusion: A balanced synthesis recognising that security and political reconciliation served as the initial driving catalyst in the 1940s–1950s, but economic self-interest and global competitive pressures increasingly became the sustained engine of integration through the 1970s and 1990s.
評分準則
Marking Criteria (Total: 15 marks):
- 13–15 marks: Excellent analysis providing a balanced and comprehensive assessment spanning 1945 to 1992. Effectively compares security/geopolitical drivers with economic/commercial incentives using precise historical milestones (e.g., ECSC, EEC, Single European Act, Maastricht). Clear and logical synthesis. - 10–12 marks: Solid analysis covering both security and economic factors with relevant historical evidence. Good chronological scope, though one aspect or period may be slightly less elaborated. - 7–9 marks: Moderate answer. May focus excessively on early developments (1950s) while neglecting later stages (1980s–1992), or argue one side with insufficient engagement with the alternative view. - 4–6 marks: Limited answer characterized by general narrative descriptions rather than analytical comparison. Demonstrates gaps in knowledge regarding key European integration treaties and institutions. - 1–3 marks: Very poor answer containing factual errors, severe irrelevance, or unsupported claims. - 0 marks: Completely irrelevant or blank.
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