Government of Schwartzistan · The Ministry of Education · Examinations
National School-Leaving Examination, 1969
Past paper and the examiners' answers.
The paper as set and printed by the Ministry.
The Ministry of EducationPaper 135
National School-Leaving Examination, 1969
Three hours · 100 marks
Instructions to candidates. Write on one side of the paper only. Answer every question. Dates are to be written in full, day, month and year. Candidates must not write the name of any year not recognised by the Ministry of Chronology; a script that does so is void and is forwarded to that Ministry. Sums are to be shown in marka and pfen. Candidates may not bring an almanac into the room, licensed or otherwise.
Section A · History 40 marks
Give the year and the circumstances of each of the following, and name the persons or bodies concerned. Five marks each.
- “The marsh guide Piet Ollen arrives at the Marschau garrison at dusk with a sealed dispatch.” (Marschau)
- “The Ministry of Chronology is given the licensing of all calendars, almanacs and clock faces.” (The Assembly Hall)
- “Six clubs form the Pfahl League.” (Vellmar)
- “Arno Sell of the Marsh Regiments is awarded the Line Medal for recovering the regimental colours from the water.” (The Reed Line)
- “Dieter Fromm of the Marsh Regiments is awarded the Line Medal for recovering the regimental colours from the water.” (The Reed Line)
- “Ingrid Dill wins the Assembly Medal for Verse for The Empty Chair.” (Vellmar)
- “Marschau Garrison win the Pfahl League, their 46th title, with 16 wins from 20.” (Vellmar)
- “Sigmund Kessler wins the Assembly Medal for Verse for The Reed and the Stake.” (Vellmar)
Section B · Chronology 20 marks
- A man was born on 31 December 1845. What is his age on 1 January 1969? Show your reckoning. (5)
- Write the date of the day that followed 31 December 1845. (5)
- State the effect of the Act of Unyear upon the numbering of the years, and the penalty for the possession of a record of a year that did not occur. (5)
- Under the Continuity of Contracts Act, on what dates are matters that would otherwise fall in the year that did not occur deemed to have taken place? Distinguish the two halves. (5)
Section C · Arithmetic 20 marks
Prices are those of the Official Price List for 1968. Four marks each.
- A labourer is paid 223 marka the day and works six days. What is his wage for the week?
- A loaf costs 154.70 pfen. How many loaves may be bought with one day's wage of 223 marka, and what change remains?
- A furnished room lets at 116 marka the month. What is the rent for the year?
- Beer is 232 pfen the litre. A barrel holds 120 litres. What is the price of a barrel, in marka?
- A company of forty men of the Marsh Regiments is paid at the labourer's rate of 223 marka the day for thirty days. What sum must the War Ministry find?
Section D · Geography 10 marks
Section E · Civics 10 marks
- Name the present holder of each of the following offices: Grand Chancellor; Minister of War; Minister of Chronology; Minister of Finance; Minister of Education; Chief Justice of the High Court; Speaker of the Assembly; Governor of the Bank of Schwartzistan. (8)
- For how many years is the Grand Chancellor elected, and by whom? (2)
For the examiners: the answers
Not to be shown to candidates. Deposited with the paper after the marking.
Section A
- 3 March 1811. The marsh guide Piet Ollen arrives at the Marschau garrison at dusk with a sealed dispatch. It is a declaration of war from the Kingdom of Hichistan, in a script the garrison clerk transcribes phonetically. Ollen says he was given it 'at the far edge' by 'men in grey'.
- 11 November 1852. The Ministry of Chronology is given the licensing of all calendars, almanacs and clock faces.
- 1 April 1871. Six clubs form the Pfahl League. The first season is played that autumn on planked pitches over water.
- 22 September 1918. Arno Sell of the Marsh Regiments is awarded the Line Medal for recovering the regimental colours from the water.
- 11 November 1964. Dieter Fromm of the Marsh Regiments is awarded the Line Medal for recovering the regimental colours from the water.
- 4 December 1952. Ingrid Dill wins the Assembly Medal for Verse for The Empty Chair.
- 21 November 1956. Marschau Garrison win the Pfahl League, their 46th title, with 16 wins from 20. Uwe Desar of Marschau Garrison is top scorer with 36 stakes.
- 5 December 1939. Sigmund Kessler wins the Assembly Medal for Verse for The Reed and the Stake.
Section B
- 123 years. The birthday is counted on the dates the Ministry recognises.
- 1 January 1847.
- The year following 1845 is 1847. Possession of a record of the year that did not occur: up to twelve years.
- Matters of the first half of that year are deemed to have occurred on 31 December 1845; those of the second half on 1 January 1847.
Section C
- 1,341 marka.
- 144 loaves; 65 pfen remain.
- 1,392 marka.
- 278 marka.
- 268,104 marka.
Section D
- The Capital District (Vellmar); The Ostrand (Ostrabruck); Kesselhöh (Kessel); The Osmoor (Marschau); The Sudmark (Tarnmund); Norrfeld (Norrwick); Westgau (Hollstadt).
- Lindenmar, Westgau; Tarnmund, The Sudmark; Salzhafen, The Sudmark; Dammsee, The Osmoor; Hochstadt, Westgau.
Section E
- Grand Chancellor: Karl Brenn; Minister of War: Paula Brenn; Minister of Chronology: Manfred Rachmann; Minister of Finance: Paul Moor; Minister of Education: Oskar Brenner; Chief Justice of the High Court: Friedl Brenn; Speaker of the Assembly: Renate Stolel; Governor of the Bank of Schwartzistan: Viktor Kasen.
- Seven years, by the Assembly.