OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Studies on political and social inequalities in
democracy show that
(a) democracy and development go together
(b) inequalities exist in democracies
(c) inequalities do not exist under dictatorship
(d) dictatorship is better than democracy
2. Why is there a delay in decision-making and
implementation in a democracy?
(a) The government is afraid of taking decisions
(b) The government is hesitant in taking decisions
(c) Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation
(d) A democratic government is not interested in taking quick decisions
3. Democracy is a better form of government because
it
(a) promotes equality among citizens
(b) enhances the dignity of the individual
(c) provides a method to resolve conflicts
(d) all the above
4. Which of the following statements is/are
correct?
(a) Most of the democracies have constitutions, they hold elections, have
parties and they guarantee rights to citizens
(b) Democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their
social, economic and cultural achievements
(c) All democracies are similar as far as social, economic and cultural
conditions are concerned
(d) Both (a) and (b)
5. Which regime usually develops a procedure to
conduct social competition and reduce the possibility of social tension?
(a) Democratic regime (b) Dictatorial regime
(c) Non-democratic regime
(d) None of these
6. Choose the correct statement.
(a) Democracies can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different
groups
(b) Dictatorships can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different
groups
(c) No regime can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups
(d) None of these
7. Which factor is often missing from a
nondemocratic government?
(a) Efficiency (b) Effectiveness
(c) Transparency (d) None of these
8. Decisions taken by which type of government are
likely to be more acceptable to the people and more effective?
(a) Democratic government
(b) Non-democratic government
(c) Military
dictatorship (d) Theocracy
9. Why is the cost of time that democracy pays for
arriving at a decision worthwhile?
(a) Decisions are taken following due procedures
(b) Decisions are always in favour of people
(c) Decisions are more likely to be accepatable to the people and more effective
(d) None of these
10. On which of the following practices and
institutions can the accountability of government and involvement of people in
decision-making process in a democracy be
measured?
1 – regular, free and fair elections
2 – public debate on major policies and legislations
3 – citizens’ right to information about government and its functioning.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
11. There is one respect in which a democratic
government is certainly better than its alternatives. What is it?
(a) Efficiency (b) Decision making
(c) Legitimacy (d) None of these
12. Which among the following has a higher rate of
economic growth and development?
(a) Democracies (b) Dictatorships
(c) All non-democratic regimes
(d) Monarchies
13. Which of the following statements is correct
regarding the distribution of economic benefits in democracies?
(a) Incomes of both the rich and the poor have been increasing
(b) Incomes of both the rich and the poor have been declining
(c) Incomes of the rich have been increasing and those of the poor have been
declining
(d) None of the abvoe
14. In which among the given countries half of the
population lives in poverty?
(a) India (b) Sri Lanka
(c) Bangladesh (d) Pakistan
15. Which regime is best suited to accommodate
social diversity?
(a) A democratic regime
(b) A non-democratic regime
(c) Only a dictatorial regime
(d) None of these
16. Which regimes often turn a blind eye to or
suppress internal social differences?
(a) Democratic regimes
(b) Non-democratic regimes
(c) Monarchy (d) Oligarchy
17. Which among the following countries is a
perfect example of accommodation of social diversity?
(a) Sri Lanka (b) Belgium
(c) Saudi Arabia (d) Pakistan
18. Democracy stands much superior to any other
form of government in promoting
(a) economic growth
(b) dignity and freedom of the individual
(c) economic equality
(d) None of these
19. Which of these values have the moral and legal
sanctions in a democracy?
(a) Gender equality
(b) Caste-based equality
(c) Economic equality
(d) Both (a) and (b)
20. In the context of democracies, which of the
following ideas is correct? Democracies have successfully
(a) eliminated conflicts among people
(b) eliminated economic inequalities among people
(c) eliminated differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to be
treated
(d) rejected the
idea of political inequality
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1.
How does
democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
2.
What are the
conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
3.
Some people
think that democracy produces a less efficient and effective government. Do you
agree with their view?
4.
Democracy is
often blamed for providing a corrupt regime. Give your views.
5.
‘Democratic
government is a legitimate government.’ Comment.
6.
Is democracy
best suited to economic growth and development? Substantiate your views.
7.
“Democracy is
the better form of government.” Support the statement with three arguments.
8.
Examine with the
help of three examples how the dignity and freedom of citizens are best
guaranteed in a democracy.
QUESTIONS FROM CBSE EXAMINATION PAPERS
1.
What are the
differences between democratic and non-democratic governments in the decision
making process?
2.
‘Democracy is an
accountable, responsive and legitimate form of government’. Explain.
3.
Explain with
examples how democracy can accommodate diversity.
4. ‘‘Democracy
promotes dignity and freedom of citizens’’. Explain.
5.
Explain how a
democracy produces a legitimate government. Give
three
points.
6.
‘‘The fact that
people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of Democracy”.
Justify the statement with
three
appropriate points.
7.
How do political
parties shape public opinion? Explain with three examples.
8.
‘‘There
is
lack of internal democracy within the political parties’’. Justify the statement
with three arguments.
9.
‘‘Do democracies
lead to a just distribution of goods and opportunities?’’ Justify your answer by
three suitable arguments.
10.
‘‘Democracy
stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and
freedom of an individual.”. Explain.
11.
Explain any
three demerits of democracy.
12.
‘‘Most negative
feature of democracy is that its examination never gets over.” Support the
statement with three arguments.
13.
Why do people
prefer democracy? Explain any three reasons.
14.
Examine any
three conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities.
15.
What is the main
outcome of democracy with reference to reduction of inequality and poverty? Give
any two arguments to support your answer:
16.
Why is a
democratic government considered better than dictatorship? Explain any three
reasons.
17.
Explain any
three main social outcomes of democracy.
18.
Explain any
three conditions that democracies must fulfil in order to accommodate
diversities and divisions.
19.
Examine any
three features on the basis of which maximum number of countries claim to
practice democratic politics?
20.
‘‘Democracies
lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens’’. Support your answer with
three appropriate arguments.
21.
‘‘In actual
life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic
inequalities.’’ Support this statement giving three arguments.
22.
How are
complaints treated as testimony to success of democracy? Explain any three
points.
23.
‘‘The general
assessment to find democracy better than its alternative form of governments
appears to be exactly correct’’. Support the statement with three facts.
24.
In what three
ways does democracy maintain the dignity of the citizens? Explain.
25.
‘‘The most basic
outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable
to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citzens’’
Support the statement.
26.
‘‘Democracy
means delay in decision making’’. Justify the statement with any three
arguments.
27.
Mention the
political outcomes of Democracy.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1.
‘Ability to
handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is a definite plus point of
democratic regimes.’ How far do you agree with this idea?
2.
Explain any four
features that are common in all democratic set-ups of the government.
3.
Discuss the
merits and demerits of democracy in the light of your study of the chapter.
4.
‘Democracy
stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and
freedom of the individual.’ Discuss.
5.
Give arguments
to support or oppose the following assertions:
(i) Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health
and education, and spend more on industries and infrastructure.
(ii) Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need
dictatorship to become rich.
(iii) Democracy can’t reduce social and economic inequality.
(iv) What is most distinctive about democracy is that its examination never gets
over.
(v) A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of
the democratic project.
(vi) Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens. Support
this statement with examples.
(vii) Why is democracy known as a better form of government? Explain four
reasons.