CBSE Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing Important Questions Set 06

Important Questions

Question 1. How and when was Sinhala recognised as the official language of Sri Lanka?
Answer:
Sinhala was recognised as the official language of Sri Lanka by passing an Act in 1956.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sinhala became Sri Lanka's sole official language via a 1956 Act.
b) This was a key step in the country's majoritarian policies.

Question 2. Which language was recognised as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956?
Answer:
Sinhala was recognised as the only official language of Sri Lanka in 1956.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sinhala alone was made the official language in 1956.
b) This excluded Tamil, alienating the Tamil-speaking minority.

Question 3. Which factor is responsible for increasing the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils?
Answer:
Majoritarianism is responsible for increasing the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

Teacher's Note:
a) Majoritarianism (imposing the majority's will) alienated Sri Lankan Tamils.
b) This included language, religion and other preferential policies favouring the Sinhala majority.

Question 4. Which type of powers does the Community Government of Belgium enjoy?
Answer:
The Community Government has power regarding culture, education and issues related to language.

Teacher's Note:
a) Belgium's Community Governments handle culture, education and language.
b) This is part of Belgium's layered, community-based power-sharing arrangement.

Question 5. State any two measures adopted by Sri Lanka in 1956 as part of their majoritarian policy.
Answer:
They declared Sinhala as the official language.
They tried to promote their religion (Buddhism).
In order to gain control over Tamil speakers, they changed the constitution and made a new constitution in their own favour.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sri Lanka's 1956 majoritarian policies included official-language and religion-promotion measures.
b) Constitutional changes further entrenched Sinhala-majority control.

Question 6. Who formed the majority in terms of population in Sri Lanka?
Answer:
The Sinhala community formed the majority in terms of population in Sri Lanka.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sinhalese form Sri Lanka's population majority.
b) Sri Lankan Tamils are the country's principal minority community.

Question 7. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala supremacy?
Answer:
The Sinhala-speaking community, who followed Buddhism, used their majority position to pass measures (such as the 1956 Official Language Act) establishing Sinhala supremacy in the country.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sri Lanka's elected Sinhala-majority government used legislation to establish Sinhala supremacy.
b) This shows how a democratic majority can still marginalise a minority community.