CBSE Class 10 Social Science Outcomes of Democracy VBQs

Question. People feel that democracy is better as it promotes:

(a) equality
(b) freedom
(c) dignity
(d) all of the above

Answer : D

Question. No deliberation and negotiation for taking decisions is part of
(a) democratic government
(b) non-democratic
(c) monarchy
(d) dictatorship

Answer : B

Question. Least expectation from democracy is that
(a) It cannot accommodate various social life
(b) It should produce a harmonious social life
(c) It develops procedure to conduct competition
(d) It reduces the possibility of violent tensions

Answer : A

Question. We can judge democracy by its:
(a) people
(b) outcomes
(c) political parties
(d) none of the above

Answer : B

Question. Many countries of the world claim and practice:
(a) authoritarianism
(b) democracy
(c) dictatorship
(d) none of the above

Answer : A

Question. Choose the correct statement.
(a) Democracy not to lag behind dictatorship.
(b) Democracy is not guarantee of economic development.
(c) Economic growth is better in non-Democratic government.
(d) USA is a democratic government but remarkable economic development.

Answer : B

Question. People should be vigilant and participate actively in the process of:
(a) representation
(b) governance
(c) choosing party
(d) all of the above

Answer : D

Question. Democracy attain people happiness by
(a) government function to represent general view
(b) equal distribution of resources
(c) better governance
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

Question. The successful democracy needs:
(a) right to vote
(b) freedom
(c) periodic elections
(d) all of the above

Answer : D

Question. Which country has democratic government since Independence?
(a) India
(b) Pakistan
(c) Bhutan
(d) Nepal

Answer : A

Question. Choose the wrong statement about democracy.
(a) Promotes equality among citizens
(b) Enhances the dignity of the individual
(c) Provide a method to resolve conflicts
(d) Does not have room to correct mistakes

Answer : D

Question. Democracy is preferred over dictatorship everywhere except
(a) Nepal
(b) Pakistan
(c) India
(d) Bangladesh

Answer : B

Question. Why is the democratic government regarded as a better choice?
(a) It promotes equality among citizen
(b) It ensures economic development
(c) It provides a method to resolve conflict
(d) Both a and c

Answer : D

Question. Democracy has failed on which grounds?
(a) Corruption
(b) Economic inequality
(c) Literacy rate
(d) All of these

Answer : D

Question. Democracy is felt to be not so good in its:
(a) practice
(b) outcomes
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above

Answer : C

Question. In democracy, we do come across evil practises, such as,
(a) corruption
(b) favouritism
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above

Answer : C

Question. Rule of one individual is feature of
(a) Dictatorship
(b) Monarchy
(c) Democracy
(d) Communism

Answer : A

Question. How many countries of the world have democratic setup of government?
(a) More than hundred countries
(b) Less than hundred countries
(c) Less than fifty countries
(d) More than fifty countries

Answer : A

Question. Which government is superior to any other government in promoting dignity?
(a) Monarchy
(b) Dictatorship
(c) Democracy
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. Democracy even ensures the decision-making based on:
(a) norms
(b) procedures
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above

Answer : C

Question. Rule of law is the feature of which form of government?
(a) Dictatorship
(b) Democracy
(c) Monarchy
(d) All of these

Answer : B

Question. The record of democracies is not impressive because
(a) It often frustrates the needs of the people
(b) It often ignores demands of a majority of its population
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of the above

Answer : C

Question. The political parties and democratic government is accountable to:
(a) people
(b) society
(c) world
(d) none of the above

Answer : A

Question. Democracy can lead to
(a) handle social differences
(b) secular society
(c) harmonious social life
(d) All of the above

Answer : D

FILL IN THE BLANK :

Question. Democracy has more positive outcomes than ..........

Answer : dictatorship

Question. The routine tales of .......... are enough to convince us that democrach is not free of this evil.

Answer : Corruption

Question. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and .......... .

Answer : negotiation

Question. In .......... , more than half of its population live in poverty.

Answer : Bangladesh

Question. Practically, demoracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing .......... inequalities.

Answer : economic

Question. Democracies are based on political .......... .

Answer : equality

TRUE/FALSE :

Question. Responsive and accountable government are the results of democracy

Answer : True

Question. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Answer : False

Question. The right and mans to examine the decisions taken by the government to every citizen. This helps in transparency.

Answer : True

Question. Military rule form of government has a support in genial.

Answer : False

Question. Democracy offers certain economical and social rights also.

Answer : True

Question. Democratic governments are better than its alternatives.

Answer : True

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:

Source: Dignity and Freedom of the Citizens

Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual. Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies. For societies, which have been built for long based on subordination and domination, it is not a simple matter to recognise that all individuals are equal. Take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically male dominated societies. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. That does not mean that women are actually always treated with respect. But once the principle is recognised, it becomes easier for women to wage a struggle against what is now unacceptable legally and morally. In a non-democratic set up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force there. The same is true of caste inequalities.

Question. Why does democracy stand much superior to any other form of government?
Answer. Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual. Every individual wants to receive respect from other fellow beings and if they do not get. Conflicts arise.

Question. How are respect and equal treatment of women necessary ingredients of a democratic society?
Answer. Respect and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society in the following ways:
(i) Economic independence or independence or access to an inherited or self-generated income is considered the major means of empowering women.
(ii) This provide equal political and civil rights as men.

Question. In which type of societies, it is not easy to recognise that all individuals are equal
Answer. It is not easy to recognise that all individuals are equal in the societies, which have been built because of subordination and domination.

Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follows :

Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics: they have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens. While these features are common to most of them, these democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. Clearly, what may be achieved or not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different. 
(1) Explain the fascination for democracy amongst various countries.
(2) Explain democracy on the basis of expected and actual outcome.
Answer :
(1) Fascination about democracy amongst various countries is because :
(i) It gives its people freedom of life and freedom of speech.
(ii) A democratic country has a strong economic system and all the people get equal opportunities.

(2) The actual democracies on the basis of expected and actual outcomes are explained below :
(i) Regular, free and fair elections, open public debate on major policies and legislations.
(ii) Citizens right to information about the government and its functioning.

Democracies on the basis of actual outcomes are explained below :
(i) Holding elections that offer a fair chance to everyone.
(ii) Not every decisions comes forward in a public debate.
(iii) Sharing information with people rarely happens.
(iv) Democracies have never been free of corruption and government has failed to pay attention to the needs and expectations of people.

Read the given extract and answer the following questions.

Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics: they have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens.
While these features are common to most of them,these democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. Clearly, what may be achieved or not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different. But is there something that we can expect from every democracy,
just because it is democracy?

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option.

Question : Which of the following is not the key feature of democracy?
(a) Supremacy of the constitution
(b) Written constitution
(c) Economic development
(d) Economic equality

Answer : (c) Economic development

Question :  Find out the wrong statement about democracy—
(a) It enhances the dignity of individuals
(b) Improves the quality of decision making
(c) Allows room to correct mistakes
(d) This is the ideal form of government

Answer : (d) This is the ideal form of government

Question : The main reason that people want to have democratic government in their country is—
(a) Economic development is guaranteed
(b) Government is accountable, responsive and legitimate
(c) People can go to the courts to claim their rights 
(d) Government is less corrupt

Answer : (b) Government is accountable, responsive and legitimate

Question : Democracy has not performed as per expectations in  the field of—
(a) To proves its accountability as compare to other forms of government
(b) To give responses as compare to other form of government
(c) To remove economic inequality as compare to other forms of government
(d) To keep the trust in voting system as compare to other forms of government

Answer : (c) To remove economic inequality as compare to other forms of government

Question : Read the passage below: 

Nannu is a daily wage earner. He lives in Welcome Mazdoor Colony, a slum habitation in East Delhi. He lost his ration card and applied for a duplicate one in January 2004. He made several rounds to the local Food and Civil Supplies office for the next three months. But the clerks and officials would not even look at him, leave alone do his job or bother to tell him the status of his application. Ultimately, he filed an application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress made on his application, names of the officials, who were supposed to act on his application and what action would be taken against these officials for their inaction. Within a week of filing application under the Right to Information Act, he was visited by an inspector from the Food Department, who informed him that the card had been made and he could collect it from the office. When Nannu went to collect his card next day, he was given a very warm treatment by the Food and Supply Officer (FSO), who is the head of a Circle. The FSO offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his application under the Right to Information, since his work had already been done.  

What does Nannu’s example show? What impact did Nannu’s action have on officials? Ask your parents their experiences when they approach government officials to attend to their problems.
Answer : Nannu’s example shows that government officials shun away from their duties and look for all possible excuses to get rid of their work. It’s because they have job security. Usually they work when they get pressure from their seniors or they get fear of losing job or some action being taken against them, as it happened in Nannu’s case.
Once my parents also went to a government hospital to take my grandmother to the doctor where the doctors were gossiping and having tea party with their colleagues and the patients were waiting for long for them. My father got really upset seeing all that. He went inside the C.E.O. room and complained against all the doctors who were not doing their duties properly and immediately a meeting was called and a strict action was taken against them.

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

Question : Why is there an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world?
Answer : It is because a democratic government is people’s own government.

Question : Which is the must basic outcome of democracy?
Answer : It produces a government that is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the need and expectations of the citizens.

Question : What is most distinctive about democracy?
Answer : It examination never gets over. As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. 

Question : Why do some people think that democracy produces less effective government?
Answer : According to these people democracy takes much time in decision-making and its implementation. 

Question : In which respect do democracies lag behind dictatorships?
Answer : Democracies lag behind dictatorships in economic growth. 

Question. What is a challenge?
Answer: A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge, we go up to a higher level than before.

Question. How many countries of the world are not under democratic government or have no democracy even today?
Answer: At least one-fourth of the world countries are not under democratic governments.

Question.What are different types of challenges that are being faced today?
Answer:
1. Foundational challenge.
2. Challenge for expansion.
3. Challenge of deepening of democracy.

Question. What is a foundational challenge? State one example.
Answer: Foundational challenge is related to making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regimes, keeping military away from controlling government.

Question. What is the challenge of deepening of democracy? Give examples.
Answer: The challenge of deepening of democracy involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy e.g., institutions that help people’s participation and control, to bring down the control and influence of the rich.

Question. What is the kind of challenge in Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed to take part in public activities?
Answer: Challenge of expansion.

Question. What are the ways and means for political reforms in India? Mention any two.
Answer:
1.To think of legal ways of reforming politics.,
2. To strengthen political practice.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question : Mention any two conditions that democracy must fulfil in order to achieve its outcome.
Answer : (i) It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that government can function to represent the general view.
(ii) It is also necessary that a rule by majority does not become a rule by majority in terms of religion or race or linguistic group etc. rule by majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time. 

Question : Democracy has not been successful in reducing economic inequalities. Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer : (i) The wealth and means are accumulated in hands of a few people and their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
(ii) However, the people at the bottom of society find it difficult to meet even their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health. Not only that, their incomes have been declining.
(iii) The deprived people are a large ratio of voters and no party will like to lose their votes.
(iv) Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be attentive to the cause of the poor. Thus democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. 

Long Answer Type Questions 

Question : Why is democracy preferred to other forms of government?
Answer : Democracy is better than other forms of government such as dictatorship, monarchy etc because of the following reasons:
1. It promotes equality among citizens.
2. It enhances the dignity of the individuals.
3. It improves the quality of decision-making.
4. It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
5. It allows room to correct mistakes.
6. It is a legitimate government.
7. It is people’s own government.
8. It gives equal status to women and weaker sections. 

Question : Democracy is based on dignity and freedom. Explain.
Or
How does democracy stand much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual? Explain with suitable examples.
Or
“Democracy is a better form of government than the other forms of government.” Justify the statement. 
Answer : Democracy supports dignity and freedom of the citizens. Every man wants to get respect from fellow persons in the society. A lot of conflicts take place among human beings because some feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies. We can take the case of dignity of women. Most societies across the world were historically male
dominated. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
Democratic government is legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is people’s own government. That is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. 

Question : Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations:
(a) Following a High Court directive a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door.
(b) A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India.
(c) Following allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.
Answer : (a) The challenge to democracy is to provide equal status to all citizens.
(b) The challenge to democracy is to provide farmers with subsidies which will help them earn profits and have a satisfactory level of livelihood.
(c) The challenge to democracy is to preserve the people’s trust in government armed forces like the police. 

Question : What expectations are associated with democracy?
Answer : Democracy is better than the other forms of government such as dictatorship, monarchy etc because it:
(i) promotes equality among citizens.
(ii) enhances the dignity of the individuals.
(iii) improves the quality of decision making.
(iv) provides a method to resolve conflicts.
(v) allows room to correct mistakes.
(vi) is a legitimate government.
(vii) is people’s own government.
(viii) gives equal status to women and weaker sections. 

Question : Economic development of a country depends on which factors and what is the role of democracy in it?
Answer : In matters of economic development, not all the democracies get developed because of various factors like population, lack of basic infrastructure, etc. If you consider all democracies and all dictatorships for the fifty years between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us. However, the difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible. Overall, we cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development.
Economic development depends on several factors:
(i) Country’s population size
(ii) Global situation
(iii) Cooperation from other countries
(iv) Economic priorities adopted by the country
Democracy does not appear to be successful in reducing economic inequalities. A small number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income. Their share in total income is increasing. People at the bottom of society have very little to depend on. 

Question : How are social diversities accommodated in democracies?
Or How does democracy lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens?
Answer :
i. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. However, we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracy is best suited to produce this outcome.
ii. Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic Government.
iii. Social diversities can be accommodated by deliberation, negotiation, and mutual understanding.
iv. It can be accommodated by power sharing as in the case of Belgium.

Question : What are the expected outcomes of democracy?
Answer :
i. It helps to form an accountable, responsive and legitimate Government.
ii. It brings economic growth and development.
iii. It helps to reduce inequality and poverty in society.
iv. It allows to accommodate social diversity.
v. It upholds dignity and freedom of citizens. (Explain points)

Question : Examine with the help of three examples, how dignity and freedom of citizens are best guaranteed in a democracy.
Answer :
i. In a democratic country people have the freedom to choose their representatives on the basis of universal adult franchise.
ii. Most societies across the world were historically male dominated. Equal treatment of women became the necessary requirement of a democratic society. Thus, their status in democratic countries improved.
iii. In a non-democratic setup, there is no legal basis for freedom and dignity of individuals.Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
iv. Democracy transforms people from the status of subjects under a king or a dictator to the status of citizens with rights and duties. Many Fundamental rights are granted to citizens in a democratic country.
v. One such right is the right to freedom, which is a cluster of many rights like freedom to travel anywhere, freedom to assemble anywhere, freedom to choose any profession, to choose any religion etc.