Grassroots Democracy — Part 1: Governance — Hard

Q1. Assertion (A): The judiciary can examine whether a law passed by the legislature is fair. Reason (R): In good governance the three organs are kept separate but check one another. Choose the best option.

• A. A is true, R is false
• B. A is false, R is true
• C. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
• D. Both A and R are false

Q2. From the Fig. 10.5 table, which statement about the executive is correct?

• A. The President is the actual executive head of the Centre, the PM is nominal
• B. The Prime Minister is the executive head of the Centre; the President is the nominal head and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
• C. The Governor is the executive head of a State; the Chief Minister is nominal
• D. Both President and Governor are the real executive heads

Q3. Statement 1: Any government operates at at least two levels — local and national. Statement 2: India, like many countries, functions at three tiers — local, State and national. Which is correct?

• A. Both statements are correct
• B. Only Statement 2
• C. Only Statement 1
• D. Neither statement is correct

Q4. Which pairing of example and type of democracy is correct, according to the chapter?

• A. Electing MPs to make laws = direct democracy
• B. Whole class voting by show of hands on a picnic spot = direct democracy
• C. Voting for MLAs = direct democracy
• D. Sending one class monitor to the principal = direct democracy

Q5. If all three organs of government came under the control of a single group, what does the chapter suggest would most likely result?

• A. Perfect efficiency and harmony
• B. Automatic abolition of elections
• C. Disorder, because no organ could check the others
• D. Faster delivery of relief in floods

Q6. Which statement best captures the relationship between rules and laws as described in the chapter?

• A. All rules are laws
• B. Laws and rules are completely unrelated
• C. Laws are some of the more important rules
• D. Only schools make laws

Q7. Why did the spread of digital money transfer lead many governments to pass new laws, according to the chapter?

• A. Because post offices were closing
• B. Because citizens demanded fewer rules
• C. Because demand drafts became cheaper
• D. Because a new class of criminals found digital ways to steal money (cybercrime)

Q8. The chapter links grassroots democracy to the 'base of the pyramid' in Fig. 10.4. Which level of government does that base represent?

• A. Central government
• B. State government
• C. The judiciary
• D. Local government

Q9. A class sorts subjects into 'Centre' and 'State'. Which list is correctly placed under the Centre according to Fig. 10.5?

• A. Police, Defence, Agriculture
• B. Agriculture, Irrigation, Police
• C. Public health, Education only, Local government
• D. Defence, Foreign Affairs, Currency

Q10. Evaluate: 'No country can run without governance and government.' Which best supports this 'Before we move on' point?

• A. Governance only matters in cities
• B. Without rule-making and rule-enforcement, society could not function or maintain order
• C. Government exists only to collect mottos
• D. Only democracies need governance

Q11. In Dr. Kalam's inspiring thoughts, what did he say F.A.I.L. stands for?

• A. First Attempt In Learning
• B. Failure And Inner Loss
• C. Final Answer Is Loss
• D. Friends Always In Line

Q12. Which statement about the three organs in good governance is most accurate?

• A. They are kept separate yet interact and work together
• B. They must be merged into one body
• C. They never communicate with each other
• D. Only two of them may exist at a time

Q13. In the word 'democracy', the Greek root 'kratos' carries which meaning?

• A. People
• B. Justice
• C. Rule, or power
• D. Equality

Q14. How does the 'class monitor going to the principal' analogy explain representative democracy?

• A. One elected representative speaks for the whole group, as MLAs/MPs do for citizens
• B. It shows that no one should speak to authority
• C. It shows that direct democracy is impossible anywhere
• D. It proves the principal makes all class rules

Q15. Which conclusion is best supported by the chapter's claim that 'citizens also have a say in the laws and rules'?

• A. Citizens are powerless once laws are made
• B. Laws can be discussed and changed with citizens' participation
• C. Only the judiciary can change any rule
• D. Rules at home cannot ever be questioned