Chapter 13: Power Sharing — Online MCQ Test
SOCIAL SCIENCE · Grade 10 · CBSE(NCERT)
Practice Chapter 13: Power Sharing with a free chapter-wise online MCQ test.
This chapter covers: Power sharing Democracy Horizontal division Vertical division Majority rule Minority rights Community government Coalition government Political stability.
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Chapter 13: Power Sharing — Important Questions & Answers
Power sharing is desirable in a democracy mainly because it helps to:
- A. Increase the chances of conflict among social groups
- B. Reduce the possibility of conflict among social groups
- C. Give all powers to one community
- D. Remove elections from the political system
Answer: B. Reduce the possibility of conflict among social groups
Power sharing reduces social conflict by giving different groups a voice in governance. This is one of its prudential reasons.
Power sharing reduces social conflict by giving different groups a voice in governance. This is one of its prudential reasons.
Which country is discussed in the chapter as an example of accommodation of social differences through power sharing?
- A. Sri Lanka
- B. Belgium
- C. Pakistan
- D. Nepal
Answer: B. Belgium
Belgium adopted power-sharing arrangements to accommodate linguistic and regional differences. This helped avoid major conflict between communities.
Belgium adopted power-sharing arrangements to accommodate linguistic and regional differences. This helped avoid major conflict between communities.
In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking people are mainly found in the region of:
- A. Wallonia
- B. Flemish region
- C. Brussels only
- D. German border region only
Answer: B. Flemish region
The Dutch-speaking majority lives mainly in the Flemish region of Belgium. Wallonia is mainly French-speaking.
The Dutch-speaking majority lives mainly in the Flemish region of Belgium. Wallonia is mainly French-speaking.
The official language Act of 1956 in Sri Lanka recognised which language as the only official language?
- A. Tamil
- B. English
- C. Sinhala
- D. French
Answer: C. Sinhala
The Sinhala Only Act of 1956 recognised Sinhala as the only official language. This ignored the interests of the Tamil-speaking population.
The Sinhala Only Act of 1956 recognised Sinhala as the only official language. This ignored the interests of the Tamil-speaking population.
Which statement best describes the moral reason for power sharing?
- A. It helps governments collect more taxes
- B. It is the very spirit of democracy
- C. It always gives power to the majority community
- D. It reduces the number of political parties
Answer: B. It is the very spirit of democracy
The moral reason says power sharing is valuable because democracy involves participation of all. People have a right to be consulted on how they are governed.
The moral reason says power sharing is valuable because democracy involves participation of all. People have a right to be consulted on how they are governed.
A country has a central government, state governments and local governments, each with its own powers. This is an example of:
- A. Horizontal power sharing
- B. Vertical power sharing
- C. Majoritarianism
- D. Dictatorship
Answer: B. Vertical power sharing
Sharing power among different levels of government is vertical power sharing. Federal systems like India follow this arrangement.
Sharing power among different levels of government is vertical power sharing. Federal systems like India follow this arrangement.
Belgium and Sri Lanka had social divisions, but their outcomes were different mainly because:
- A. Belgium denied voting rights to minorities while Sri Lanka shared power
- B. Belgium adopted accommodation while Sri Lanka followed majoritarian policies
- C. Sri Lanka had no linguistic groups while Belgium had many
- D. Both countries followed identical power-sharing methods
Answer: B. Belgium adopted accommodation while Sri Lanka followed majoritarian policies
Belgium accommodated regional and linguistic differences through power sharing. Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies increased ethnic conflict.
Belgium accommodated regional and linguistic differences through power sharing. Sri Lanka's majoritarian policies increased ethnic conflict.
A Tamil-speaking student in Sri Lanka after 1956 would most likely feel discriminated against because:
- A. Tamil was made the only official language
- B. Sinhala was made the only official language and Sinhala applicants received preferences
- C. Belgium introduced a community government
- D. All communities were given equal cultural rights
Answer: B. Sinhala was made the only official language and Sinhala applicants received preferences
The Sinhala Only Act and preferences for Sinhala applicants in jobs and education disadvantaged Tamils. These policies strengthened majoritarianism.
The Sinhala Only Act and preferences for Sinhala applicants in jobs and education disadvantaged Tamils. These policies strengthened majoritarianism.
Consider the statements: I. In Belgium, the state governments are subordinate to the central government. II. In Belgium, many powers were given to state governments and they are not subordinate to the central government. Which is correct according to NCERT?
- A. Only I is correct
- B. Only II is correct
- C. Both I and II are correct
- D. Neither I nor II is correct
Answer: B. Only II is correct
Belgium transferred many powers to regional governments, and these governments are not subordinate to the central government. This is part of its federal power-sharing arrangement.
Belgium transferred many powers to regional governments, and these governments are not subordinate to the central government. This is part of its federal power-sharing arrangement.
Which option correctly identifies the prudential reason for power sharing?
- A. It is good because it is the basic principle of democracy
- B. It is good because it reduces the possibility of social conflict and ensures political stability
- C. It is good because it removes the need for public participation
- D. It is good because it makes majority domination permanent
Answer: B. It is good because it reduces the possibility of social conflict and ensures political stability
The prudential reason focuses on practical benefits such as reducing conflict and ensuring stability. The moral reason focuses on democracy's basic value of participation.
The prudential reason focuses on practical benefits such as reducing conflict and ensuring stability. The moral reason focuses on democracy's basic value of participation.