Power Sharing Class 10 MCQ Questions With Answers
Question 1.
Which one of the following is a major caste group of Sri Lanka?
(A) Christian and Tamil
(B) Buddhist and Hindu
(C) Sinhali and Tamil
(D) Sinhali and Christian
Answer:
(C) Sinhali and Tamil
Explanation:
Sri Lanka is few kilometres off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu. The major social groups are the Sinhalese and the Tamils.
Question 2.
Modern democracies maintain check and balance system. Identify the correct option based on the horizontal power sharing arrangement.
(A) Central government, state government, local bodies
(B) Legislature, executive, judiciary
(C) Among different social groups
(D) Among different pressure groups
Answer:
(B) Legislature, executive, judiciary
Explanation:
Power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary, this is known as horizontal distribution of power because it allows these organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
Question 3.
Which language is spoken by majority of Sri Lankans?
(A) Tamil
(B) Sinhala
(C) Hindi
(D) Urdu
Answer:
(B) Sinhala
Question 4.
Study the following caricature and answer the question that follows :
Which of the following options best signifies this cartoon?
(A) Concentration of power in few hands.
(B) Democracy is like a horse-cart.
(C) Putin and Bush are good friends.
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(A) Concentration of power in few hands.
Explanation:
In a democratic country, Elected representatives has a power in their hands and S they want to concentrate these powers.
Question 5.
When was Sinhala recognised as the official language of Sri Lanka?
(A) In 1954
(B) In 1955
(C) In 1956
(D) In 1958
Answer:
(C) In 1956
Question 6.
Study the following caricature and answer the question that follows :
Which of the following option best signifies this cartoon?
(A) Problems of two party system
(B) A car with two steering
(C) Problems of a coalition government
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(C) Problems of a coalition government
Explanation:
When two or more political parties form a government & if they both form an opinion to run the government, conflicts arises.
Question 7.
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is:
(A) Power Sharing
(B) Central Government
(C) Majoritarianism
(D) Community Government
Answer:
(C) Majoritarianism
Explanation:
It means that the majority community rules a country by their own by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority community.
Question 8.
A system of ‘checks and balances’ is another name for which one of the following power-sharing arrangements:
(A) Power sharing among different social groups.
(B) Vertical division of power or power shared among different levels of government.
(C) Horizontal division of power or power shared among different organs of the government.
(D) Power sharing in the form of political parties, pressure groups and governments.
Answer:
(C) Horizontal division of power or power shared among different organs of the government.
Question 9.
Which is a federal division of power?
(A) Governments at the provincial or regional level.
(B) Legislature, executive and judiciary
(C) Among different social groups
(D) Political parties, pressure groups and movements
Answer:
(A) Governments at the provincial or regional level.
Explanation:
General government at the provincial or regional level for the entire country is known as federal government.
Question 10.
Name one prudential reason for power sharing?
(A) Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.
(B) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
(C) Citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system
(D) Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
Answer:
(D) Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
Explanation:
Prudential reasons bring out better outcomes for power sharing.
Question 11.
| Column A | Column B |
| (i) Power shared among different organs of govern-ment | (A) 18 per cent |
| (ii) Tamil speakers | (B) 80 per cent |
| (iii) Dutch speakers | (C) Coalition government, Federal govern-ment |
| (iv) Power shared by two or more political parties | (D) Separation of powers |
| (v) French speakers | (E) 20 per cent |
(A) (i)-(D), (ii)-(A), (iii)-(E), (iv)-(C), (v)-(B)
(B) (i)-(A), (ii)-(D), (iii)-(C), (iv)-(E), (v)-(B)
(C) (i)-(B), (ii)-(C), (iii)-(E), (iv)-(A), (v)-(D)
(D) (i)-(E), (ii)-(B), (iii)-(A), (iv)-(D), (v)-(C)
Answer:
(A) (i)-(D), (ii)-(A), (iii)-(E), (iv)-(C), (v)-(B)
Explanation:
(i) Power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary and that separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.
(ii) Sri Lanka has 74% Sinhala- speakers and 18% Tamil-speakers.
(iii) In Brussels, 80% French speakers and 20% Dutch speakers.
(iv) When two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. If their alliance is elected, they form a coalition government and thus share power.
Question 12.
Find the incorrect option from the following:
(A) Belgium is a big country in North America.
(B) It has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.
(C) It has a population of a little over one crore.
(D) The ethnic composition of this small country is very complex.
Answer:
(A) Belgium is a big country in North America.
Explanation:
Belgium is a smaller than Haryana. In Europe it shares borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.
Question 13.
Find the incorrect option from the following:
(A) Power is shared among different organs of government.
(B) Such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(C) We call this as vertical distribution of powers.
(D) Because it allows different organs of government placed at same level to exercise different powers.
Answer:
(C) We call this as vertical distribution of powers.
Explanation:
When power is shared among different organs at the same level to exercise different powers, it is known as horizontal distribution of power.
Assertion and Reason Based MCQs
Directions: In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice as.
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true but R is false.
(D) A is false and R is True.
Question 1.
Assertion (A): Pbwer sharing is good for democracy.
Reason (R): It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Question 2.
Assertion (A): Power can be shared among governments at different levels.
Reason (R): Power may also share among different social groups.
Answer:
(B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Horizontal distribution of power allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
Question 3.
Assertion (A): The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.
Reason (R): Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.
Answer:
(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Question 4.
Assertion (A): Sinhala was recognised as only official language of Sri Lanka.
Reason (R): The government of Sri Lanka wanted to establish dominance of Tamil community.
Answer:
(C) A is true but R is false.
Explanation:
Sinhala was recognised as only official language of Sri Lanka so that the government of Sri Lanka establish the supremacy of Sinhala community.
Question 5.
Assertion (A): Power should not reside with one person and group located at one place in a democracy.
Reason (R): If the dispersed, it will not be possible to take decision quickly and enforce it.
Answer:
(D) A is false and R is True.
Explanation:
In a democratic country, due respect is given to diverse groups that exist in the society. Thus, political power should be distributed among citizens.
Case-Based MCQs
I. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:
Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. As a result, the democratically elected government adopted a series of MAJORITARIAN measures to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism. All these government measures coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture. They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests. As a result, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils was repeatedly denied. By 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a CIVIL WAR. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities were killed. Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and many more lost their livelihoods.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
The process of dominance over the government by virtue of majority is seen in which country?
(A) Bangladesh
(B) Belgium
(C) Sri Lanka
(D) The Netherlands
Answer:
(C) Sri Lanka
Question 2.
Which is the official language of Sri Lanka?
(A) Sinhala and Tamil
(B) Sinhala
(C) Tamil
(D)None of these
Ans.
(B) Sinhala
Explanation:
Tamil speakers were minor in Srilanka. So, in 1956 an act was passed that recognises Sinhala as the official language.
Question 3.
What is the prudential reason behind Power Sharing?
(A) It gives absolute power to the citizens.
(B) It gives absolute power to the government.
(C) It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
(D) It ensures foreign investments.
Answer:
(C) It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Question 4.
The ratio of Sinhala speaking and Tamil speaking in Sri Lanka is :
(A) 20:80
(B) 50:50
(C) 70:30
(D) 80:20
Answer:
(D) 80:20
Explanation:
The prudential reasons for power sharing have the need to stabilise political order that reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
II. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:
Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller in area than the state of Haryana. It has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It has a population of a little over one crore, about half the population of Haryana. The ETHNIC composition of this small country is very complex. Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 per cent people live in the Wallonia region and speak French.
Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German. In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch speaking. The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later. This led to tensions between the Dutch¬speaking and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s. The tension between the two communities was more acute in Brussels. Brussels presented a special problem: the Dutchspeaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
Belgium shares its border with:
(A) France
(B) Germany
(C) Luxembourg
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(D) All of the above
Question 2.
Capital of Belgium:
(A) Netherlands
(B) Brussels
(C) Wallonia
(D) Europe
Answer:
(B) Brussels
Question 3.
Which language speaks on majority level in the country? ‘
(A) Dutch
(B) German
(C) French
(D) None of these
Answer:
(A) Dutch
Question 4.
Area of Belgium is:
(A) equals to Haryana
(B) greater than Haryana
(C) smaller than Haryana
(D) equals to Europe
Answer:
(C) smaller than Haryana
Explanation:
Belgium is the small Europeon country whose area is smaller than Indian state, Haryana.
III. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follows:
Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Let us call this horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others.
This results in a balance of power among various institutions. Even though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances. Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them State Governments. This system is not followed in all countries. There are many countries where there are no provincial or state governments. But in those countries like ours, where there are different levels of government, the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This is what they did in Belgium, but was refused in Sri Lanka.
This is called federal division of power. The same principle can be extended to levels of government lower than the State government, such as the municipality and panchayat. Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration. This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the government. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question 1.
In horizontal distribution, power is shared among:
(A) Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
(B) Union government, State government and Local government
(C) Majority and minority community
(D) None of the above
Answer:
(A) Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
Question 2.
Community government solves issues related to:
(A) Culture
(B) Education
(C) Language
(D) All of the above
Answer:
(D) All of the above
Explanation:
A government that handle issues related to their particular community is called community government. Hence, the given options are the part communal issues.
Question 3.
Federal System was refused by:
(A) India
(B) Belgium
(C) Sri Lanka
(D) USA
Answer:
(C) Sri Lanka
Question 4.
Who can check the functioning of executives?
(A) Legislature
(B) Judiciary
(C) State Government
(D) Community Government
Answer:
(B) Judiciary