Power Sharing MCQ | Class 10 Social Science | Chapter 4 | 2024

Last updated on July 14th, 2024 at 05:30 pm

Power Sharing MCQ Chapter 4

Below are some of the very important NCERT MCQ Questions of Power Sharing Class 10 Social Science Unit 3 Chapter 1 with Answers. These Power Sharing MCQ have been prepared by expert teachers and subject experts based on the latest syllabus and pattern of term 1 and term 2. We have given these Power Sharing MCQ Class 10 Social Science Questions with Answers to help students understand the concept.

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Unit 3 chapter 1 are very important for the latest CBSE term 1 and term 2 pattern. These MCQs are very important for students who want to score high in CBSE Board.

We have put together these NCERT  Questions of Power Sharing MCQ for Class 10 Social Science Unit 3 Chapter 1 with Answers for the practice on a regular basis to score high in exams. Refer to these MCQs Questions with Answers here along with a detailed explanation.

Power Sharing MCQ 1-22

1. The power sharing arrangement in Belgium prevented the possible division of the country on:

     (a) Linguistic basis 

(b) Religious basig

     (c)  Regional basis 

(d) None of the above

2. In which part of Sri Lanka are the Sri Lankan Tamils concentrated?

    (a) North and South

(b) East and West

   (c) North and East  

  (d) South and East

3. Which religion is followed by Sinhala speaking people ?

     (a) Hindus         

(b) Buddhists

     (c) Muslims    

  (d) None of the above

4. Which is the capital city of Belgium ?

      (a) Brussels   

(b) Bonn

      (c) Wallonia   

(d) Paris  

5. In which year Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country ?

       (a) 1947   

(b) 1948

       (c) 1949   

(d) 1950

6. Which language is spoken by the majority of Belgians?

     (a) German

    (b) Dutch

     (c) French   

(d) English     

7. Which language is spoken by 20% of people in the capital Brussels ?

     (a) French

    (b) German

     (c) Dutch 

   (d) Latin

8. Which one of the following is a major social group of Sri Lanka ?   

       (a) Christian and Tamil

       (b) Buddhist and Hindu

       (c) Sinhalese and Tamil

       (d) Sinhalese and Christian

9. Which is the state religion of Sri Lanka?

(a) Buddhism   

(b) Islam

       (c) Hinduism  

  (d) Christianity

10. Which of the following was not one of the initial demand of Sri Lankan Tamils ? 

      (a) Regional autonomy

      (b) Recognition of Tamil as an official language  

      (c) Equal opportunities in securing jobs and education

      (d) Creation of an independent Tamil Eelam (state)

11. 59% of the country’s total population who speaks Dutch, lives in

     (a) Wallonia region

(b) Brussels

     (c) Flemish region   

(d) None of these

12. Which of the following outlines the prudential reason for power sharing?

      (a) Power sharing is good for democracies.

       (b) Power sharing is the spirit of democracy

       (c) Power sharing reduces the chances of social conflicts.

       (d) A democratic rule involves power sharing,

13. Which city houses the headquarters of the EUropean Union?

      (a) Antwerp   

(b) Prague

      (c) Helsinki               

(d) Brussels

14. Main significance of Belgian Model of Power Sharing

      (a) Majoritarianism 

      (b) Power shared in all ethnic groups according to their population

      (c) On the basis of adult franchise

      (d) None of the above 

15. How many times was the Belgian constitution amended between the years 1970 and 1993?

(a) 2

(b) 4

(c) 1

(d) 7

16. Belgium does not share borders with 

     (a) France   

(b) Netherlands

    (c) Germany  

  (d) Norway

17. Why is there a need for a third level of government in India?

(a) A large number of problems and issues which are best settled at the local level

       (b) Indian states are large and internally very diverse

       (c) Both (a) and (b)

       (d) None of above

18. Why did the Sri Lankan Tamils launch parties and struggle?

       (a) To adopt majoritarianism

       (b) To recognise Sinhalese as the only official language

       (c) To recognise Tamil as an official language

       (d) To dominate other languages

19. In Sri Lanka, which series of measures were adopted to establish the majority of the Sinhalese population?

      (a) Federal government 

      (b) Majoritarian government

      (c) Community government

      (d) Prudential government

20. Which of the following is called vertical division of power ?

       (a) Power is shared among different organs of the government.

      (b) Power is shared among governments at different

      (c) Both (a) and (b).

      (d) None of these.

21. Identify the aspect which best signifies the given image.

       (a) Power Sharing    

       (b) Fundamental Rights

       (c) Democracy   

       (d) Constitution

22. Modern democracies maintain a 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.

23. Which of the following aspect best signifies this image of ‘a street address in Belgum’?

       (a) The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.

       (b) The state governments are not subordinate to the central government.

       (c) The Belgian model is very complicated, even for people living in Belgium.

     (d) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.

MCQ Answers

1. (a) Linguistic basis

2. (c) North and East

3. (b) Buddhist 

4. (a) Brussels 

5. (b) 1948

6. (b) Dutch

7. (c) Dutch

8. (c) Sinhalese and Tamil

9. (a) Buddhism

10. (d) Creation of an independent Tamil Eelam (state)

11. (c) Flemish region

12. (c) Power sharing reduces the chances of social conflicts.

13. (d) Brussels

14. (b) power shared in all ethnic groups according to their population.

15. (b) 4

16. (d) Norway

17. (c) Both (a) and (b)

18. (c) To recognise Tamil as an official language

19. (b) Majoritarian government

20. (b) Power is shared among governments at different levels.

21. (a) Power sharing 

22. (b) Legislature, executive, judiciary

23. (a) Constitution prescribed that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government

Very Short Answer Type Questions

24. Sinhala was recognised as the only official language by

25. A government for the entire country is usually called

26. Federal government is a system in which power is horizontally divided into __________.

27. _________ government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system .

28. A system in which each organ of government check the other, which results in the of balance of power among various institutions in called _______.

29. Correct the following statement and rewrite :   

Belgium is area wise and population wise smaller than the population of USA

30. Correct the following statement and rewrite :

Social disparity led to tensions between Dutch and French-speaking communities during the 1870′ and 1880s 

31. Which community tried to impose their domination in Belgium ?

32. What is horizontal distribution of power?

33. Why is power sharing desirable? 

34. What is the ethnic composition Of Belgium ?

35. What is meant by Majoritarianism?  

36. State any one step taken in Belgium to rule out the problem of regional differences and cultural diversities.

37. Tamils are divided into two groups in Sri Lanka. Give names to these groups.

38. When did Belgium get independence?

39. What is the language of the Wallonia region?

40. Which city of Belgium is known as the world’s biggest diamond trading centre? 

41. How many times between 1970 and 1993 was the Belgian constitution amended?  

42. Define Civil War.

43. Analyse the information given below, considering one of the following correct options :

Apart from the Central and the State government, there is third kind of government. This Community Government is elected by people belonging to one language community—Dutch, French and Germanspeaking—no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues. 

     (a) Central Government 

     (b) State Government

     (c) Community Government

     (d) Belgian Government

44. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.

(A) In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.

(B) In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala speaking majority

(C) The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power-sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs,

(D) The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

   (a) A, B, C and D    

(b) A, B and D

    (c) C and D 

   (d) B, C and D

45. Complete the table with correct information with regard to ethnic composition of Belgium:

46. Arrange the following events in correct sequence : 

(i) The relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.

(ii) 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.

(iii) In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as   the only official language.

(iv) All the government measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. 

Options :

(a) ii-iv-i-iii   

(b) iii-iv-i-ii 

(c) iii-iv-ii-i  

  (d) i-ii-iv-iii

47. Complete the following:

Defining moments of democracy are those moments which usually 

48. State True or False : In Brussels, the French-speaking population has more representations than the Dutch-speaking population.

49. State True or False : The forefathers of the Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka went there as merchants and businessmen. 

50. State True or False : The moral reason for power sharing stresses on the fact that power sharing brings better outcomes in a democracy.   

51. State True or False : In democracy, power can be shared only among different organs of the government.

52. State True or False : Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflicts between social groups.

53. Match the following :

54. Match the following items given in column A with those in column B. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

Very Short Answers Type Questions Answers

24. Act of 1956 

25. Federal government 

26. Different units.

27.  legitimate 

28. A system of check and balance 

29. Belgium is area wise and population wise smaller than the state of Haryana.

30. The social disparity led to tensions between Dutch and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

31. Dutch-speaking community

32. Power shared among different organs of government such as Legislature, Executive and Judiciary is called horizontal distribution of power.

33. Power sharing is desirable because :

 (i) It helps to reduce the possibility of struggles between social groups or communities.

(ii) A democratic rule involves power sharing with those affected by its exercise and who have to line with its effects. People have a right to know how they are to be governed.

34. Belgium has a complex ethnic composition. It has Dutch, French and German-speaking people.

35. The belief of the majority community is that they should be able to rule a country in whatever way they want by disregarding the wishes of the minority, this is called Majoritarianism.

36. Between 1970 and 1993 the Belgian government amended their constitution four times. Constitution prescribes equal number of French and Dutch-speaking people in Central Government so single community cannot make decisions.

37.

(i) Sri Lankan Tamils.

(ii) Indian Tamils,

38. Belgium got independence in 1830,

39. French is the language of the Wallonia region.

40. Antwerp is a city in Belgium, which is known as the world’s biggest diamond trading centre.

41. Between 1970 and 1993 the Belgian constitution was amended four times.

42. Civil war is a violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.

43. (c ) Community government 

44. (d)  B, C and D

45. Bihar

46. (b) iii-iv-i-ii

47. Involve conflict between those groups who aspire for a share of power and exercised power 

48. False 

49. False

50. False

51. False

52. True

53. (i)-(b), (ii)-(e), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(c), (v)-(a)

54. (i)-(d), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a)

Assertion and Reasoning Based MCQs

Code

1. Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
2. Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.  
3. Assertion is true but reason is false.
4. Assertion is false but reason is true. 

55. Assertion: Power should reside with one person and group located at one place in a democracy.

Reason : If the power is dispersed, it will not be possible to take decision quickly and enforce it.

56. Assertion : In a democracy, everyone has voice in the shaping of public policies.

Reason : India has a federal system.

57. Assertion: In Belgium, the leaders realized that the unity of the country is possible by respecting the feelings and interests of different countries.

Reason : Belgium did not favour any particular community.

Assertion-Reasoning Based MCQ

55. (d)

Power should reside with one person and group located at one place in a monarchy/dictatorship  While it is distributed among citizens in a democracy.

56. (b)

In a democracy, people elect the representatives who participate in the decision making process.

Due respect and proper representation is given to diverse groups in a democratic system. Hence, in democracy everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies. However the reason does not justify the assertion.

57. (d)

Belgians adopted a power sharing arrangement in which all the communities have equal representation. This helped in relieving tension between the different communities. Thus they did not favour any particular community. Thus, the assertion is false but the reason is true.

Case Based MCQs

58. Read the source given below and answer the following questions.

Two different sets of reasons can be given in favour of power sharing. Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of the majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation.

Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. 

There is a second, deeper reason why power sharing is good for democracies. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power  with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. 

A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Let us call the first set of reasons prudential and the second moral. While prudential   reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasons emphasise the very act of power sharing as valuable.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option :

(i) Which statement best defines the term prudential? 

(a) Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses

    (b) Based on violence and political instability

    (c) Decisions based on purely moral considerations

    (d) Based on the decisions of the majority

(ii) What undermines the unity of the nation in the long run?

     (a) Power sharing

     (b) Participation of people

     (c) People acquiring stake in the functioning of the government

     (d) Imposing the will of the majority community over the others

(iii) Why is power sharing encouraged?

     (a) Reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups

     (b) It ensures the stability of political order.

     (c) Both (a) and (b)

     (d) Only (b)

(iv) Give the moral reason behind power sharing.

     (a) It ensures stability of political order.

     (b) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed,

     (c) It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups,

     (d) Tyranny is not only oppressive for the minority but brings ruin to the majority too.

59. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:

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 were 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.

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:

(i) What is Majoritarianism?

      (a) Rule of the Sinhalese

      (b) Rule of the majority over the minority.

      (c) Rule of the stronger political party. 

      (d) Rule of the common men.

(ii) Choose the correct option :

Power sharing is desirable because it helps

      (a) To increase pressure on the government.

      (b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts.

      (c) To generate awareness among people.

      (d) To increase the percentage of voter.

(iii) Which major social group constituted the largest share in the population of Sri Lanka? 

       (a) Sinhalese       

(b) Sri Lankan Tamils 

       (c) Indian Tamils    (d) Muslims 

(iv) The word ‘ethnic’ signifies :

      (a)    Different religions.

      (b)    Social division on shared culture.

      (c)    A violent conflict between opposite groups.

      (d)    A careful calculation of gains and losses.

60. Read the source given below and answer the question that follow 

There are some elements of the Belgian model: Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers be equal in the central government, Some special laws require the support of a majority of members from each linguistic group.

Thus, no ‘single community can make decisions unilaterally. Many powers Of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. new state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. 

Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.

Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community—Dutch, French and German-speaking—no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues. 

Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:

(i) What are the requirements of some special laws?

      (a)    Requires the support of central government

      (b)    Requires the support of state governments

      (c)    Requires the support of the majority group

     (d)    Requires the support of majority of members from each linguistic group

(ii) How have the Central government given many of its powers to the two regions Of the Country?

     (a) The central government has given power to the French-speaking people of the two regions of the country.

     (b) The central government has given many of its powers to the state governments of the two regions of the country.

     (c) The central government hag provided reservations to the French-speaking community of the two regions of the country.

    (d) The Central government hag given many of its powers to the two regions of the country through dividing the regions,

(iii) Why did the French-speaking people accept equal representation in Brussels?

      (a) The Dutch-speaking community accepted equal representation in the Central government.

      (b) The French-speaking people wanted to avoid a civil war.

      (c) The French-speaking people were forced by the European Union Parliament in Belgium to accept equal representation.  

      (d) The French-speaking people were docile and to keep their representation in the Central government, they agreed to equal representation in Brussels.

(iv) Which government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues?

     (a) Central government

     (b) State governments

     (c) Community government

     (d) Governments at village level

Answers

58. 

(i) (a) Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses.

(ii) (d) Imposing the will of the majority community over the others.

(iii) (c) Both (a) and (b).

(iv) (b) People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

59.   

(i) (b) Rule of the majority over the minority. (ii) (b) To reduce possibilities of conflicts. 

(iii) (a) Sinhalese.

(iv) (b) Social division on shared culture.

60. 

(i) (d) Requires the support of majority of members from each linguistic group.

(ii) (b) The central government has given many of its powers to the state governments of the two regions of the country.

(iii) (a) The Dutch-speaking community accepted equal representation in the Central Government.

(iv) (c) Community government

Final Words

From the above article, you have practiced Power Sharing MCQ of class 10 Social Science Unit 3 chapter 1. We hope that the above-mentioned MCQs for term 1 of Unit 3 chapter 1 Power Sharing will surely help you in your exam. 

If you have any doubts or queries regarding Power Sharing MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) with Answers, feel free to reach us and we will get back to you as early as possible.