CBSE - Class 9 - Political Science- CH1- Democracy in Contemporary World

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MCQs, NCERT Chapter Solutions and other Q & A

Q1: Which of the following does not lead to the spread of democracy?

(a) Struggle by the people

(b) Invasion by foreign countries

(c) End of colonialism

(d) People’s desire for freedom

Answer: (b) Invasion by foreign countries

Q2: Which of the following statement is true about today’s world?

(a) Monarchy as a form of government has vanished

(b) The relationship between different countries has become more democratic than ever before.

(c) In more and more countries rulers are being elected by the people.

(d) There are no more military dictators in the world.

Answer: (c) In more and more countries rulers are being elected by the people.

Q3: Use one of the following statements to complete the sentence:

       Democracy in the international organisations requires that …

(a) The rich countries should have a greater say.

(b) Countries should have a say according to their military power.

(c) Countries should be treated with respect in proportion to their population.

(d) All countries in the world should be treated equally.

Answer: (d) All countries in the world should be treated equally.

Q4: Based on the information given in this chapter, match the following countries and the path democracy has taken in that country.

COUNTRY	PATH TO DEMOCRACY
a Chile	i Freedom from British colonial rule
b Nepal	ii End of military dictatorship
c Poland	iii End of one party rule
d Ghana	iv King agreed to give up his powers

Answer: a-ii , b-iv, c-iii, d-i

Q5(CBSE 2010):Which one of the following statements is incorrect?

(a) America became independent from British rule in 1776

(b) They adopted a democratic constitution in 1787

(c) Many countries in Europe gave right to vote to only propertied people

(d) In United States of America all the citizens including Blacks were given right to vote from the beginning.

Answer: (d) In United States of America all the citizens including Blacks were given right to vote from the beginning.

Q6: How many member states are there in the International Monetary Fund?

(a) 173

(b) 192

(c) 200

(d) 190

Answer: (a) 173

Q7(CBSE 2010): Which country among the following was the only country by 1900, where every citizen had voting right?
                                    OR
Q: Which one of the following countries was the first to grant "Universal Suffrage"?

(a) Australia

(b) New Zealand

(c) Poland

(d) USA

Answer: (b) New Zealand

Q8: Which country supported and controlled the autocratic government in Poland?

(a) USA

(b) China

(c) Russia

(d) UK

Answer:  (c) Russia

Q9(CBSE 2010):  Who was the leader of Solidarity Movement in Poland?

(a) Michelle Bachelete

(b) Salvador Allende 

(c) Lech Walesa 

(d) Pinochet

Answer: (c) Lech Walesa 

Q10: Why was International Monetary Fund established?

(a) To maintain peace and security among the countries

(b) Lends money to governments of member nations when in need

(c) To implement and formulate trade agreements

(d) To take decision regarding misery and poverty of western countries

Answer: (b) Lends money to governments of member nations when in need

Q11: Which one of the following countries is not a permanent member of UN Security Council?

(a) China 

(b) France 

(c) Japan 

(d) Russia

Answer: (c) Japan

Q12: Which freedoms are ususally taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military?

Answer: 

1. Political Freedom is lost. When a democracy is overthrown by the military, the freedom to choose their leader is snatched away. E.g. In Chile and in Mynmar people could not elect their leaders due to military rule.
2. Civil Freedom is curtailed. There is no real freedom to express one’s opinions, form political associations and organise protests and political action.
3. Democratic and Constitutional (freedom)rights are lost. Anyone can be put in prison for trivial reasons.

Q 13: What are the difficulties people face in a non-democratic country? Give answers drawing from the examples given in this chapter.

Answer: 

1. The people cannot not choose or change their rulers. E.g. In Chile, Mynmar people could not elect their leaders due to military rule.
2. There was is real freedom to express one’s opinions. There is fear that they can be arrested for any trivial matter. E.g. in Poland in 1980, it was prohibited to form another political party or association. 
3. They cannot form political associations and organize protests and political action.
4. In general, non-democratic rulers, directly or indirectly, are controlled by the business elite who have vested interests. Economic development growth is arrested and socio-economic conditions of the poor people deteriorate. 

Q 14: Which of the following positions can contribute to democracy at the global level? Give reasons for your answer in each case. 

a My country gives more money to international institutions. Therefore, I want to be treated with more respect and exercise more power. 

b My country may be small or poor. But my voice must be heard with equal respect, because these decisions will affect my country.

c Wealthy nations will have a greater say in international affairs. They cannot let their interests suffer just because they are outnumbered by poor nations.

d Big countries like India must have a greater say in international organisations.

Answer: 

(a) NO, it does not promote democracy. Democracy ensures equality irrespective the person or the country is rich or poor. 

(b) Yes, the statement supports democracy. The basic objective of democracy is to provide equality and it should work the betterment for all sections of the society.

(c) No, it does not contribute to the spirit of democracy. Democracy ensures equal opportunities for both poor and rich. Otherwise, international policies will be governed by the rich countries.

(d) No, it does not support democracy fully. India being developing nation and the most populous  state, represent the voice of the masses. Her opinions must be valued and heard at international arena, but any country should not be privileged based on geographical or population size.

Q15: Which East European countries were ruled by the communist parties in 1980s?

Answer: East European countries ruled by the communist parties in 1980s were:

1. Poland
2. Russia
3. Ukraine
4. Romania
5. Bulgaria

Q16: Here are three opinions heard in a television debate on the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Which of these do you agree with and why?

Guest 1: India is a democracy. Therefore, the Indian government must support the people of Nepal who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy.

Guest 2: That is a dangerous argument. We would be in the same position as the US was in Iraq. Remember, no outside force can promote democracy.

Guest 3: But why should we bother about the internal affairs of another country? We should be worried about our business interests there, not about democracy.

Answer: I agree with Statement made by Guest 1. India became a democratic republic after a long struggle for Independence. It values democratic principles and has been a promoter of peace and non-violence. By following democratic and non-violent approaches at international forum (e.g. public opinion, debates etc.) it can support people of Nepal restore democracy.

Q17(CBSE): Which one of the following is the best way to establish democracy in a country?
(a) Foreign aggression by a democratic country
(b) People’s struggle within their own country.
(c) Resolution by the U.N. General Assembly.
(d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.

Answer: (d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.

Q18: What reforms were carried out by Allende in Chile?  How was it taken by opposition parties?

Answer: Allende as the president of Chile introduced a number of social reforms. 

1. He took several policy decisions to help the poor and the workers.
2. He introduced reforms to the educational system. 
3. He provided free milk for children and redistribution of land to the landless farmers. 
4. He opposed to foreign companies taking away natural resources like copper from the country.

The rich, capitalists, the Church and the opposition parties were against his policies specially distribution of land to landless farmers and his opposition towards foreign companies.

Q19: Why did USA support the military coup in Chile in 1973?

Answer: USA being a capitalist country was against the policies of socialist president Allende. They supported the military and the capitalists of Chile who were opposing Allende's social reforms.

Q20(CBSE 2010): A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

(a) Plebiscite

(b) Referendum

(c) Recall

(d) Veto

Answer: (b) Referendum

(Note: Plebiscite also mean referendum, From NCERT book definition, answer should should be 'referendum')

Q21: What did Allende hope for in his last address?
Answer: During the coup, when democratic government was toppled, Allende addressed to his nation. He hoped that Democracy would be restored and felony, cowardice and treason would be finally punished.

Q22: Why were women given voting rights much later than men in the most countries? Why did this not happen in India?

Answer: Although political struggle for democracy started since nineteenth century and many European countries became democratic by the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time women were not given voting rights, because they were not being considered equal. Their political representation was given enough importance. The were granted rights much later than men. In India this was not the case. The Constitution of India granted universal suffrage to all its citizens irrespective they belong to different gender or community or caste.

Q23: What was the 'voting rights' situation in USA after she adopted constitution? When was universal adult franchise granted there?

Answer:  USA adopted constitution in 1787, but here too the right to vote was limited to very few men. In 1965, after a long struggle,  universal adult franchise was granted to all citizens, including women and Afro-americans.

Q24: ‘The disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of expansion of democracy.’ Give reasons.

Answer: After 1980, the disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of democracy.

1. Soviet Union controlled several European countries and all of them were communist governments.
2. Poland and several other countries became free from the control of the Soviet Union during 1989-90. They chose to become democracies.
3. The Soviet Union comprised of 15 republics emerged as independent
   democratic countries after the USSR broke down.

Q25: Who was Lech Walesa? How did he become famous in Poland?

Answer: Lech Walesa was a former electrician of Lenin Shipyard in the city of
Gdansk. He joined and led the strikers who

• demanded for higher wages, 
• right to form independent trade unions, 
• the release of political prisoners and 
• an end to censorship on press.

Finally the Polish government gave in and signed 21-point agreement with Lech Walesa and his workers. A new trade union called Solidarity was formed under his leadership. General Jaruzeleski imposed martial law which led to another wave of strikes by Solidarity. Later in 1988, the union won elections with absolute majority and Walesa was elected as the president of Poland.

Q26(CBSE): How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

Answer:

1. IMF a special agency affiliated with United Nations has been one of the biggest moneylender for any country in the world.
2. Its working is not fairly democratic because its 185 members do not have equal voting rights.
3. The vote of each country is weighed by how much money it has contributed to the IMF. 
4. Since the top 10 developed countries have large contributions, they have a major say in IMF. These 10 countries have More than 54%of the voting power in the IMF. 
5. While the remaining 175 countries have negligible participation in IMF policy making. This is undemocratic.

Q27: What happened to democracy in Ghana?

Answer:

1. Ghana (earlier called Gold Coast), used to be a British Colony, got independent in 1957. 
2. Kwame Nkrumah, son of a goldsmith and himself a teacher played an active role in independence struggle.
3. After independence, he became first prime minister and then the president of Ghana.
4. Later he declared himself as elected president for life and established dictatorship.
5. In 1966, he was overthrown by the military and Ghana couldn’t remain a democratic nation for long.

Q28: Which among the following was NOT the demand raised by striking workers in Poland?

(a) Right to form trade unions

(b) Release of Political Prisoners

(c) Stepping down of Communists

(d) End of censorship on press.

Answer: (c) Stepping down of Communists

Q29:  Who among the following had replaced Salvador Allende?
(a) General Augusto Pinochet
(b) General Jeruzelski
(c) Lech Walesa
(d) Michelle Bachelet

Answer: (a) General Augusto Pinochet