ZEBAR SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
Std. IX Social Science (2025-26)
(Political Science) Ch.1 What is Democracy? Why Democracy? WS No.3(AK)
Name: ____________________________ Sec.: ___ Roll No.: _____ Date: _____
I. Choose the correct options:
1. Which of the following best describes a fundamental characteristic common to all democratic
forms of government?
a) The head of the government is nominated by a monarch
b) The military appoints the nation's leaders
c) The government is elected by the people through a voting process
d) Leadership is inherited through family lineage
2. Assertion (A): In a democracy, every citizen must have one vote and each vote should have
equal value.
Reason (R): In a democratic system, political equality is an essential feature.
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 but R is true.
3. Which of the following best explains why the rule of military leaders in Myanmar, dictators like
Pinochet in Chile, and monarchs in Saudi Arabia are not considered democratic?
a) They conduct elections with limited voting rights.
b) Their leaders are not elected by the people but gain power through force or birth.
c) They follow different religions which influence governance.
d) They allow only a single political party to rule.
4. Match the following and choose the correct option:
Column A Column B
1 “Legal Framework Order” i China
2 Institutional Revolutionary Party ii Pervez Musharraf
3 ZANU-PF iii Mexico
4 Chinese Communist Party iv Zimbabwe
Options:
a) 1-ii, 2-iii, 3-iv, 4-i b)1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii c)1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-I d)1-iv, 2-i, 3-ii, 4-iii
5. Assertion (A): A democratic government is not a magical solution for all the problems.
Reason (R): Democracy as a form of government only ensures that people do not choose
their representatives.
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 but R is true.
[Link] of the following illustrates a support of democracy?
i) a ban on political gatherings by a monarch
ii) Right to vote withheld from citizens
iii) open criticism of the ruling party leader in the media
a) Only i b) only ii c) only iii d) both i and ii
[Link]/Political Science-Ch.1/WS(AK)/2025-26 Page 1 of 2
II. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
China’s famine of 1958-1961 was the worst recorded famine in world history. Nearly three crore
people died in this famine. During those days, India’s economic condition was not much better
than China. Yet India did not have a famine of the kind China had. Economists think that this
was a result of different government policies in the two countries. The existence of democracy
in India made the Indian government respond to food scarcity in a way that the Chinese
government did not. They point out that no large-scale famine has ever taken place in an
independent and democratic country. If China too had multiparty elections, an opposition party
and a press free to criticise the government, then so many people may not have died in the
famine.
i) How does this example show that a democratic government is more responsive to the
needs of the people?
In a democracy, the presence of opposition parties and a free press forces the government to
act quickly in times of crisis, such as food shortages.
ii) What does this case reveal about the importance of public criticism and opposition in a
democracy?
Democratic governments allow open criticism and feedback, which helps prevent disasters like
famines by addressing public needs in time.
iii) Why do economists believe that democracy helped India avoid a famine like China's?
Democracy ensures regular elections, accountability, and transparency, which help
governments respond effectively to people's problems.
III. Answer the questions in one or two sentences:
1. Define the following terms – (i) Political equality (ii) referendum
A. (i) Political equality means that in a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and
each vote must have one value.
(ii) Referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject
a proposal.
2. In democracy, no one is a permanent winner. No one is a permanent loser. Justify the
statement.
A. In a democracy, different social groups with varied interests and opinions share power. Conflicts
are resolved through dialogue and elections, not by force. Power keeps shifting peacefully. This
helps different groups live together and keeps a diverse country like India united.
3. Name two countries that are not democratic.
A. Bhutan and Saudi Arabia.
4. Give an example of how democracy can be practised in daily life.
A. When all family members discuss and decide together, it reflects the democratic way of
decision-making.
5. Holding elections of any kind is not sufficient. What must the elections offer?
A. The elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives. It should be possible for
the people to use this choice to remove the existing rulers if they wish to.
7. What is the role of citizens in promoting democracy?
A. Every citizen should be able to play equal role in decision-making. For this, a citizen not only
needs an equal right to vote but also needs to have equal information, basic education, equal
resources.
8. Is it possible for any country to become a perfect democracy? Give reasons.
A. No country is a perfect democracy as every democracy has to realize the ideals of democratic
decision- making. This cannot be achieved once and for all. This requires a constant effort to
save and strengthen democratic forms of decision-making. As citizens our actions can make a
difference to make our country more or less democratic.
[Link]/Political Science-Ch.1/WS(AK)/2025-26 Page 2 of 2
