Power Sharing – MCQs Online Practice Test with Automatic scoring
Power Sharing – 30 MCQ Timed Quiz (30 Minutes)
This quiz covers all key topics from “Power Sharing” – Belgium and Sri Lanka, Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka, Accommodation in Belgium, Why power sharing is desirable, and Forms of power sharing.
Timer: 30 minutes | Total Questions: 30 | Each MCQ has instant answer & explanation.
Belgium and Sri Lanka
Q1. In Belgium, which language is spoken by a majority of people in the Flemish region?
Correct answer: (B) Dutch – The Flemish region is inhabited mainly by Dutch-speaking people (Flemish). French speakers live mainly in Wallonia, while German speakers form a very small minority. This linguistic diversity is the basis of Belgium’s power sharing system.
Q2. In which part of Belgium do most French-speaking people live?
Correct answer: (B) Wallonia region – Most French-speaking people live in the southern Wallonia region. Dutch speakers live in Flanders, and Brussels is a separate capital region with a French-speaking majority. These patterns of settlement shaped Belgium’s power sharing arrangements.
Q3. What was the main reason for tension between Dutch and French-speaking communities in Belgium?
Correct answer: (B) Economic and language-based inequalities – The French-speaking community, though smaller in number, was more prosperous and dominated the government. Dutch-speaking people felt they were treated unfairly in jobs and education, creating tension between the communities.
Q4. Which statement about Brussels is correct?
Correct answer: (B) It has a French-speaking majority – The capital Brussels has a French-speaking majority, although Dutch speakers form the majority in the country as a whole. This made Brussels a sensitive area and required a special power sharing arrangement.
Q5. Which community forms the majority in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (B) Sinhalese – About 74% of Sri Lanka’s population are Sinhalese. They mostly follow Buddhism and speak Sinhala. Tamils together form around 18% of the population and include Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
Q6. Sri Lankan Tamils are mainly concentrated in which parts of Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (B) Northern and Eastern parts – Sri Lankan Tamils mostly live in the north and east of the island. Indian Tamils live largely in the central highlands as plantation workers. This regional concentration shaped Tamil demands for autonomy.
Q7. Which of the following is a similarity between Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (C) Both have more than one major linguistic group – Belgium has Dutch, French and German speakers, while Sri Lanka has Sinhala and Tamil speakers. However, they adopted very different approaches to manage this diversity.
Q8. Why is Belgium described as “a small country with complex social divisions”?
Correct answer: (B) It has multiple language communities and regions – Belgium is small in size, but socially complex due to Dutch, French and German-speaking communities living in different regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels), each with its own interests.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Q9. What is meant by the term “majoritarianism”?
Correct answer: (B) Belief that majority should rule regardless of minority interests – Majoritarianism ignores the needs of minority groups and can lead to discrimination and conflict, as seen in Sri Lanka’s policies towards Tamils.
Q10. Which of the following was a majoritarian measure in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (C) Passing the Sinhala Only Act in 1956 – This Act made Sinhala the sole official language, giving it a higher status and ignoring Tamil. It clearly reflected a majoritarian mindset.
Q11. Which group felt the most alienated due to majoritarian policies in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (B) Sri Lankan Tamils – Language, education and job policies favoured Sinhalese and discriminated against Tamils. This created a strong sense of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
Q12. Which of the following demands was not initially raised by Tamil political organisations in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (D) Immediate creation of a separate Tamil country – Initially, Tamil organisations demanded recognition of Tamil, regional autonomy and equality in jobs and education. Only after their demands were repeatedly ignored did some groups begin to demand a separate Tamil state.
Q13. The long and violent conflict in Sri Lanka between government forces and Tamil militants is called:
Correct answer: (C) Civil War – A civil war is a violent conflict between groups within the same country. In Sri Lanka, it was between the Sinhala-dominated government and Tamil militants demanding an independent state.
Q14. Which of the following was a major consequence of majoritarianism in Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (C) Civil war and large loss of life and property – Majoritarian policies alienated Tamils and fuelled a long civil war, which caused enormous human suffering and slowed Sri Lanka’s development.
Q15. The example of Sri Lanka warns democracies against which of the following?
Correct answer: (C) Majoritarianism – Sri Lanka shows that if the majority community imposes its will on minorities, it can lead to alienation, conflict and even civil war. Democracies must balance majority rule with minority rights.
Accommodation in Belgium
Q16. Which of the following is a key feature of the Belgian model of power sharing at the central level?
Correct answer: (B) Equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers at the centre – This ensures that no single community can dominate the federal government and both must agree on major decisions.
Q17. Belgium is a federal country. What does “federal” mean in this context?
Correct answer: (B) Power is shared between central and state governments – In a federal system, different levels of government have powers of their own, as in Belgium and India.
Q18. What is “community government” in Belgium?
Correct answer: (B) Government elected by people of one language group – Community governments represent Dutch, French or German speakers and decide on cultural, educational and language matters for their community.
Q19. Which of the following matters is handled by community governments in Belgium?
Correct answer: (C) Cultural, educational and language-related issues – Community governments focus on identity-related matters so that each language group can preserve its culture and language.
Q20. Why is the Belgian model called “an example of accommodation”?
Correct answer: (C) It carefully shares power among all communities – The Belgian model adjusts power so that Dutch, French and German speakers all share it, preventing domination and conflict.
Q21. Which of the following results has Belgium largely achieved through power sharing?
Correct answer: (C) Political stability and unity – Belgium has remained united, peaceful and stable because all communities feel represented in the power structure.
Q22. Which statement correctly compares Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Correct answer: (C) Belgium shared power; Sri Lanka ignored Tamil interests – Belgium adopted a power sharing model that respected all language groups, whereas Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies favouring Sinhalese.
Why Is Power Sharing Desirable?
Q23. Which of the following is a prudential reason for power sharing?
Correct answer: (B) It reduces chances of conflict and ensures stability – Prudential reasons highlight practical benefits: power sharing prevents social conflicts and contributes to political stability and national unity.
Q24. Which of these is a moral reason for power sharing?
Correct answer: (A) People should have a say in decisions that affect them – This is based on democratic values of participation and equality and is a key moral argument for sharing power.
Q25. “Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy” because:
Correct answer: (C) it allows maximum participation and representation – Power sharing makes sure that many groups and viewpoints are included in decision-making, which is central to democracy.
Q26. Why should power not be concentrated in one person or group in a democracy?
Correct answer: (B) It can lead to misuse of power and dictatorship – When power is concentrated, there are fewer checks and balances. Sharing power protects citizens’ rights and prevents authoritarian rule.
Forms of Power Sharing
Q27. Power shared among different organs of government is known as:
Correct answer: (B) Horizontal power sharing – Power is shared among Legislature, Executive and Judiciary at the same level, and each organ checks the others.
Q28. Power shared among governments at different levels is called:
Correct answer: (C) Vertical division – Power is divided among different levels of government, such as central, state and local bodies. This is a key feature of federalism.
Q29. Reserving seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures is an example of power sharing among:
Correct answer: (C) different social groups – Reservations ensure that weaker sections like SCs and STs have a voice in decision-making, which is power sharing among social groups.
Q30. Coalition governments, where power is shared among several political parties, are an example of power sharing in which way?
Correct answer: (B) Among political parties and pressure groups – In a coalition, several parties share executive power. Pressure groups and movements may also influence decisions, making this a form of power sharing among political actors.