Grade: X SOCIAL SCIENCE
Revision Questions – POWER SHARING
SECTION –A
I. Fill in the blanks: -
1. When European countries came together to form the European Union (EU), ………. was chosen as the
headquarters.
2. The ………. distribution of power is also called a system of checks and balances.
3. The religion followed by Sinhala-speaking people in Sri Lanka is ……….
4. In the year ………. an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the official language.
II. Multiple Choice Questions: -
1. Belgium solved its problem successfully by:
a. Developing the power-sharing mechanism. b.Rejecting the policy of majoritarianism
b. c. Respecting the interests of different communities d. All of the Above
2. Prudential Reason of Power Sharing stresses more on:
a. Reducing the possibility of conflict between various social groups b. A fair chance to the minority.
c.Bringing stability in the political order d. All of the Above
3. What does the coalition government imply?
a. Power-sharing between different communities b. Power-sharing among the different organs of the
government c. Power-sharing by two or more political parties d. Power-sharing within the
government at different levels
4. What does the word ethnic signify?
a. Social division on shared culture b. Careful calculation of gains and losses
c.A violent conflict between the opposite groups d.Different religion
5. Identify the major social group that constituted the largest share in the population of Sri Lanka.
a. Sri Lankan Tamils b. Indian Tamils c. Muslims d.Sinhalas
6. Among the given options what power-sharing does not imply:
a. Speed up the decision-making process b. Accommodating diversities c.Increases Conflicts
among the different communities d. All of the Above
7. A Belief that the majority community is able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is:
a. Federal Government b. Community Government c. Prudential d. Majoritarian
8. Power sharing is desirable because:
a. To reduce possibilities of conflicts b. To increase pressure on the government c. To increase the
percentage of voters d. To generate awareness among people
9- In India, the power-sharing mechanism does not involve directly:
a. Legislature b. Judiciary c. Industry d. Executive
10. 59% of the country’s total population who speaks Dutch, live in
(a) Wallonia region (b) Brussels (c) Flemish region (d) None of these
11. Why did the Sri Lankan Tamils launch parties and struggle?
(a) to adopt majoritarianism (b) to recognize Sinhalese as the only official language
(c) to recognize Tamil as an official language (d) to dominate another language
12. Main significance of Belgium’s Model of Power Sharing
(a) Majoritarianism (b) power shared in all ethnic groups according to their population
(c) on the basis of the adult franchise (d) none of the above
13. What is a coalition government?
(a) power shared among different social groups (b) power shared among different levels of government
(c) power shared among different political parties (d) power shared among different organs of
government
14. Where is the parliament of the European Union?
(a) Belgium (b) Britain (c) Germany (d) France
15. Which of the following community is in the majority in Sri Lanka?
(a) Tamil (b) Sinhala (c) Buddhist (d) Hindu
16. How many people speak French and Dutch in the capital city of Brussels?
(a) 60 percent French 40 percent Dutch (b) 50% Dutch 50% French (c) 80% French 20%
Dutch (d) 80% Dutch 20% French
17. How many times the leaders of Belgium amended their constitution?
(a) Two times (b) Three times (c) Four times (d) Six times
18. Which is the only official language of Sri Lanka?
(a) Tamil (b) Malayalam (c) Sinhala (d) none of the mentioned above
19. Which community was rich and powerful in Belgium?
(a) German (b) French (c) Dutch (d) none of the mentioned above
Answer the following:-
1. What is Majoritarianism?
2. Mention one step which was taken by Sri Lankan Government to create
Majoritarianism.
3. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing from the
Indian context
4. Name the country which has lost peace due to Majoritarianism.
5. Which two languages are generally spoken in Belgium?
6. Give one example of horizontal sharing of power.
7. Who elects the community government in Belgium?
8. What was a community government?
9. What was the political problems faced by Belgium?
10. Explain the ethnic problem of Srilanka.
11. - The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a
ban on speaking French in the town’s school. He said that the ban would help all
non- Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this
measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements?
Explain your reason.
12. Describe the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils. How did they struggle for their
demands?
13. Explain how power is shared among between different organs of government.
14. Belgium and Sri Lanka dealt with the question of power sharing differently?
15. Describe any three provisions of the act which was passed in Sri Lanka in
1956 to establish Sinhala supremacy
