Students rely on Social Science Class 10 Kerala Syllabus Important Questions Chapter 5 Public Opinion in Democracy to help self-study at home.
Class 10 History Chapter 5 Important Questions and Answers Public Opinion in Democracy
Kerala Syllabus Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 5 Public Opinion in Democracy Important Questions
Public Opinion in Democracy Class 10 Important Questions
Question 1.
What ensures democratic communication?
Answer:
Public opinion
Question 2.
Define Public Opinion.
Answer:
Public opinion is the general opinion of the people about the issues affecting them.
Question 3.
Which is the first agency that influences a child’s opinion formation?
Answer:
Family
Question 4.
What do political parties use to promote their views before elections?
Answer:
Manifesto
Question 5.
What type of literacy includes knowledge of internet and cyber awareness?
Answer:
Digital
Question 6.
What do you mean by Peer groups?
Answer:
Peer Groups are groups of similar age and with similar interests and goals. Peer groups tend to be similar in their beliefs, values and ideals.
Question 7.
What is civil society and why is it important in a democracy?
Answer:
Civil society is an important idea in democracy. It includes organisations, groups, and people who work for the welfare of the society. They do this voluntarily, without government control or profit motive, and they represent different views and ideas.
Question 8.
Explain the role of Family and educational institutions in developing public opinion.
Answer:
Family: A child’s socialisation process starts from the family and the traditional beliefs and perceptions of the family, influences opinion formation. The child is a participant or a witness in the discussion held in the family in which politics, beliefs, religion, literature, etc. are all topics. In this way, the family has the first place in the formation of the child’s opinion on various issues.
Educational Institutions: Educational institutions play a major role in shaping and developing the child’s knowledge, rights, duties, scientific thinking, critical thinking, and culture. All knowledge and skills are acquired by the child mainly through educational institutions. The process of education helps a person to fonn an independent and rational opinion on any subject. Educational institutions play an important role in shaping children’s understanding of various subjects. Activities in school such as school parliament, club activities, sports and cultural activities act as a platform in developing democratic and civic sense among the students. Such activities provide enough avenues for the learners to express their opinions and that develops skills in forming public opinion.
Question 9.
Write any three factors that hinder the formation of public opinion.
Answer:
Illiteracy, Digital divide, Poverty.
Question 10.
Explain the role of public opinion in a democratic system.
Answer:
Democracy is a political system that ensures equal participation of all the people of a country. As a system that ensures public participation, democratic governments formulate their policies and programmes by considering the opinions and interest of the people.In a democratic system, civil society makes the mlers responsible through constant criticism.In such a society, the people are fully aware of the rights and duties of citizens. Arbitrary and dictatorial tendencies are prevented in a society with strong public opinion and the rights and freedom of citizens are protected. In a society with strong public opinion, every issue is critically evaluated and it makes political parties responsible. Public opinion, as the consolidated opinion of the people, plays a key role in democratic systems.
Question 11.
Differentiate between Media Literacy and Digital Literacy.
Answer:
Media literacy is the ability to access, analyse, evaluate, create new messages and communicate the messages received through various forms of media. Content creation and the way it shapes our perceptions and how we critically interpret news and messages are all included in this. It includes the way we shape our perceptions and critically interpret news and messages.
Digital literacy is the ability to find information from the digital world and evaluate them efficiently using digital equipment and technology. This includes basic computer knowledge, effective use of internet, navigation of digital platforms, critical evaluation of online content, cyber awareness, etc. Digital literacy is how we effectively use digital tools and technology to find out and evaluate information from digital spaces.
Question 12.
Peer group is one of the important agency to shape public opinion.Explain.
Answer:
Debates and discussions among peer group members are important factors influencing public opinion formation. Peer group members share almost common characteristics in terms of personality, attitudes and behaviour which are important factors influencing public opinion formation. They all share some common characteristics in their personal experiences and social influences. Peer group members can influence each other on the policies of the government, various social issues and political parties. Such peer group discussions are helpful in eliciting common opinions, correcting existing ones and arriving at correct opinions. This debate and discussion lead,to the formation of public opinion.
Question 13.
How do political parties influence the formation of public opinion in a democratic system?
Answer:
Political parties and their activities are at the forefront of shaping, and mobilising public opinion in the democratic system of government. Both ruling and the opposition parties play a role in shaping public opinion.The main objective of political parties is to make the public think about common public issues politically. Each political party publishes journals, pamphlets, manifestos, posters, write ups etc. to create public opinion in their favour. Along with that conference, demonstrations, rallies and seminars are all organised for the formation of public opinion. Every party tries to mobilise the people in its favour by presenting their views and ideas, and making them involved in public affairs, and ensuring participation in the electoral process. During the election campaign parties try to sway public opinion in their favour. Even after the completion of the election process, the political parties keep on campaigning on public issues. When political parties go overboard and engage in personal attacks and negative propaganda, the election commission intervenes and controls them.
Question 14.
Explain how art and literature contribute to the formation of public opinion with examples.
Answer:
“Chandalabhikshuki” by Mahakavi Kumaran Asan is a work that had a strong influence in forming public opinion against social evils based on the caste system, such as untouchability. Art, literature, and cinema of each era influence the formation of the public opinion of the times. “Patta Bakki”, “Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku”, and so on were some of the plays that had a significant role in changing the social life of Kerala. Literary works of Rabindranath Tagore, Subramania Bharathi and Vallathol Narayana Menon inspired the Indian freedom movement.The art forms such as Ottanthullal, Chakyarkoothu, etc could form strong public opinion against the then existing social evils, customs, and thereby ignite social revolution. Various art forms and literary works influence our tastes and interests.
Question 15.
Media play an important role in shaping public opinion. Substantiate the statement.
Answer:
Media play an important role in shaping public opinion. News, discussions and advertising programmes available through traditional media (print media, radio and television) and new media (Digital and social media) have a great influence on people. Media can bring an issue to public attention and shape public opinion on it.
a) Newspapers: Newspapers play an important role in bringing all political and social events before the public. Newspapers are able to strengthen the democratic process by bringing current issues to the people and at the same time bring the opinion of the people to the government. Therefore, fore newspapers play a key role in shaping public opinion. The influence of newspapers help not only in forming public opinion but also in changing and diverting it according to certain interests. Sometimes some news does not necessarily have to be factual and it can mislead the public opinion. Due to vested interest, wrong news might reach people through online newspapers, etc. There is a criticism that impartial approach and accuracy in the news are not often from the side of the media.
b) Radio, Television: Radio and television are serving as a mirror to social life. While the print media considers only the literate community, radio and television play an important role in forming ideas and knowledge among the illiterate community. Radio and television play a significant role in sharing the opinions and thoughts of the people in society about various policies and programmes of the government.
c) Social media: Today, social media and all mainstream media have an important role in forming public opinion. In the modem age, almost all people in society communicate through digital platforms. Everybody should recognise such traps in the digital world. We have to acquire digital and media literacy.
Question 16.
Define Public opinion and explain the role of the given agencies in shaping public opinion.
• Social Institutions and Organisations
• Opinion Poll
Answer:
Public opinion is the general opinion of the people about the issues affecting them. It can be the position or opinion generally held by a section of society on a particular issue.
• Social Institutions and Organisations: Various social institutions and organisations working in society play a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Religious institutions, caste-religious organisations, student movements, youth movements, women’s equality movements, trade unions, human rights movements, merchant associations, environmental organisation etc. play their own role in shaping public opinion.
• Opinion polls: Opinion polls are a very effective way to gather information about public attitudes and opinions on various social, cultural, political and economic issues. A sample of population is approached for their views regarding specific issues. By using the information public opinion can be formed. There are various professional agencies working to conduct opinion polls.
Question 17.
Write the characteristics of Public opinion.
Answer:
The influence of public opinion on social life, governance and politics is enormous. Public opinion is formed when responsible citizens brings out the problems in the society to the attention of others, it is an effective social control over the government and it encourages debate that empowers democracy. Public opinion is considered as one of the essential criteria of democracy. Social and cultural background of individuals, attitude, belief, preconceptions, leadership skills, education etc are the factors that influence public opinion.
- Public opinion reflects diverse opinions.
- Public opinion is not necessarily the views and opinions of the majority of people but, is the creation of a general consensus on a topic.
- Public opinion may change with the circumstances, time and new knowledge.
- Public opinion is always formed not only on political matters but also in relation to Socio-economic and cultural matters.
- There is no fixed place from where one can express public opinion and anyone can express their opinion from any where.
- Public opinion ensures democratic communication.
Question 18.
There are some factors that hinder the formation of public opinion in society. Which are they? Explain.
Answer:
Democracy will be stronger where public opinion is strong. The limitations of democracy can be corrected and guided in the right direction with strong public opinion. However, there are some factors that hinder the formation of public opinion in society.
Illiteracy: Illiterate people have only limited knowledge about public issues. They may not have the capacity to form rational opinions.
Digital Divide: The digital divide is the gap in accessing modern information technology such as the internet, computer, and smartphone. This hinders the formation of effective public opinion.
Poverty: Groups experiencing poverty are often isolated from public affairs. Hence, they are not able to participate in the formation of public opinion appropriately.
Unhealthy political activity and lack of democracy in political parties: Partisanship in political activities and polarisation among the people are factors that hinder the formation of public opinion.
Unhealthy practices during the election campaigns: Unhealthy practices that are used to influence voters during election times often hinder the formation of real public opinion.
In addition to these, corruption, regionalism, other socioeconomic, cultural and parochial group interests, and hero worship are all factors that undermine true public opinion.
Question 19.
Define Public Opinion.
Answer:
Public opinion is the general opinion of the people about the issues affecting them.
Question 20.
Citizens empowered through public opinion will strengthen the …………………….
Answer:
Democracy
Question 21.
How is public opinion formed?
Answer:
Public opinion is formed when responsible citizens bring social problems to the attention of others.
Question 22.
What are the factors that influence public opinion?
Answer:
Factors that influence public opinion include social and cultural background, attitude, belief, preconceptions, leadership skills, and education.
Question 23.
Public opinion is formed through both ……………………. and informal processes.
Answer:
formal
Question 24.
What are the different agencies that contribute to the formation of public opinion?
Answer:
Family, educational institutions, Peer groups, media, political parties, social institutions and organisations, opinion polls, art and literature.
Question 25.
Define Peer Groups
Answer:
Peer Groups are groups of similar age and with similar interests and goals. Peer groups tend to be similar in their beliefs, values and ideals.
Question 26.
Why is illiteracy a barrier to the formation of strong public opinion?
Answer:
Illiterate people have only limited knowledge about public issues. They may not have the capacity to form rational opinions.
Question 27.
Write any two factors that hinder the formation of public opinion.
Answer:
Digital divide, Poverty.
Question 28.
What are the benefits of having strong public opinion in a democratic society?
Answer:
Strong public opinion prevents arbitrary and dictatorial tendencies, protects the rights and freedom of citizens, ensures critical evaluation of issues, and makes political parties responsible.