PASSAGE 7

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their govern­ments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self-denial and moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom and security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not exactly measured by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands. The required degree of government interference depends mainly on whether economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.

But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the powers of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of the growth of technology and of the problems that go with the use of machines and science. Since the government in our nation, must take on more powers to meet its problems, there is no way to preserve freedom except by making democracy more powerful.

1. The advent of science and technology has increased the
A) freedom of people
B) tyranny of the political parties
C) powers of the government
D) chances of economic inequality

2. A spirit of moderation on the economically sound people would make the less privileged
A) unhappy with the rich people
B) more interested in freedom and security
C) unhappy with their lot
D) clamour less for absolute equality

3. The growth of government is necessitated to
A) make the rich and the poor happy
B) curb the accumulation of wealth in a few hands
C) monitor science and technology
D) deploy the police force wisely

4. ‘Era of good feeling’ in sentence 2 refers to
A) time of prosperity
B) time of adversity
C) time without government
D) time of police atrocities

5. ‘Tolerable state of balance’ in the last sentence of para 1 may mean
A) an adequate level of police force
B) a reasonable level of economic equality
C) a reasonable amount of government interference
D) a reasonable check on economic power

Answer Key

Solution with explanation

1. Option ‘C’ (powers of the government). The second paragraph is making it clear that option ‘C’ should be our answer. TYRANNY = government by a ruler or small group of people who have unlimited power over the people in their country or state and use it unfairly and cruelly; e.g.

This, the president promised us, was a war against tyranny.

2. Option ‘B’ (more interested in freedom and security). These lines of the passage is making it clear that the less privileged are more interested in freedom and security — On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self-denial and moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom and security than in an equal distribution of wealth. — PRIVILEGED PEOPLE = having an advantage that only one  person or  group of people has, usually because of their position or because they are rich. Therefore THE LESS PRIVILEGED = ordinary people

4. Option ‘A’ (time of prosperity). ERA = a period of time known for particular events or developments; e.g. She was one of the more remarkable women of her era. PROSPERITY = the  state of being successful and having a lot of money