Key Elements of a Democratic Government

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

                          i.        African people were divided into white, black, Indian and coloured races.

                        ii.        Apartheid means separation on the basis of race.

                       iii.        Non-whites were not allowed to vote.

                       iv.        The African National Congress led the struggle against apartheid.

                         v.        Through voting in elections people elect leaders to represent them.

                       vi.        Elected representatives take decisions on behalf of the people.

         vii.        The earlier practice of untouchability is now banned by law.

Q2. True/False

                           i.        Nelson Mandela fought the apartheid system for several years. True

                          ii.        Religious processions and celebrations can sometimes lead to conflicts. True

                         iii.        In 1984 South Africa became a democratic country. False

                         iv.        In our society there is a general tendency to value and care for the girl child more than the boy child. False

                          v.        The key idea of a democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. True

Q3. Name the river on which Krishnasagar dam and Mettur dam are situated.

Ans. Cauvery River

Q4. Who was the well-known leader of The African National Congress?

Ans. Nelson Mandela

Q5. What is “Zulu”?

Ans. Zulu is Afrikaans language.

Q6. Name the person who fought against untouchability.

Ans. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Q7. What ‘Apartheid’ means?

Ans. Apartheid means separation on the basis of race.

Q8. Where Hector lived?

Ans. Hector lived in South Western Township also called Soweto.

Q9. Who was Hector and what did he want?

Ans. He was non-white and wanted to learn his own language, Zulu.

Q10. Who is responsible for helping to resolve conflicts?

Ans. The government is responsible for helping to resolve conflicts.

Q11. When South Africa became a democratic country?

Ans. In 1994 South Africa became a democratic country.

Q12. List the various races that live in South Africa.

Ans. There are black people who belong to South Africa, whites who came there to settle, and Indians who came as labourers and traders.

Q13. Which party fought against the system of apartheid in South Africa?

Ans. The African National Congress was the party who fought against the system of apartheid in South Africa.

Q14. What Hector and other school students were forced to do?

Ans. Hector and other school students were being forced to learn Afrikaans language but they wanted to learn their own language, Zulu.

Q15. What is the key idea of a democratic government?

Ans. One of the key ideas of a democratic government is its commitment to equality and justice. Equality and justice are inseparable.

Q16. What are the effects of conflict in the society?

Ans. People may use violent means to settle their differences. This leads to fear and tension among others living in an area.

Q17. How did South African police treat the protesters?

Ans. The South African police beat up the protestors mercilessly and shot at the crowd. One of their bullets killed Hector. This was on 30th of April, 1976.

Q18. How does our society value the girl or the boy child?

Ans. Society does not value the girl and boy child equally. In our society there is a general tendency to value and care for the boy child more than the girl child.