10+ Comprehension Passage Questions and Answers Pdf - 1

Question: 1

Political education may be defined as the preparation of a citizen to take well informed, responsible and sustained action for participation in the national struggle for the realization of the socio-economic objectives of the country. The overriding socio-economic objectives in India are the abolition of poverty and the creation of a modern democratic, secular and socialist, society in place of the present traditional feudal, hierarchical and in egalitarian one.
Under the British rule, the Congress leaders argued that political education was an important part of education and refused to accept the official view that education and politics should not be mixed with one another. But when they came to power in 1947 they almost adopted the British policy and began to talk of education being defiled by politics. 'Hands off education' was the call to political parties. But inspite of it, political infiltration into the educational system has greatly increased in the sense that different political parties vie with each other to capture the minds of teachers and students. The wise academicians wanted political support, without political inference. What we have actually received is infinite political interference with little genuine political support. This interference with the educational system by political parties for their own ulterior motives is no political education at all; and with the all round growth of elitism, it is hardly a matter for surprise that real political education within the school system (which really means the creation of a commitment to social transformation) has been even weaker than in the pre-independence period.
At the same time, the freedom struggle came to an end and the major non formal agency of political education disappeared. The press could and did provide some political education. But it did not utilise the opportunity to the full and the strangle hold of vested interests continued to dominate it. The same can be said of political parties as well as of other institutions and agencies outside the school system which can be expected to provide political education. All things considered, it appears that we have made no progress in genuine political education in the post independence period and have even sided back in some respects. For instance, the education system has become even more elite oriented. Patriotism has become the first casualty. Gandhiji gave us the courage to oppose government when it was wrong, in a disciplined fashion and on basic principles and taught us to work among the poor people for mobilizing and organizing them. .
Today, we have been lost the courage to fight on basic issues in a disciplined manner because agitational and anarchic politics for individual, group or party aggrandizement has become common. The education system of today continues to support domestication of the under privileged ones. The situation will not change unless we take vigorous steps to provide genuine political education on an adequate scale. This is one of the major educational reforms we need; and if it is not carried out, mere linear expansion of the existing system of formal education will only support the status quo and hamper radical social transformation. .
Which is the major pitfall of the present education system?

(A) It does not inculcate values among the students.

(B) It is based on the British model of education.

(C) It perpetuates the domination of the privileged few.

(D) It is mainly represented by the downtrodden masses.

Question: 2

Which word is nearly same in meaning as 'defile' as used in the passage?

(A) contaminate

(B) degenerate

(C) tarnish

(D) disparage

Question: 3

What should be the ultimate objective of political education?

(A) To prepare students with high intellectual acumen.

(B) To create an egalitarian society.

(C) To bring quantitative change in the entire education system.

(D) To foster all round growth of elitism.

Question: 4

According to the passage, what is the main contribution of Mahatma Gandhi to the field of political education?

(A) He made us believe that our political end should be compatible with the means.

(B) He emphasized the need of keeping education free from political interference.

(C) He taught us agitational and anarchic politics in a disciplined manner.

(D) He spread 'political literacy' among the people through non formal political education.

Question: 5

What was the policy of the ruling party regarding political education immediately after independence?

(A) Political education should not be devoid of socio-economic realities.

(B) Press should take up the responsibility of imparting political education.

(C) Political education should be imparted through formal means.

(D) Education should keep itself clean of politics.