Chapter 9

Public opinion

1 mark question answers:

Q.1 What do you mean by public opinion?

ANS. Public opinion is an opinion . Which is based on the welfare of all and even minority feels that
its betterment lies in obeying it.

Q.2 WRITE DOWN ANY TWO CHARACTERISTIC OF PUBLIC OPINION.

ANS. 1. Wide Agreement

2. General Welfare

Q.3 Write down any two agencies of the formulation and expression of public opinion.
ANS. 1. Press

2. Political parties

TRUE/FALSE

1. Radio and television play a special role in formation of public opinion.

Ans. True

2. Majority opinion is known as public opinion.

ANS. False

3 Illiteracy is a hindrance in the way of healthy public opinion. ANS.

True
 MCQS

1. Which of the following is not the characteristic of public opinion?

a. General agreement. b. Rationality

c. Opposition by minority d. Positive nature ANS

2. Which is not essential for the formation of healthy public opinion?

a. Educated people. b. Free and honest press

c. Dictatorial government. d. Democratic government

ANS C

Fill in the blanks

1. Public opinion helps the government in _

ANS policy making

2. voice is the of God.

ANS people's , voice

2 marks question answers:

Q.1 What do you mean by positive aspect of public opinion?

ANS .Positive aspect of public opinion is for the general welfare and people are motivated by the feeling of
people's welfare.

Q.2 What roll press plays in the formulation of public opinion?

ANS. Newspapers and magazines etc print the news concerning different aspects of life write editorial on
burning issues and all this helps in formulation of public opinion.

Q.3 Write down any one definition of public opinion.

ANS According to Lord Bryce, "Public opinion is commonly used to the aggregate of views which man
hold regarding matters that affects the community ."

Q.4 What role play political parties in the formation of public opinion ?

ANS. Political parties make the people aware about the problems which the country faces, separate their policies
and programs ,print lecture etc and it helps in the formation of public opinion.

Q.5 How illiteracy is an obstacle in the way of the formation of healthy public opinion?

ANS. Illiterate person has limited knowledge and he fails to understand the national and international issues.

Q.6 What are the Hindrances in the way of the formation of healthy public opinion in India?
ANS. Poverty , illiteracy, unemployment, partial press and political apathy etc are the

hindrances in the way of formation of healthy public opinion.

 Q.7 Write any two conditions necessary for the formation of healthy public opinion.
ANS 1. Free and honest press and

2.Educated and enlightened citizen help in the formation of healthy public opinion.

Q.8 How autocratic governments are hindrances in the way of the formation of healthy public opinion?

ANS. In autocratic governments people do not have freedom of speech and expression therefore the public
opinion cannot be formed.

Q.9 How public opinion makes the government responsible?

ANS. Through public opinion the weaknesses of the government are highlighted and criticized as a result of
which the government becomes responsible.

Q.10 How radio and television are helpful in the formation of public opinion?
ANS. views of different leaders, policies of the government and the programs of political parties are broadcasted
through radio and television and it helps in the formulation of public opinion.

4 marks question answers:

Q.1 Write any four characteristics of public opinion.

ANS 1.General agreement - there should be a general agreement at the back of public opinion. Buy this we
mean that all the people should have their general agreement on an issue.

2. Logical- the public opinion should be logical and based on reason. Its validity should be demonstrable by
logic or reason.

3. General Welfare- general welfare is an important characteristic of the public opinion any
opinion which does not have general welfare can never take the form of public opinion.

4. In accordance with moral values- society has certain moral values and public opinion must be in
accordance with these moral values.

Q.2 Write down any four methods of the formation and expression of public opinion.

ANS. (1) PRESS- Press occupies an important place in the formulation of public opinion in these days so many
newspaper, magazine and research paper etc are printed which include expert opinions of different writers.

(2) POLITICAL PARTIES- The political parties put before the people their opinion about the national
and international matter and try to impress upon the people through the public meetings, pamphlets and
posters etc.

(3) RADIO AND TELEVISION- Radio and television holds special place in the formation of public opinion.

(4) Educational Institutions- different types of lectures discussion and seminar organized in educational
institutions research paper are read and all these have special impact on students.

Q.3 Write down the roles of political parties in the formation of public opinion.

ANS .In the present days the political parties have a special place in the formation of public opinion such as-

(1) Attract the attention of the public towards national and international issues and provide them general
information about these issues

(2) Propagate their programs among the people and tried to win the public opinion in their favour.

(3) Make the people aware about the achievement and the weakness of the government.
(4) Print literature and distribute among the people.

(5) Contest elections and during election provide information to the people about their policies and programs.

Q 4 Write down the role of press in the formation of public opinion.

ANS . Press play a special role in the formation of public opinion. In the press we include newspapers and
magazine of all kind in newspapers the national and international development are printed apart of these the
expert opinion of different authors are also printed in the newspaper and editorials are also written in different
subjects. After reading all these the people form their opinion about different issues. Therefore we can't
ignore the role of press in the formation of public opinion.

Q.5What is the role of educational institutions in the formation of public opinion?

ANS. Educational institutions play a dominant role in the formation of public opinion. They train the
students from their childhood. The views of the talented and competent teachers impress them and the
views expressed by them in the classroom become the part and parcel of the life of the students. In fact,
the educational institutions prepare citizens of tomorrow. Speeches , discussion and seminar etc are
arranged in the educational institutions which plays a very important role.